Taperssection.com
Gear / Technical Help => Battery Boxes, Preamps, Mixers, ADCs, and Processors => Topic started by: macdaddy on December 31, 2014, 05:22:15 PM
-
I am running into an issue where venues now have digital boards, and thus my patch must be digi-ready. Yet to sync with my mic rig (listed in my signature), I need an analog signal, like a 2x xlr or rca, since my recorder will not accept two digital inputs...
Preferably I want a device that accepts aes and spidf inputs since I will likely come across both eventually...
So I guess either I get a new recorder that will accept different digital inputs, or I find a dac to use in the field (changing my mic rig is out of the question). I would assume getting a new dac would be cheaper than getting a new recorder, but truthfully I don't really know what is out there...
This, I am starting this thread to ask for input on options that are available to me...
Thanks, in advance, for any and all insight, input and advice.
-
Digital boards will have analog outs - if you're determined to keep the ad2k in the rig (assuming that connects digitally) - just use those.
Take a super close look at the boards and see what your dealing with - there a lots of variations.
-
Seems like a great reason to get a 744t and drop the ad2k and r-44...
-
Or you could get the refurbed DR-680 in the Retail section for $300. You would have both analog and digital ins. A relatively inexpensive solution.
-
The digital boards I have been seeing lately do not have spidf output, so the dr-680 doesn't work.
-
The digital boards I have been seeing lately do not have spidf output, so the dr-680 doesn't work.
Do they have AES? What about an AES to coax cable made by Ted or Digi gal?
-
Thank you very much for the input...
The digital boards I have seen output aes, but yes, one of those aes > spidf cables will solve that issue...
So, a new recorder would Do what I need; I guess both the 680 and the 744 can take two different digital sources...
Are there any small DACs that would work..? One reason I am interested in the DAC route is that I won't be hamstrung by whatever the output word length/sample rate is from the board. I am also hoping the DAC route would be cheaper than buying a new recorder...
Anyway, thanks again. I appreciate all the input greatly.
-
So, a new recorder would Do what I need; I guess both the 680 and the 744 can take two different digital sources...
They can, however the 680 can sometimes be picky about syncing to the digital input. My observation was that it would sync more reliably to an AES than SPDIF signal.
-
Thank you very much for the input...
The digital boards I have seen output aes, but yes, one of those aes > spidf cables will solve that issue...
So, a new recorder would Do what I need; I guess both the 680 and the 744 can take two different digital sources...
Are there any small DACs that would work..? One reason I am interested in the DAC route is that I won't be hamstrung by whatever the output word length/sample rate is from the board. I am also hoping the DAC route would be cheaper than buying a new recorder...
Anyway, thanks again. I appreciate all the input greatly.
You may be able to go with a small stand alone DAC but it will require a way to power it in the field, I don't know of anything off the top of my head that would work but maybe something exists in the headphone world since they take their portable playback rather seriously. Unfortunately there seems to be no small stand alone "quality" ADC's for field use besides the Sound Devices Mixpre-D & USBPre 2 which are both higher than purchasing a new deck. Both of those are preamps first & foremost with the great Sound Devices ADC built in. The USBPre also works as a standalone DAC for computer playback which is nice & may work for you in your application plus help justify the cost during playback?
-
Audioroot Upre mkII has AES and is tiny!
-
Its a mixed field...YMMV
We have the popular Behringer X32 at work - and it only has AES - which I believe defaults to L/R outputs. (as long as nobody has changed the routing)
There are mixers like the A&H ZEDs that have USB - that carries L/R mix also. Not really a digital mixer - but an analog mixer with a digital (USB) output.
I'd imagine SPDIF/RCA is about the rarest.
-
So, a new recorder would Do what I need; I guess both the 680 and the 744 can take two different digital sources...
They can, however the 680 can sometimes be picky about syncing to the digital input. My observation was that it would sync more reliably to an AES than SPDIF signal.
I have found that my DR-680 will accept some digi-board AES outs but not others. No special cable needed. Some digi-boards operate at 48kHz and others at 96kHz. Very important to have the mix correctly routed and to know the sample rate. Some sound engineers seem to have problems changing the routings correctly even when they are willing to do it. Same can be true in trying to connect to the spare assignable analog outs. YMMV
-
Sound Devices Mixpre D