Members Ernest Buckley Posted October 26, 2008 Members Share Posted October 26, 2008 I`m starting production in earnest for my next record in January `09 and I`ve been seriously considering ways to upgrade my sound. Instead of buying more mics and pres, I figured what I have is already fine by me but maybe the Apogee convertor would really elevate my sound. Right now, my interface is a MOTU 2408 MKII which is almost 10 years old. Have any of you had experiences with the Apogee stuff? From what I have read, coming from a middle of the road interface, the sound would vastly improve. Your thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Alndln2 Posted October 26, 2008 Members Share Posted October 26, 2008 Excellent stuff, but so is Lynx at a better price tag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMS Author MikeRivers Posted October 26, 2008 CMS Author Share Posted October 26, 2008 Apogee started out pretty good and has been getting better over the years, but the whole field has been improving substantially over what could be made ten years ago. Buying an Appogee is kind of like buying a Toyota - it's as good as it needs to be for all but the most critical applications and nobody will object to using one, But there are other options today that you should explore freely. RME makes good stuff, as does Lynx, and even Lavry and Benchmark is making some more affordable hardware that doesn't compromise the sound for price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members UstadKhanAli Posted October 26, 2008 Members Share Posted October 26, 2008 I don't know how it compares to other things, but I have been using an Apogee Rosetta 800 for several years, and am very very happy with how it sounds, both on the front and back (monitoring) end. Not that this is even a fair comparison, but the difference between this and the stock converters in the Digi001 was a revelation, and easily one of the most obvious upgrades to my sound I've done since switching to recording on a computer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jon Gnash Posted October 26, 2008 Members Share Posted October 26, 2008 Have any of you had experiences with the Apogee stuff?Apogee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bruce Swedien Posted October 26, 2008 Members Share Posted October 26, 2008 Ernest...... I've got four Apogee PSX-100's Special Edition unit's. Will sell them to you for a very reasonable price. Make me an offer. I am now using the Universal Audio 2192's for D/A, A/D. Like them very much! Bruce Swedienbswedien@earthlink.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members UstadKhanAli Posted October 26, 2008 Members Share Posted October 26, 2008 Apogee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ernest Buckley Posted October 26, 2008 Author Members Share Posted October 26, 2008 Bruce-You`re switching for a reason. I`m not looking for a bargain, I`m looking for the best sound. If you`re getting the UA stuff, then I should consider those as well. I`ll be interested in what you have to say about both units. Could you give us a mini review here? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ernest Buckley Posted October 26, 2008 Author Members Share Posted October 26, 2008 Here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dean Roddey Posted October 26, 2008 Members Share Posted October 26, 2008 The UA 2192 is one choice. The B2 Bomber is another in the stereo realm, with really high end analog components and a warm sound. Another thing to look at is the API A2D at $1700. You get both two API pre-amps (of the same exact sort as the 3124, which would cost almost that much by themselves), plus a really good stereo A/D converter. You'll still need something to drive the monitors, but if you already have an audio card of some sort, you can use that to pull in the S/PDIF from the A2D and use its D/A converters to drive the monitors, without any need for sync or anything. So it's a quite good deal it would seem to me. The converters get good reviews and are practically free given the two pre-amps in the same box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jon Gnash Posted October 26, 2008 Members Share Posted October 26, 2008 Um, not exactly sure what my question has to do with your "information".It helps a decider decide if Apogee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members amplayer Posted October 26, 2008 Members Share Posted October 26, 2008 I moved from a MOTU 828 MKII to an Apogee Ensemble. The difference in the resulting recordings was dramatic. For what you have right now, the Ensemble is probably the best and closest replacement if you want Apogee. However, the Ensemble has no MIDI, so if you need MIDI hardware, you'll need some other hardware to do that. I would agree with Mike Rivers that there are now several good alternatives to the Apogee in a similar price range. If it were me though, I'd suggest looking into a Yamaha 01V96VCM digital mixer. They now include a nice bundle of really fine effects. They are more money, but not that much more money than an Ensemble. You'll need to buy a MY16-mLAN card to interface it with your computer, or else keep your MOTU and use the mixer's ADAT I/O to interface to your MOTU which interfaces to your computer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Lawrence Farr Posted October 26, 2008 Members Share Posted October 26, 2008 I think often when it comes to converters people often look at the wrong end of the horse first. What I mean by that is that the inclination is to go out and buy really good AD when (imho) good DA and speakers should always come first. Honestly, how can you evaluate what you're upgrading without the best DA and speakers you can afford? Or how can you hear the great AD if your DA and speakers are weak? Get a really good DA and a good pair of active monitors and then evaluate your AD. I tell you, hooking up a Lavry Black and bypassing the MOTU DA was like lifting a veil off of my sound. Even the MOTU AD sounded a little more clear... since I could actually hear it better. I did also get a stereo Lavry blue later but I also still use the MOTU AD and Behringer ADA8000 AD. The monitoring chain is more important than any of them if you ask me. Sometimes "upgrading your sound" means "hearing everything better". MOTU AES to Lavry Black directly to BM5a's with good quality shielded cables ... clear as a bell. My .02 ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members UstadKhanAli Posted October 27, 2008 Members Share Posted October 27, 2008 Or as I mentioned, get an Apogee Rosetta 800 and get both the back end and the front end. Eight ins, eight outs. If there's something better for 8 ins and 8 outs for $2100 new, I'd love to hear it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members techristian Posted October 27, 2008 Members Share Posted October 27, 2008 Now that I have the EMU system, I'm going to sell my Edirol DA2496. 8 in and 8 out 24/96 . I'll be putting on Ebay in a few days . I'm not sure how this compares with what you are looking at. Dan LINK to Sound on Sound review >>>>>>>http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/aug02/articles/edirolda2496.asp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ernest Buckley Posted October 27, 2008 Author Members Share Posted October 27, 2008 It helps a decider decide if Apogee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ernest Buckley Posted October 27, 2008 Author Members Share Posted October 27, 2008 I think often when it comes to converters people often look at the wrong end of the horse first. What I mean by that is that the inclination is to go out and buy really good AD when (imho) good DA and speakers should always come first. Honestly, how can you evaluate what you're upgrading without the best DA and speakers you can afford? Or how can you hear the great AD if your DA and speakers are weak? Get a really good DA and a good pair of active monitors and then evaluate your AD. I tell you, hooking up a Lavry Black and bypassing the MOTU DA was like lifting a veil off of my sound. Even the MOTU AD sounded a little more clear... since I could actually hear it better. I did also get a stereo Lavry blue later but I also still use the MOTU AD and Behringer ADA8000 AD. The monitoring chain is more important than any of them if you ask me. Sometimes "upgrading your sound" means "hearing everything better". MOTU AES to Lavry Black directly to BM5a's with good quality shielded cables ... clear as a bell. My .02 ... I hear ya, thats why I said I was looking for an AD/DA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ernest Buckley Posted October 27, 2008 Author Members Share Posted October 27, 2008 Or as I mentioned, get an Apogee Rosetta 800 and get both the back end and the front end. Eight ins, eight outs. If there's something better for 8 ins and 8 outs for $2100 new, I'd love to hear it. Ken, Thats the piece that most interests me and yes, if there is something better, please pass along the info. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members UstadKhanAli Posted October 27, 2008 Members Share Posted October 27, 2008 Yes. I can't think of another converter that has the same features that is better for somewhere close to the same price. And having eight outs is wonderful...you get decent analog and digital conversion so you can use analog outboard gear, something I like doing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ernest Buckley Posted October 27, 2008 Author Members Share Posted October 27, 2008 Yes. I can't think of another converter that has the same features that is better for somewhere close to the same price. And having eight outs is wonderful...you get decent analog and digital conversion so you can use analog outboard gear, something I like doing. Hey Ken, I`m starting around January with my new record so I still have time but the Rosetta 800 looks like the way to go. Like you, I love using my analog outboard gear so the 8 i/os will come in handy with drums! EB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members UstadKhanAli Posted October 27, 2008 Members Share Posted October 27, 2008 I've never slept with Betty Bennett, so you can probably trust my testimony a little more when I say that I'm very happy with the conversion. The only thing I'll say that I wish they'd fix is that the interface for switching between sources is a bit of a headscratcher for me. It just doesn't seem clear to me. It took me a while to figure out the proper routing for the unit. Also, I had this one instance where a cable from my patchbay fell against one of the buttons, changing the choice of sources. It took me over an hour to figure out what had happened, and then when I did figure out what happened, it took me a little while to figure out how to correct it. I now have white paper tape on the top with the routing selections so this doesn't happen again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members amplayer Posted October 27, 2008 Members Share Posted October 27, 2008 Hey Ken,I`m starting around January with my new record so I still have time but the Rosetta 800 looks like the way to go. Like you, I love using my analog outboard gear so the 8 i/os will come in handy with drums!EB I'm sure you know already, but the Rosetta needs to be paired with high quality preamps. If you use your MOTU for the preamps, you probably are NOT going to be satisfied with the results.Also, the Rosetta requires a separate computer interface unless you have one that can take the ADAT I/O directly.Another issue with the Rosetta is that it's Analog I/O is via DB25 connectors. Interfacing with DB25 requires a special connector for use with most preamps.Bottom line, when you add it all up, a system built around the Rosetta can still be cost effective when you think about it on a cost per channel basis. Nevertheless, a whole system built this way will cost you some coin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jotown Posted October 27, 2008 Members Share Posted October 27, 2008 Here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dean Roddey Posted October 27, 2008 Members Share Posted October 27, 2008 If stereo isn't enough, then it would seem definitely the Appogee or Lynx would be your guys if you are looking for reasonable cost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members UstadKhanAli Posted October 27, 2008 Members Share Posted October 27, 2008 I'm sure you know already, but the Rosetta needs to be paired with high quality preamps. If you use your MOTU for the preamps, you probably are NOT going to be satisfied with the results.Also, the Rosetta requires a separate computer interface unless you have one that can take the ADAT I/O directly.Another issue with the Rosetta is that it's Analog I/O is via DB25 connectors. Interfacing with DB25 requires a special connector for use with most preamps.Bottom line, when you add it all up, a system built around the Rosetta can still be cost effective when you think about it on a cost per channel basis. Nevertheless, a whole system built this way will cost you some coin. That's right. The Rosetta 800 has a firewire option, but if memory serves, it's really expensive, something like $500. I use the ADAT option with my Digi001, so thankfully I didn't need the firewire option. The db25 connector or whatever it's called is indeed a special connector and works great. I believe this is the one, and it's $90. I thought I spent $65 on mine, but I could be wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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