I noticed in the Summer gear catalog that I just received yesterday, they are now offering Focal studio monitors. Quite nice since I like to think that Sweetwater only sells products that are "well thought out".

They sure are hyping up the Twin6 BEs:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Twin6Be/

___________________
Youtube || Soundcloud || Synth Patch Banks

Probably a good thing for them to get hooked up with a mainstream distributor. At least it wasn't GC.

quote:

Originally posted by Eric J Probably a good thing for them to get hooked up with a mainstream distributor. At least it wasn't GC.

How's your quest to acquire a MOTU 2408 and Apogee Mini-DAC going?

___________________
Youtube || Soundcloud || Synth Patch Banks

quote:

Originally posted by alanzo How's your quest to acquire a MOTU 2408 and Apogee Mini-DAC going?

Quite good. I'm just now fixing to order the 2408 at the end of this week. I have been doing some research and decided to pick up a Rosetta 200 instead of the Mini Dac. I figure I'd rather wait a bit longer and get the Rosetta, so then I also have 2 channels of A/D in addition to the D/A.

quote:

Originally posted by Eric J Quite good. I'm just now fixing to order the 2408 at the end of this week. I have been doing some research and decided to pick up a Rosetta 200 instead of the Mini Dac. I figure I'd rather wait a bit longer and get the Rosetta, so then I also have 2 channels of A/D in addition to the D/A.

Nice. I may have gotten something like that, but Apogee doesn't support Windows very well. Be weary, though. I know that in Cubase under windows, you can only select a single audio interface. So I'm not sure if you'll be able to use both the MOTU 24io and the Rosette since they'll use different drivers... or whatever the Mac equivilent of drivers is.

___________________
Youtube || Soundcloud || Synth Patch Banks

quote:

Originally posted by alanzo Nice. I may have gotten something like that, but Apogee doesn't support Windows very well. Be weary, though. I know that in Cubase under windows, you can only select a single audio interface. So I'm not sure if you'll be able to use both the MOTU 24io and the Rosette since they'll use different drivers... or whatever the Mac equivilent of drivers is.

Well, actually you can use multiple audio devices in Mac Os X. You can create an "aggregate" audio device, which combines one or more audio devices into a single unit.

However, I wont be using it set up that way. The plan is to have the 2408 connected to my PCI-424 card (as the 24 I/O is now), so that the Mac will only be aware of the 2408. Then I'm going to go S/PDIF or Optical out from the 2408 into the Rosetta, then out from the Rosetta into the monitors.

quote:

Originally posted by Eric J Well, actually you can use multiple audio devices in Mac Os X. You can create an "aggregate" audio device, which combines one or more audio devices into a single unit. However, I wont be using it set up that way. The plan is to have the 2408 connected to my PCI-424 card (as the 24 I/O is now), so that the Mac will only be aware of the 2408. Then I'm going to go S/PDIF or Optical out from the 2408 into the Rosetta, then out from the Rosetta into the monitors.

What about for the inputs on the Rosetta?

___________________
Youtube || Soundcloud || Synth Patch Banks

quote:

Originally posted by alanzo What about for the inputs on the Rosetta?

Just use Analog In on the Rosetta. Right now I only have one outboard analog source, and I pretty much never use it so it is not a major concern. If I end up with more analog inputs, I can always use a patchbay.

Honestly, I just want to have the option open for 2 channels of Analog In, just in case I decide to pick up an analog source. If I were to pick one up, it'd be something vintage or vintage recreation, such as a real J8 ($$$), Modern Moog, or similar. It is highly doubtful that it would be anytime soon and there is always the option of picking up a good front end preamp with digital outs.

Really, I am quite happy with my vintage software emulations, so I do not anticipate getting back to the hardware route anytime soon, but it'll be nice to have the option there just in case I changed my mind in the future.

I was actually toying with going all out and picking up a UA 2192. However, at $3,000 I figured that if I was going to go that route, I might as well ditch the MOTU/Apogee combo altogether and shell out for the Aurora 8. Getting the MOTU/Rosetta combo provides me with high quality D/A for a "reasonable" price, and I wont be regretting the purchase 3 years down the line thinking that I could have gotten something better for what I needed.

You kinda sound like you're going down the slippery slope of analog <=> digital converters. Be careful... there really isn't *that* much of a difference. One thing about the Mini-DAC that I really like is the instant access to a level knob. Don't think I'd be able to go on without it after getting so used to its convenience.

___________________
Youtube || Soundcloud || Synth Patch Banks

I hear you. That's why i'm going with the Rosetta and not something more expensive. Its just enough to be a significant upgrade without getting into that "diminishing returns" category. I can apply volume attenuation with a passive attenuator between the Rosetta and the monitors. Right now its the Central Station, but eventually, I may replace the CS with a Dangerous Music Monitor ST. Several people on GS are using the Rosetta PCS/DMST combo without complaint, so that's about the best advice I can get.

Wow, you're thinking $1800 for a monitor volume control?

I would have to have everything else perfect for me to consider that kind of outlay for that function. It's right at the edge of the cost vs diminishing return precipice for me. I don't think the DMST will offer a signifigant improvement audio quality over the CS for the extra $1500.

You could always go Lavry Black/Mytek/auraura for the sort of money you're talking about but I'm sure you've already had that conversation a dozen times.

I would certainly buy the 2408 second hand - as someone who provided tech support for them (albeit a few years ago) the used ones are not liekly to be screwed and as they were the most popular from the motu range there's loads of them always coming up on craigs list and ebay for seriously cheap.

quote:

Originally posted by DJ RANN Wow, you're thinking $1800 for a monitor volume control? I would have to have everything else perfect for me to consider that kind of outlay for that function. It's right at the edge of the cost vs diminishing return precipice for me. I don't think the DMST will offer a signifigant improvement audio quality over the CS for the extra $1500.

Well, maybe I misspoke there a little bit. That kind of upgrade would be WAY, WAY down the line. I only mentioned it because it would be the next logical step up from by current monitoring solution. There is a LOT of other things I would upgrade first, including buying a shit ton of software.

quote:

Originally posted by DJ RANN You could always go Lavry Black/Mytek/auraura for the sort of money you're talking about but I'm sure you've already had that conversation a dozen times.

Yeah, the thing is that I really want to have the option of at least 2 channels of high quality A/D in addition to the quality D/A. The MOTU converters arent bad, but they definitely fall into the "minimum quality" category. I did look into the Lavry Black, Benchmark and the Mytek solutions, but, obviously those are all D/A only.

I looked at things like the UA 2192 as alternatives, but its twice as expensive as the Rosetta 200. If you have suggestions on alternatives to the Rosetta 200 that offer similar features, I'd be happy to listen.

Having 2 channels of HQ A/D gives me options. On the production side, I can record outboard hardware if needed. On the non-production side, I've already been in the process of recording my vinyl collection.

What I do NOT want to do is get something that is a "stop-gap." I already played that game with my monitors and my computer. When I finally shelled out for the Mac Pro, I knew that I would never again question my choice of hardware and DAW software. When I shelled out for the Focal Twins, I knew I would never again question my choice of near field monitors.

I want to make that same purchase decision with my D/A converters. When I bought my Focals, I knew that a D/A upgrade was going to be ultimately necessary to get the full benefit of such high quality monitors. The Apogee fufills all my needs for high quality D/A AND A/D without breaking the bank of more expensive solutions.

The next step is going to be shelling out for some decent room treatment. I don't want to go crazy with it, but I could stand to spend a grand or so on some treatment. My room is oddly shaped, so I'm at least working with that advantage.

quote:

Originally posted by DJ RANN I would certainly buy the 2408 second hand - as someone who provided tech support for them (albeit a few years ago) the used ones are not liekly to be screwed and as they were the most popular from the motu range there's loads of them always coming up on craigs list and ebay for seriously cheap.

Yeah, I'll look into it, but honestly, I had ALWAYS had bad luck with buying used gear. Cars, computers, even refurbished always cause me problems.

BTW--My 24 I/O will be up for sale in the next week or two after I get the 2408, so if you are interested, let me know before I put it up on eBay. You'll need a PCI-324 or PCI-424 card to make it work.