Several d8b questions....

[woodchip rookie]

I have an oportunity to buy a d8b at a decent price. The seller has told me up front the CPU will not boot. I have 2 MDR's converted to HDR's and one true HDR. Working around these moody machines since about 2002, I am a little familiar with the Mackie digital gremlins. He cannot confirm if there are any other issues with it because he cant boot it up but my first thought was "CR2032". If I buy this and its not too crazy to get working I might put it in service in place of my 24/8, but the 24/8 has a way better reliability track record than the d8b. I've had that board brand new since about 2000 and the only issue is one channels tape return doesnt work, but I use that channel as the talkback channel for the drumroom so no loss.
SSSOOO.....I was looking at images of the back panel and it looks like the d8b was factory set up to transfer to/from HDR's in digital format. I am using the AD/DA cards in the recorders and have no idea how to set it up to make it work with the recorders, and the way I have things set up now, I have most of my sound sources going directly to the recorders. The only preamps/direct outs I even use on the 24/8 are for the overheads on the drums. Mic pre's nowadays come standard with digi outs but I dont have a clue as to setting that up, and I also dont understand the difference between different kinds of digital connections. (ASBU/spdif blah blah) I think I would have to change the cards in the recorders and figure out how to use the digital outs on everything I have? Or put anologue cards in the d8b? (which sounds dumb cuz A/D to the recorders, then D/A to the d8b, then A/D to CD?)

[Bruce Graham]

Hey Woodchip Rookie;

Most the issue with "not booting" is the battery (CR3032), and/or internal ribbon connections. There is tons of info on that in the data base at the top of this page.

Your questions around "SSSOOO....." has a somewhat simple anser. Whatever cards are on the d8b tape In/out slots (1-8, 9-16, 17-24) you match the recorder with the same cards in the same positions. That takes care of all the conversions etc.

Once you get things working there are tons of ways to make things work better and keep things working with these desks. A greater desk, in this price rage, is very hard to find.

Yes they are finicky machines. Yes they are a PITA sometimes, but for my money, they are worth it.

Hope that helps a bit.

Cheers
Bruce

[woodchip rookie]

Hey Woodchip Rookie;

Your questions around "SSSOOO....." has a somewhat simple anser. Whatever cards are on the d8b tape In/out slots (1-8, 9-16, 17-24) you match the recorder with the same cards in the same positions. That takes care of all the conversions etc

So if I have 3 recorders but only use 1 at a time realistically I only need one set of cards. If I have a machine go down I can just swap cards? And what about the digital outs on things like guitar/bass effects pedals? My pedals both have a single RCA digital output jack that's color coded orange, and my Masterlink has a set of balanced XLR/unbalanced RCA digital outs that have a "TYPE" but I forget what it says. What do the digital connections actually look like on the back of the d8b? And thank you for the reply.

[Crash]

You'll need 6 of the same card to do 24 tracks, 3 in the d8b and 3 in the recorder. For external digital toys, you might want to research a PDI.8 card and the Alt I/O slot on the d8b. You can feed your Masterlink from the digital stereo card (all d8b's shipped with one) via AES (mic looking cable) or S/PDF (RCA looking cable).

[anyhorizon]

Just my two cents. Although the d8b can do what you want, you'll be stretching it to the limit. That coupled with the no boot situation to start with and a myriad other things that you'll discover along the way as well as the moving of i/o cards from machine to machine makes it all seem like a hair puller from the outset. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to discourage you (or maybe I am) but I can assure you it's something I would never attempt. I'll be mightily impressed if you can get it up and running and the first to stand for the ovation. As someone said, the database is a good place to visit regularly to make your plan gel. Best of luck.

Peter

[funk]

dont you just luv these guys, always willing to help, mostly the same guys, kudos to you all, i love this site.
i dont know anymore than the guys who have already posted, they have all helped me in the past and i owe each of them more beers than that would keep you hung over for a month.
i have a question, ......when you say " will not boot" can you find out at what point its stops ?
as that will give us loads of possible answers and rule out others.
so from power on ?
if it powers on please find out then if the monitor displays anything at all, if so then that's a good sign.
if so then what does it display?
and at what point does it stop ?
cheers

[Bruce Graham]

Hey Funk;

I can't speak for Crash and Anyhorizon, but I plan on collecting

Just say'n.

Cheers
Bruce

[funk]

haha, its a long way to come for some beers bruce, but worth it,
do you get " Bitter" over there ?
i use to send my friend some in the usa, he said he could not get it there,

[Bruce Graham]

Hey Funk;

I have had bitter here in Canada, but can't remember where! Maybe it was due to the bitter!

With our Post Office, if you sent me bitter, it would never get to me!

Cheers mate
Bruce

[woodchip rookie]

dont you just luv these guys, always willing to help, mostly the same guys, kudos to you all, i love this site.
i dont know anymore than the guys who have already posted, they have all helped me in the past and i owe each of them more beers than that would keep you hung over for a month.
i have a question, ......when you say " will not boot" can you find out at what point its stops ?
as that will give us loads of possible answers and rule out others.
so from power on ?
if it powers on please find out then if the monitor displays anything at all, if so then that's a good sign.
if so then what does it display?
and at what point does it stop ?
cheers

I don't know at what point it stops or what the screen says when it stops. I think I will just stay with what I have. However, I know there has to be way more money in parts in this mixer than what the guy wants for it. I could go get it and part it out.