ADAT recorders and Pulsar...

rodos1979 · Post by **rodos1979** » Mon Mar 10, 2003 6:09 pm

Hello to all!

2 weeks ago I have been asking about AD Converters and I had almost decided to buy an A16Ultra. But after having thought about it a bit more, I came to the conclusion that the thing I need is an ADAT recorder. Basically, I want to multi-track record a concert of my music this Saturday. For this time I am going to hire some gear in order to do it. But as I am going to do it again and again in the future, I am planning to buy some gear.
Basically, what I need to do: Record in a compact machine that can be easily connected to most analog mixing consoles, and then to be able to feed the music through my Pulsar's ADAT ins in to my DAW for editing/mixing etc. I need something that is reliable, good quality and can work well with Pulsar. So, I thought what I need is an ADAT recorder.
Now, I was wondering if anybody from you is using one. If yes, which one are you using? Do you encounter any problems? Is there something that I should know before I buy an ADAT recorder? Please tell me your experiences and your ideas.
I was thinking about the Alesis LX20. What do you think about it? Can you recommend any other (cheaper but good)?

Thank you

bassdude · Post by **bassdude** » Mon Mar 10, 2003 11:00 pm

Need to use s-vhs tapes. Total record time per standard 180 3Hr tape is 45mins.
Need To format tapes before use (takes 45mins to format).

Need to do regular maintenance (cleaning heads,pinch roller etc) especially if you are going to record gigs in smokey environments.

But they are good little units if you look after them properly. Have used them for live recording myself.

Have you thought about the newer H/D based recorders? Might be able to get a good deal on a second hand unit? I would go this way. Less maintenance.

[ This Message was edited by: bassdude on 2003-03-10 23:02 ]

[ This Message was edited by: bassdude on 2003-03-10 23:11 ]

Post by **garyb** » Tue Mar 11, 2003 2:09 am

yes,here around hollywood we've tried adats.if you must use such a device they will work well and sound good but beware!svhs was NEVER meant for this use.(lots of shuttleing back and forth)it was for watching a movie at home and then maybe rewinding it.(why do you think they sell all those rewinders)they will fail miserably after a short lifespan.beware of high milage older units!

the 8mm transport of the da-38/88 is much more sturdy....(but they only have t/dif digital i/o)

a hard disk recorder will be much more dependable,but not as convienient when it comes to storing material.(those tapes are handy,they stack nice and are cheap)

the tip about mantainance is dead-on.avoid cheap tapes as they shed oxide and cause the machine to eat tapes.use back-caoted broadcast quality tape for the best result.the tape usually sold as adat tape is crap.my store recommends maxell ST-126BQ.

Grok · Post by **Grok** » Tue Mar 11, 2003 2:52 am

I'll go with a Hard disk recorder.

A computer based DAW would be the best, supposing you have the sufficient knowledge to tweak it at its best...If you don't have it (learning this can be done by everybody, if you have the time for), then one or several ADAT recorders is the simplest solution. With tapes to buy and recording heads maintenance to do and/or pay...

IMO the computer based DAW is the more flexable and cheaper solution, at the written above condition (knowing what you do with it)

Regards,
Grok

rodos1979 · Post by **rodos1979** » Tue Mar 11, 2003 6:18 am

Hello to all and thanks for replying!

Mmm, I know that a DAW is the most powerful solution but it is very difficult to record a live concert directly in my PC. It is very difficult to carry the PC, the 2 Monitors, cables, mouse, keyboard etc etc. For that reason I thought that I need a machine (an ADAT recorder lets say) that is easy to transfer, so I could record the live concert into it. Then I would transfer the recording into my DAW at home, edit, re-mix, re-record some parts and finally burn a new better mix on to a CD.
From what you say, if I have understood right, an ADAT recorder needs a lot of maintenance and the SVHS tapes are not a very reliable medium...So, probably a HardDisk recorder would be a better choice...
Could you recommend me any to have a look at?
The 'machine' I need (be it an ADAT or a Hard Disk recorder) should have the following characteristics:
1) it should be easy to transfer (it should be as compact and noiseless as possible)
2) it should connect easily to my Pulsar's ADAT ins, with no other gear needed
3) I dont need any editing features on it, since I am going to make all of the editing with my DAW and Pulsar
4) It should not cost a lot to maintain
Given these, which machine would you recommend? Which model? (be it an ADAT or a Hard Disk recorder) So, I can have a look at it and decide.

Thank you very much for your help

[ This Message was edited by: rodos1979 on 2003-03-11 06:21 ]

w_ellis · Post by **w_ellis** » Tue Mar 11, 2003 7:17 am

I think this one's supposed to be quite good and probably fulfils most of your requirements:
http://www.mackie.com/record/sdr2496/index.html

It's about £1200. I don't think there are many similar ones that are much cheaper.

lifechanger · Post by **lifechanger** » Tue Mar 11, 2003 8:46 am

I've used the Fostex duo for well over a year, now. A 20 Gig HD was installed in the ADAT 8-track. Wonderful buy for the money.
I also use Fostex 8 track ADAT coverter.

-- the VM200 digital mixer and the VR800 desktop digital recorder.

The VM200 (£999) is an affordable digital recording mixer providing 20 inputs (eight of them ADAT-format digital) and eight ADAT plus eight analogue outputs, all with 32-bit processing. Two effects processors are built in, and 60mm motorised faders are fitted to the unit. Fostex consider the new mixer a perfect partner for their VR800 recorder, a desktop-style unit also featuring an ADAT optical connection. Anyone familiar with Fostex's own FD8 digital multitracker, which incorporates a mixer section and was featured in last month's buyer's guide, will spot that the VR800 resembles the FD8's recorder section and appears to be derived from it. The VR800 can record to a variety of 3.5-inch internal or external media, and offers eight tracks of 44.1kHz, 16-bit audio, plus 16 additional 'virtual' tracks, and sophisticated MIDI and word sync facilities. It costs a very reasonable £499, or £599 with fitted 3.2Gb internal hard drive or Zip drive. Ease of use, according to SCV, has been paramount in the design of both new units, which can, of course, be used separately as part of existing or new systems.

Availability?..there's gotta be some around.

[ This Message was edited by: lifechanger on 2003-03-11 08:47 ]

rodos1979 · Post by **rodos1979** » Tue Mar 11, 2003 4:46 pm

Hello and thanks for replying!

I am going to have a look at the ones you have suggested.

Thank you for your help!

astroman · Post by **astroman** » Tue Mar 11, 2003 6:03 pm

hi Rodos,

be very careful at Fostex prices. They have constant blow outs on the whole product palette, so suggested retail prices are always wrong. I've seen the VR800 together with the VC8 for as little as 250 €.
But for live applications the rackmountable Fostex D824 or D1624 (748/1148€ at Thomann) are much better to handle than the desktop VR.
24bit upto 96 khz, analog ins, removeable front panel for remote control and exchangeable disks.

cheers, Tom

Post by **garyb** » Wed Mar 12, 2003 4:34 am

fostex is VERY good as a company or their u.s.a. branch here in lala land is.

Shayne White · Post by **Shayne White** » Wed Mar 12, 2003 2:16 pm

Have you thought about a notebook computer and a FireWire audio interface?

Shayne

rodos1979 · Post by **rodos1979** » Wed Mar 12, 2003 6:42 pm

Hello to all and thank you for your ideas!

I will have a look too at the ones you have suggested astroman.

Shayne White, I have the impression that a portable PC with a firewire audio interface, is going to cost a lot more money and it will be less reliable than an ADAT or a Hard Disk Recorder. These are dedicated machines, that are meant to do only one thing: record. And I guess I am not going to see any blue screens and "illegal operations" with such a machine...I dont know, I may be wrong...But that is the feeling I have.

Thank you

[ This Message was edited by: rodos1979 on 2003-03-12 18:55 ]

rodos1979 · Post by **rodos1979** » Wed Mar 12, 2003 7:11 pm

Hello again!

Astroman, I have checked the Fostex ones you have suggested and they are very interesting (the Mackie one is very interesting too). However, I could not find the D1624 and D824 on the Fostex site. The only one I could find was the D2424 (24 tracks, which is more than I need and more than my Pulsar can handle). Maybe, these are not produced any more?