I think the rack units with ADAT is the perfect solution, if interface has ADAT.
Outboard can be a substantial investment.
Do as much research as possible... and try to go someplace (like Sweetwater) where you can audition in person. Make sure you like the "character" that piece of outboard is going to apply.
You can't put $8000 of preamp circuitry in a $600 audio interface.
- no analog in interface used
Neve 1073OPX can be equipped with ADAT as well.
Grace Design M108 has ADAT.
- these land on $5500 or so 8 channels
As SSL Pure Drive series is ADAT. The clever thing SSL did was to provide a 4 channel rack version making it half price.
- the Quad is around $1100 or so
- but can cascade a second unit later if you want, on the same optical
- and there is a 8 channel version too, but a fixed HP 75 Hz on this, no knob
Couldn't be happier than with the Quad. Rendered some midi from Mp7SE piano and REV2 so far and just floored over result.
- Audient ASP was decent, this was special a couple of notches
Also some interesting features like the drive modes Classic or Assymetrical. Assymetrical is in the ballpark of 4000 series, but not designed to be really, according to SSL support.
- 4 options impedance mike inputs. Line inputs fixed at 22kohm.
- you have to experiment with input level in drive modes
- not going +24 dB on leds, making it 0 dBFs into unit, it's taking it too far
- clean mode is all fine with a tiny bit compression, but stick to +12-18 dB and neutral just very, very clean and nice
Listened to some YT demos and they went all the way +24 dB and it sounded far out, and not so usable in my taste.
With a push of a button you can make send out on DB25 connector and take 4 first inputs back into unit. Can also be used to have fixed XLR connected on regular inputs and just take line on DB25, so no need for cable swapping if having that setup and just a button push to change to DB25.
But can be used as having a compressor or something else in the chain.
Statistics: Posted by lfm — Sun Feb 16, 2025 5:22 am