24 input interface

antodeco

Hi all,
Have a 24 channel desk that I need to connect to protools. Can anyone recommend a good interface so I can use the desk with my Mac?

Thanks

DamagedTrax

what version of protools are you running?

antodeco

HD

DamagedTrax

:rolleyes: 7, 8 or 9

have you had a look at the digi hardware. the older ones are going for a decent price on ebay.

a digi 192 i/o (with expander DA card) and a 96 i/o will get you to 24 returns for the desk.

alternativly people get good results from apogee hardware but the prices are a bit higher than old digi stuff.

antodeco

Sorry, I thought HD was only an 8 release...

DamagedTrax

antodeco wrote: »

Sorry, I thought HD was only an 8 release...

a hd system will run on 6, 7, 7.4, 8 & 9.

have you got a full hd system with pci cards or have you just got the protools 8 hd software?

sorry im a little confused

antodeco

Its just the software I have. Its currently on the MacBook pro, so I'm limited to what I can run on it (hardware wise)

DamagedTrax

you cant run protools 8 hd (or below) without the tdm (pci) cards.

its only with the recent release of protools 9 that we are able to use PT with being tied to an avid/digi/m-audio interface. even then its not the same as a hd system and hd 9 still requires the tdm cards.

sorry but you're out of luck.

antodeco

Ah crap, thanks for the info. I have an m-audio box as it is, but its only a 2 inputs device. I assume I can use this for just two channels?

DamagedTrax

antodeco wrote: »

Ah crap, thanks for the info. I have an m-audio box as it is, but its only a 2 inputs device. I assume I can use this for just two channels?

its also not for hd. m-audio only works with protools "m-powered" which wont give you 24 outputs anyway as its a slimmed down version of the program similiar to LE.

PaulBrewer

SSL Alpha Link has 24 analogue ins and outs -

Connection to PT by Delta Link or any Madi Interface.

There's also Adat and AES outs which gives other options.

Bangin Box for not much money I reckon - so much so I got one myself.


http://www.solid-state-logic.com/music/xlogic%20alpha-link/

antodeco

Ok, so should I get m-powered PT to use it with the box?

DamagedTrax

antodeco wrote: »

Ok, so should I get m-powered PT to use it with the box?

you can either use a version of m-powered or else protools 9. you cannot use LE or hd with an m-audio interface.

personally i'd go for v9. it has a lot more options that were previously only available to hd users.. but that comes with a price!

antodeco

I might just pick up 9 so. Work out less than buying kit to use with 8 HD

antodeco

Right! So, before I go buying things, could I do the following:

Purchase M Audio ProFire2626, connect this to my Behringer mx9000 and connect the ProFire2626 to the macbook pro via firewire and use pro tools?

Thanks


Sorry for all the questions. I can use a desk and pro tools, its just I have never set up a desk before!

off.the.walls

Is the desk digital or analouge?

antodeco

Analogue.

antodeco

Hey guys,
Anyone any advice on this? Im simply looking to getting the Mx9000 desk working with my macbook pro and protools (whichever version I need). If you can let me know what hardware I need to do this, I can get it ordered soon.

Thanks again

DamagedTrax

profire 2626 is your best option with your version of protools. even then you'll only get limited channel count into the desk.

if you want to really utilise the desk you're going to have to get protools 9 and a multi out interface (with i/o to suit your specific needs).

antodeco

I don't mind getting PT9 to utilise the whole desk, but what interface should I get? I don't necessarily need the full 24 channels but, wouldn't mind having the option. Being honest I'm totally clueless about interfaces (always worked with pre setup desks), so any advice is honestly very appreciated.

DamagedTrax

http://www.rme-audio.de

have a look at their usb/firewire range.

TelePaul

antodeco wrote: »

I don't mind getting PT9 to utilise the whole desk, but what interface should I get? I don't necessarily need the full 24 channels but, wouldn't mind having the option. Being honest I'm totally clueless about interfaces (always worked with pre setup desks), so any advice is honestly very appreciated.

I'm completely open to correction here, but as I understand it, many interfaces will come with 8 inputs as standard. You can use an ADAT light-pipe connection to hook up another 16 inputs, though I'm pretty sure a maximum of 8 channels are supported by each light-pipe device - as such you'd, need two to run 24 inputs simultaneously. This is also contingent on PT9 supporting 24 simultaneous inputs (I think its 32).

In my experience - and again, I'm a complete novice - the cost of the light-pipe channel strips can be high due to the included pre-amps. Strikes me as strange that you'll be paying quite a bit to feed a whole new set of pre-amps (even the analogue desk is a Behringer! - I kid, I kid!)

I think I'm in right in the above but you should probably wait for someone more experienced to throw their oar in.

antodeco

Thanks for all the advice guys, honestly. I suppose if I can get an interface that will give me useable 8 channels for now, I can expand as needs be later on down the line. What audio interface should I purchase to connect to the Behringer Desk, that I can use with Pro Tools? (As I said, I dont mind getting PT9 to use any suggested equipment).

DamagedTrax

antodeco wrote: »

Thanks for all the advice guys, honestly. I suppose if I can get an interface that will give me useable 8 channels for now, I can expand as needs be later on down the line. What audio interface should I purchase to connect to the Behringer Desk, that I can use with Pro Tools? (As I said, I dont mind getting PT9 to use any suggested equipment).

have a look at the RME link i posted above. all very high quality interfaces.

antodeco

DamagedTrax wrote: »

have a look at the RME link i posted above. all very high quality interfaces.

Sorry, I some how skimmed over that post! Had a look there, looks very good, but a little pricey (I know you pay for what you get!). I may be a little dumb, but it looks like they bypass the desk and simply plug into that interface and that goes into the Mac?

I can get the profire 2626 for €400. Would this basically do the same thing? (ie desk > interface > mac) Sorry, I know Im being annoying. I just dont want to spend money on things that arent going to work together!

EDIT: Im assuming I can just plug Channel 1 and Channel 2, of the desk,into the two inputs of the M-Audio Firewire 410 I have at the moment to enable me to use the desk, albeit with just two channels?

DamagedTrax

Sorry, I some how skimmed over that post! Had a look there, looks very good, but a little pricey (I know you pay for what you get!). I may be a little dumb, but it looks like they bypass the desk and simply plug into that interface and that goes into the Mac?

90% of interfaces can bypass the desk as they mostly all have preamps built in.

to use it with the desk for recording you route it to the desk so that it bypasses the desk pre-amps (which is a good thing on a behringer desk!!!)

for mixing you route it the interface outputs into the tape/mon returns (also bypassing any desk pre).

I can get the profire 2626 for €400. Would this basically do the same thing? (ie desk > interface > mac) Sorry, I know Im being annoying. I just dont want to spend money on things that arent going to work together!

every interface does basically the same thing and every one can be routed thru an analog desk with no problems (be it 2 or 24 channels)

Im assuming I can just plug Channel 1 and Channel 2, of the desk,into the two inputs of the M-Audio Firewire 410 I have at the moment to enable me to use the desk, albeit with just two channels?

yes you can. you can also route the 2 interface outputs back to the desk for mixing purposes (i dont know your desk too well but theres probably input reverse switches for monitoring back). although theres very little point to that unless you use an external recorder as you're already using your inteface inputs so you'd have no way of recording your mix back into your DAW.

antodeco

Thanks for the reply again. So basically, if I want to be able to use my desk with pro-tools, I need to do the following:

Direct Outs of desk into inputs of (eg)ProFire 2626. Firewire from the 2626 into the Mac. This should allow me then to be able to record through the desk for it to appear in protools? Then, to get it controllable via the desk, use the outputs of the 2626 back into the line in of the desk?

Thanks

DamagedTrax

antodeco wrote: »

Thanks for the reply again. So basically, if I want to be able to use my desk with pro-tools, I need to do the following:

Direct Outs of desk into inputs of (eg)ProFire 2626. Firewire from the 2626 into the Mac. This should allow me then to be able to record through the desk for it to appear in protools? Then, to get it controllable via the desk, use the outputs of the 2626 back into the line in of the desk?

Thanks

sounds about right

antodeco

Thanks for all the help. Ive been working in a pre-setup studio, so never actually thought about the process of getting it all setup. Once its setup Ill be grand for everything, just unsure as to how to set it up. Ill have to get you a drink if we ever meet!

hubiedubie

If you're using Protools 9, you can daisy chain 2 of these for 24 inputs, very highly regarded for the price:
http://www.studiosolutions.ie/630-Echo-Audiofire-12-Firewire-Audio-Interface.htm