Handy stand-alone ADAT multitrack

[synthjoe]

I'm considering to add a handy ADAT multitrack solution to my d8b for small gigs, whereby we could record all tracks individually and work on them later, in the studio.

I have Fostex VR800, D8, ADAT card - none of which is really doing the trick for me. I've considered already RME Project Hammerfall 9652 and Digiface, but it would be best to move away from bulky PC setups (cables, software crash ,etc.).

I'm curious what your recommendation would be for a compact 24b/48kHz multitrack (e.g. 2x4 ADAT lightpipe I/O) solution - that transfers easily to a DAW environment once back in the studio?

Thanks for any suggestion, in advance!

[Casey_Pittman]

Not really compact but what about an alesis HD24? 24channles analog and adat I/O. Or a Mackie SDR for that matter. The HD24 has a weird proprietary way of getting the tracks transferred from the unit via a firewire hub. But the SDR drives caddies work with any IDE->USB/FW interface.

-Casey

[Petersueco]

You are right Casey about the proprietary disk writing method but, can't you transfer the tracks from and HD24 via Ethernet to the DAW?

Take a look at the back side of the HD24. There are plenty of options both for recording and for transfers.

Another option to have in mind is JoeCo's new Blackbox recorder. You can see the connection options it has in the last page of this Brochure

Peter Holmquist.

[Casey_Pittman]

Peter, you can and I've done it that way but depending on the size of the file and how many, your looking at hours of transfer time. It is not the preferred way to go about doing this. especially for a 60-90min live show. we're talking upwards of 8hrs just of transfer time plus it's very finicky about dropping connection during the process. i've done it but don't recommend it to anyone.

Don't get me wrong the HD24 is a great unit and if you have the XR the converters are superb. If the OP is interested I suggest reading up at the HD24 news group at yahoo.com these guys have a non-alesis approach to transferring the files to a PC with HD24 tools software. You still need an Caddy interface that is supported but they have all the info anyone needs to get up and running.

*praise over*

-Casey

*EDIT* The ethernet is not a direct connection to the DAW. It's a file transfer only via something like filezilla.
Also the JOCO box is supper bad ass but it's got a hefty price tag with it at the moment.

[NigelC]

I have an Alesis HD24 (non XR version) and an Alesis Firewire device that simply plugs onto the back of the Drive Caddy (you pull it out and attach). Then I use HD24Tools a freeware improvement on Alesis own software that lets you import any of the 24 tracks as time stamped audio. Its not instant but faster than the ethernet option by a long chalk and faster than realtime playback I think. Another option is to play the ADAT outputs into your DAW if you have an ADAT interface on your PC/Mac (I have the RME RayDat which has 32 ADAT I/O so you could transfer that way too.

These days HD24s are going a lot cheaper than they were. They also work quite good with MTC and MMC although the D8B is a little flaky on FF and REW. I have successfully had Logic, D8B and HD24 all synced on a Mac. I am still trying to decide which works best for me HD24 or DAW Audio recording. I certainly find the HD24 much quicker to switch recording channels (I know this is too much info and not what you intend it for!).

[synthjoe]

Thanks for the recommendations so far - you guys are super helpful!

Indeed, the HD24 has a 10 mbps Ethernet interface, which makes it pretty much unuseable... One of the reasons I've never bought it. With all the transfers and tools needed, plus the proprietary HDD format I would not exactly call it a 'handy' solution - no offense intended!

SDR/MDR/HDR is a nice one, have used these back in the days, but getting one these days is not easy and hardly a bargain, unfortunately. The 32/137 GB limit that can be imposed on some models is also a pain, making HDD choice difficult nowadays (and lots of wasted space/money, if capacity is limited as above).

Also the JOCO box is supper bad ass but it's got a hefty price tag with it at the moment.

Yup, couldn't put it better myself.

Would these be all the viable options, then? Hmmm....

[csp]

I use 2 x HD24s --- they are sample accurate in their syncing and I get 48 tracks playback into the d8B (24 analogue and 24 digital). They are a great machine.

I also use the Alesis Fireport unit to transfer the files into my PC for editing in any audio editing/recording software, I then transfer the edited files back onto the HD24 hard drive for mixing on the d8B (I hate ITB mixing --- very old school!!!).

Only trick to remember is that when naming tracks during the recording process, if there are multiple tracks of the same instrument (ie strings 1, strings 2, strings 3, etc), DO NOT name them with numbers, but with letters (eg strings A, Strings B, etc) because the system, for some reason, gets confused with track numbers and track name numbers, otherwise the HD24 system is great,

I have not used the Mackie SDR, so I can't comment on how suitabl;e it is, but it would be about the same size and weight as the HD24 and the HD24 comes complete with every input.output you will need --- I think that the SDR has limited inouts or you have to buy what you require (or am I thinking of the HD24/96 unit).

Nigel, can you give a link to the HD24Tools programme and what is the difference between it and the ADAT Connect programme. I have not previously heard of this programme, but if it works better, then I am interested.

David

[Casey_Pittman]

David,

http://ringbreak.dnd.utwente.nl/~mrjb/hd24tools/index.html

The SDR has the same amount of I/O built in. The only difference is the analog I/O's are on db-25 multipin connectors.

-Casey

[NigelC]

Well as it says on their site which Casey beat me to:

Some of its unique features are:

Exporting audio based on locate points
Splitting up tracks into smaller chunks to work around the 2 gigabyte .wav limitation
Catalog functionality
Realtime auditioning of drive content
Realtime streaming of drive content to other applications (Linux only)
Data recovery functionality

I honestly cannot remember what made it better, I think it was file formats or speed but everyone including Alesis acknowledged it was better plus development on their one stopped.

[Casey_Pittman]

They also have a link to a guy doing caddy mods to accept SATA drives so folks don't get stuck using IDE drives down the road.

-Casey