AD Converters (studio question)

[MrJoshua]

OK, I want to expand my ProTools rig a bit. I have plenty of preamps, so what I want is an 8-channel AD converter that will turn eight balanced analog 1/4" inputs into 24-bit 48kHz ADAT lightpipe so I can connect it to my Digi002 Rack.

Right now I'm looking at the Frontier Design Tango24 (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Tango24/) for $689.97, or the RME ADI-8 DS (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ADI8ProDS/) which is quite a bit more expensive at $1799.97.

Any thought or opinions on these? I've been told that the Tango24 converters are a little better than the ones on the Digi002, and the RME is another step up from that. The Digi002 sounds very good to me, so I'm not sure I'd be able to hear the difference by going to the RME. At this point I'm leaning toward the Tango24, but I'm hoping someone here will have used one of these at some point or have something useful to add. :)

Thanks!

[takeout]

RME makes great gear. If you're going to upgrade your converters, "you get what you pay for" definitely applies.

If you want something reasonably priced, with bulletproof reliability and high performance, look at the new 8-channel MOTU unit (Pre8?). Their converters are a great bang-for-the-buck option.

[MrJoshua]

I understand and agree with "you get what you pay for" with gear in general, and especially with converters, where quality components can make or break you.

But, I already think the converters on the Digi sound very good, so if the Tango24 is a step up from that, I'm not sure I'd be getting added value for the extra money by going to the RME.

[takeout]

I understand and agree with "you get what you pay for" with gear in general, and especially with converters, where quality components can make or break you.

But, I already think the converters on the Digi sound very good, so if the Tango24 is a step up from that, I'm not sure I'd be getting added value for the extra money by going to the RME.If you already think your converters sound good, why spend money unnecessarily?

The RME will be light years above the Tangos. Converters are one of the few things in the audio market that are almost always accurately priced according to quality.

[MrJoshua]

The main idea is, with an eight-channel AD converter that outputs to ADAT, I can go up to 16 tracks at a time. Plus it will get rid of a lot of patching and re-patching and setting levels over and such if I can have pretty much everything set up with a pre going to its own channel and not have to keep moving things around. Plus I've heard that having a decent clock signal and syncing the Digi to it can help it sound better also.

[takeout]

So it's less about the converters than having more simultaneous inputs. That's a different topic.

My home rig is an M-Audio ProjectMix and a Mackie Onyx. The Onyx is the master via an optical connection. I get 16 inputs and have had great luck with this combo.

I'd re-recommend that MOTU unit. They have a great reputation, and their pre's are good too.

[MrJoshua]

In a way it's a different topic; in a way, it isn't. I already have decent preamps, so I don't want a unit with preamps onboard. In fact I already have one of those, an SM-Pro Audio unit that converts eight mic preamps into ADAT. The problem is, it's noisy - adds just enough noise to the signal during conversion to be audible. And I know it's the converter adding the noise because I can use the pres on it and send it through the Digi converters and it sounds fine. But the pres on my mixer sound better. So I figured rather than get another pre/converter combo unit, I'd just get an 8-channel converter so I could use the pres on my mixer. I want converters at least as nice as the ones on the Digi so I'm not losing any quality in my overall recording, which will probably contain elements recorded via:

1) Digi preamps and converters (channels 1-4)
2) FMR Audio RNP to Digi converters (channels 5-8)
3) Mixer pres to converter T.B.D. (ADAT channels 1-8)

I'll take a look at the MOTU, but I really don't want something with mic pres on it. It seems like I ought to be able to get better converters for the money on a unit that doesn't include pres. Maybe I'm wrong.

[Jugghaid]

So it's less about the converters than having more simultaneous inputs. That's a different topic.

My home rig is an M-Audio ProjectMix and a Mackie Onyx. The Onyx is the master via an optical connection. I get 16 inputs and have had great luck with this combo.

I'd re-recommend that MOTU unit. They have a great reputation, and their pre's are good too.

How do you like that Onyx?