im looking to get the computer into my setup. i have 1 da7, 3 lx20 adats, and pc. i wanna incorporate the computer. i wanna be able to record 24 tracks at once on to the computer for some fine editing. i was thinking of protools cause i heard u can use the da7 to control it. is that true? can the da7 control one program better than another. i realy dont know much about computers in general and wanted to know why i would choose protools over digital performer or vegas pro. i know that vegas is more of a amateur program but i heard alot of people like it more than protools. i was looking at dp cause of the motu 2408, thats a great price for a digtal 24i/o! is there a digital 24i/o that works with protools thats like the same price as the 2408?
any help would be greatly appreciated,
jal
sorry if i kept anything out that would help u answer me

What's the *best* setup? You will get a different answer from everyone you meet. It all really depends on the type of recording that you do and how willing you are to troubleshoot when things go wrong.

Unless Sonic Foundry have made changes since I last saw Vegas, it didn't have midi.
But have a good look at Nuendo.

Nick

Pro Tools is the DAW of choice these days, but.....you will have to spend a good deal of money on digidesign's proprietary hardware to enable your DA7 and the ADAT's to communicate with the computer. Unless you want to use their less expensive digi001, in which case you can only transfer 2 tracks at a time.It's very limited in scope. Not too impressive, IMHO.
Your other option is to get your hands on a MOTU 2408mkII, or a Hammerfall dsp system, and you'll be able to interface up to 24 tracks(or more) of digital audio in and out of your computer, thru the DA7, to the ADAT's. You can use any DAW software you fancy. Nuendo, Digital Performer, SAW Studio Pro, Logic, Sonar, ad infinitum. Search the archives here , and you will find dozens of topics relating to this subject, and of course, fell free to inquire. We're here to help. And yelp. Not necessarily in that order....envoid

yeah i did a search already before i posted. theres just to much info that isnt clear and there isnt quite an answer. i record all types of music.
so, if i get the 2408 i can use protools right? see i wanna beable to do some fades and some real cool editing on seperate tracks and move things around. like if i have 1gig processor and 256ram, wouldnt all i need is a program and an interface? whats nuendo?
thanx again,
jal

[This message has been edited by jal (edited 11-15-2001).]

envoid,

The DA7 when used with Digidesigns 24bit 16 chan. I/O ADAT-Bridge is a very powerful front-end/controller and (5.1) router for a PT rig. It provides 16-24bit A/D converters that(IMHO) sound better and cost less than a pair of Digi's 888/24's.

Every DAW/DA7 user I have spoken with remarks at how the DA7's EQ's and Comp/Limiters frees up their DAW's plug-ins for more intensive DSP functions.

The DA7's 16 mic-pres and control-room T/B functions ain't nothing to snear at either.

The 24-Bit ADAT Bridge I/O™ supports any device carrying the Alesis "ADAT Optical" logo, including I/O expansion cards for some popular digital mixing consoles such as the Yamaha 02R, Spirit, Ramsa, etc. This makes it an ideal solution for transferring audio back and forth between Pro Tools® and ADAT optical compatible consoles. With the 24-Bit ADAT Bridge I/O, you can enjoy full 24-bit resolution throughout the entire production process with 24-bit equipped digital consoles.
The 24-Bit ADAT Bridge I/O features 16 channels of ADAT Optical Inputs and Outputs, separate AES/EBU and S/PDIF ports for mastering to DAT, and includes a pair of high-quality 24-bit analog outputs for monitoring your audio.
FEATURES
· Affordable Integration of ADAT Optical Devices and Pro Tools
· Works as the sole audio interface or secondary interface for Pro Tools systems
· 16 discrete channels of ADAT Optical Inputs/Outputs*
· High quality 24-bit analog outputs for monitoring
· Separate AES/EBU and S/PDIF ports for mastering to DAT
· Support for third-party ADAT sync devices, including Alesis BRC
* 2nd ADAT Bridge Interface Cable (part number AC010, sold separately) required for 16-Channel functionality with dual card configurations.16-Channel Peripheral Cable Adapter ("Y" cable, purchased separately) and 2nd ADAT Bridge Interface Cable (part number AC010, sold separately) required for 16-Channel functionality with single d24, MIX card or Project II configurations.
SYSTEM COMPONENTS
24-bit ADAT Bridge I/O interface with power and connector cable.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
· Digidesign-approved Project II, Pro Tools Project PCI, Pro Tools III PCI, Pro Tools|24, Pro Tools|24 MIX or MIXplus system. (NuBus systems not supported)
· Digidesign-approved Mac OS or Windows computer
· Pro Tools Software 4.1.1 or later OR compatible digital audio program that supports both DigiSystem Init 3.3x and DAE (Digidesign Audio Engine) 3.3x or later
· For complete compatibility information, please see Compatibility Documents
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Connectors
· ADAT Optical Connectors: 2 pair of TOS-link digital connectors, each supporting 8 channels of I/O at up to 24-bit resolution
· Digital I/O: -AES/EBU: XLR-type balanced connectors, up to 24-bit resolution; -S/PDIF: RCA-type unbalanced connectors, up to 24-bit resolution
· Word Clock Output: BNC-type connector (1x sample rate)
· Slave Clock Input/Output: BNC-type connector (256x sample rate)
Analog Performance
· Output: (2) 1/4" TRS actively balanced connectors (unbalanced operation also supported)
· Line Level Output: +4dBu or -10dBV (software selectable)
· Nominal Operating Level: +14dB (+4dBu output mode)
· Signal-to-Noise Ratio: -97dB (unweighted), -99dB (A-weighted)
· THD + N: <.002%, 0dBFS @ 1kHz, 22Hz - 22kHz
· Digital to Analog Converter: 24-bit
· Maximum Output Level: +18dBu (+4dBu output mode)
· Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz +/- 1.0dB

YMMV

Now what was the question again?



[This message has been edited by Leslie (edited 11-15-2001).]

Every DAW/DA7 user I have spoken with remarks at how the DA7's EQ's and Comp/Limiters frees up their DAW's plug-ins for more intensive DSP functions.

what do u mean by that?
how would i ge the comp. to sync up with the adats and da7 do i need an extra wordclock thingy?
thanx for the responses,
jal

jal,

I went back and read your post, you really are audio-confused.com, and so am I...

Think of a Digital Audio Workstation (Pro-Tools)as you would a Multi-track recorder (with editing functions). It can supply the mixer (DA7) with LTC (longitudital time come) in the form of either SMPTE (film/video), MIDI Time code or MIDI Clock (bars/beats).

This time code is a location reference in either hours mins.and secconds(frames) or Bars and Beats. This timing tells the mixer where a song begins and ends. The DA7 is capable of recording and playing back your fader (volume), eq (tone), panning (balance) or comp/limiting (dynamics) moves with 1/4-1/2 frame accuracy along with your DAW or MDM.

If your DAW can perform volume and panning functions along with DSP functions such as Reverb, Auto-Tune and Pitch Shift etc. Then they will all happen in sync (time) along with the time-code from the DAW or Master recorder.

Since the DA7 (mixer) has 42 4-band EQ's and 40-plus compressor/lmiter, gates and 5.1 panning it can free up the DAW's processor for performing any memory intensive Plug-In DSP signal processing like real-time room modeling.

Wordclock is something totally different... It's the sync (pulse) reference for two (or more) digitaly connected devices. Its pulses determines the bit-depth and sample-rate of the digital audio signals.

When you connect a multitrack recorder or DAW to the DA7 digitally via ADAT, TDIF, or AES (standards) both (or all) devices need to operate at the same frequency or sample rate ie. 44.1 or 48kHz.

Thus the Master/Slave relationship that both LTC and WC have in common but that's really all they have in common. Right?

In order for us to help you further you'll need to riddle us the follwoing...

when you say PC what kind Mac or Win?

Do you need to exchange data or be compatible with other systems?

what will your final product be delivered on ie. CD, RDAT, Masterlink, etc. (at to whom)

How will you archive or back-up the recorded data? And do you care?

That's the best I can do for now...good luck.

Like I said earlier, the 2408mkII is the most cost effective solution for getting 24 tracks/channels in and out of your computer. Win/PC or Mac, doesn't matter. The 2408 is compatible on both platforms. I have no issue with PT whatsoever, Leslie, I just felt that the spirit of JAL's question implied a desire to find the most reasonably priced solution. In order to deploy Digidesign's ADAT bridge, you would need a PT rig to begin with. Not cheap.
JAL, in answer to "what's Nuendo" follow the bouncing link... http://www.nuendo.com/index2.html

ok im useing win, illbe dumping down to cd, and il be using my adats to back up and store.
i looked at nuenedo,i dont see the difference in nuendo or any other system. whats the main difference between like, pt, dp, and nuendo?
what program will the da7 control and what will i need to get to control it?
thanx again,
jal
ps: i told u i dont know much about comps

ok i just want to explain what i want to do with the da7 and the daw.
i want to run my mics into the da7 like always, then out of the lightpipes into the adats then out of the adats into the interface, be it the 2408 or adat bridge (it seems to me it would be smart to use the motu since i have 24trks, is their a main reason i wouldnt want the 2408?), then to the comp. and record on (dp, pt, or nuendo. im not sure, what would u suggest and why) then from the comp back into the interface, then into the da7 again. with the da7 i wanna be able to control the faders on the daw, will i beable to do that, and which program could i do that with, and what would i need to get to do that?
i know i repeated alot of the same questions, i just want to make sure im explaining this correctly. and i now im looking for an answer that u guys would usually say, "it depends on what u want to do with it", but i really have no idea what to get, sure maybe down the line after i make my first choice ill see why i shouldve gotten something else but, i need to make start somewhere.
thanx for dealing with my ignorance,
jal

[This message has been edited by jal (edited 11-16-2001).]

http://www.sawstudio.com/

jal, I'm no (DAW)expert, and I do think you should consult one, but if your running a Win-Tel computer you might check out Saw Studio. It already has mixer maps that supports the DA7. I hear it's a very solid DAW program too!

cool im gonna look at that right now. were could talk to "daw expert"?
thanx soo much,
jal

who makes sawstudio anyways. i looked at it and it looks decent but i still dont know the difference.
jal

I hate to stick my nose in, yet again, but IQS software, the manufacturer of SAW, has gone out of business. I posted Bob Lentini's farewell address earlier today...

great now what? well i guess thats one less choice for me to make. what do i need to make the da7 a contol surface for one of these fine daws?
thanx,
jal

You know jal, I've been using the DA7 with multiple Sonic Solutions DAWs for over 3 years and have YET to complain about the fact that the DA7 won't talk to Sonic!!

I look at my setup as building a 'STOCK' I/O situation in Sonic and then creating multiple MIX SITUATIONS (scenes) on the DA7. Sonic allows me to create a specific MIX DESK that can be saved and recalled.

I can build MULTIPLE situations on BOTH systems that are recalled with a 'QuicKey' stroke that pulls everything together, including Z-Systems routers handling AES protocol problems.

Email privately if you want any more answers.



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ERIC SEABERG • San Diego, CA
eseaberg@home.com