Mac OS 9 Lives

Classic Mac OS Software => Digital Audio Workstations - General Discussion => Topic started by: Protools5LEGuy on June 26, 2014, 03:44:03 PM

Title: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: Protools5LEGuy on June 26, 2014, 03:44:03 PM
I want to build my best possible setup. This includes choosing 4 things:
My best preamp
My best A/D  converter
My best clock
My best D/A converter.

I can play with :
Focusrite Saphire Liquid 56
Digidesing Digi 001
Digidesign Audiomedia III
M-Audio Audiophile 24/96
Behringer UCA200

I suspect my best solution is the simplest: To use the Focusrite as Pre/Standalone AD/MasterClock/DA solution with the 001. But maybe the Audiomedia has better clock (?)
Audiomedia III has 18 bits AD/DA but sounds cool too.
I think AP24/96 has better converters than the 001, but is surpassed by the Liquid 56.

My best friend/procuder in Madrid has a HD2 on a hack i7 with 96 I/O and it sounds better with the wordclock from a MOTU 828 mk2 and a Presonus Central Station as DA.

I want to find my best combination with my hardware.

Any thought is welcome 
I feel the clock from the AM III being the best
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: Protools5LEGuy on June 26, 2014, 04:48:43 PM
I have also for preamps:
Focusrite Trackmaster http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/nov01/articles/trackmaster.asp (http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/nov01/articles/trackmaster.asp)
HK Original Tubeman http://www.gearslutz.com/board/so-many-guitars-so-little-time/840201-h-k-tubeman-mk-1-a.html (http://www.gearslutz.com/board/so-many-guitars-so-little-time/840201-h-k-tubeman-mk-1-a.html)
Yamaha DG-60 112 http://en.audiofanzine.com/modeling-combo-amplifier/yamaha/DG60-112/medias/pictures/a.play,m.158855.html (http://en.audiofanzine.com/modeling-combo-amplifier/yamaha/DG60-112/medias/pictures/a.play,m.158855.html)
And a StudioMaster 16-4-2 console upgraded to 24 channels. http://www.gearslutz.com/board/low-end-theory/380329-studiomaster-16-4-2-opinions.html (http://www.gearslutz.com/board/low-end-theory/380329-studiomaster-16-4-2-opinions.html)

I think the more flexible is the Liquid 56. Based On Syntefex DSPs (?). With 2 Liquid channels "LE" edition(second). Liquid Channel is manufactured exclusively by Focusrite Engineering Ltd under licence from Sintefex Audio Lda, Portugal. Liquid Channel is a trademark of Focusrite. Dynamic Convolution is a trademark of Sintefex Audio Lda. http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/may09/articles/liquidsaffire56.htm (http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/may09/articles/liquidsaffire56.htm)

The emulations are interesting, but to change the Focusrite PREs setup I have to go tiger/leo...And plug it to setup the standalone mode. Worth dual booting, I guess.

I have been using the Audiomedia III with the focusrite trackmaster with PT5-6 for years and it has only 18 bit converters but it sounds to me someway better than the AP2496 with logic and same pre...

The Studiomaster Console is too big to use as PREs, even in 16-4-2 setup.


 
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: Protools5LEGuy on July 08, 2014, 03:32:18 PM
As it is common knowledge that many inexpensive audio interfaces have cheaper clock chipsets, it may be less known that a "word Clock In" can be a very powerful tool.  There is a reason why RME stuff is more expensive than MOTU and that Apogee stuff is 4X the price of RME (the price of the A/D Converters and respective internal clocks directly correlate to the accuracy of the digital file created). 

For producers on a budget that have a lot of digital audio devices all interacting with each other or just want the best quality absolutely possible, then using 1 external master clock can help tremendously. I remember a being in a studio that was comparing tracks that were transferred from 24-track Studer reel to reel into a G4 using 3 different methods; Method 1 was to have (2) 1224s use their Motu Clock, Method 2 was the 1224s "word clock in" slave from a Apogee "Big Ben" master word clock and Method 3 was to have the 1224s "word clock in" slave from a Lucid genx192 master word clock.

So the results ? The tracks created letting the MOTU clock off the Big Ben or Lucid sounded far superior in Bass response and clarity to the tracks created with the same interface using it's own clock… so bottom line is that not all clocks are equal… Even though the different clocks are responsible to coordinate taking the same number samples per second, some clocks are more accurate of "when" during each slice of that second to take a sample.  The studio owner in charge of the test told me "it's like having 44 thousand soldiers, the cheaper clock represents them marching when they are drunk, and that is why the low end of the audio tracks sound smeared, while the more expensive clock represents them in peak performance in perfect step and the sonic clarity of the audio track is the end result"

So IMO at the level of most project studio interfaces the "Word Clock in" is by far more important then having a "Word Clock out" for those who need the next level, but cannot afford an Apogee or RME 24 track setup.  The Luicid genx192 was less than half the price of the Big ben (about $800) and to my ears it produced tracks that sounded the same (the four other engineers who were there shared the same opinion)

Now, if you are using a $99 PCI AudioPhile 2496… then ignore all of this.  When tracking one or 2 tracks at a time the quality will still be amazing.  Remember, in a low complexity studio setup with 24-Bit audio files and MIDI controlled VSTIs the results will still exceed what was available back in the day

In my setup the only Wordclock capable soundcard is the Focusrite Saphire Liquid 56. Any of my cards can have the clock internal or external (thru SPDIF or ADAT).

I can't afford RME or Apogee. My posible "Big Ben" (best clock) is my AM III, the DIGI 001, an AP 2496 and the Focusrite 56.

I think my best preamp is the Focusrite SL56 followed by the Focusrite Trackmaster. 3rd is the StudioMaster. 4th the HK Tubeman and 5th the DIGI 001

I think my best A/D the Focusrite SL56, AP2496/AM III, Digi 001.

I  feel my best clock AM III, 2nd the SL56, 3rd AP2496 and last 001.

My best D/A should be the SL56.

What would  all you suggest?

Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: DieHard on July 08, 2014, 11:42:19 PM
Thanks for the PM… but I Figured I would reply here in case someone else needs this info.

OK… let's do some basics on the stuff you mentioned…

Quote
Focusrite Saphire Liquid 56
Digidesing Digi 001
Digidesign Audiomedia III
M-Audio Audiophile 24/96
Behringer UCA200
Trackmaster

1) The Audiomedia III has 18-bit converters on the analog A to D hardware side… but 24 Bit via S/PDIF RCA in/Out…
so if you are only recording 2 analog tracks at a time… just use the 2496 (Media III is a step backward)… so for nows let's ignore the Audio Media III all together
also for now let's ignore the Behringer UCA202 USB "toy" Audio Interface

2) The number of tracks you need to record simultaneously is a big factor…. you never mentioned it.. If you have and old DAT… like a Panasonic, the A to D converters are very good and you can go up to 4 tracks with the 2496… 2 analog and 2 digital S/PDIF simultaneously… the S/DPIF signal from the dat will provide audio word clock and digital audio info to the 2496 from the signal itself…so far looking good… but need a mixer :( also 4 inputs is probably not enough… so scratch the 2496

3) The Digi001 001 uses CS4223 (Cirrus Logic A to D) 105 dB Dynamic range and 110 dB signal to Noise Ratio (very respectable and 24 Bit Data Path)
Full specs Here CS4223: http://www.cirrus.com/en/pubs/proDatasheet/cs4223-f1.pdf

Note: Jitter Tolerance is 500 psRMS… so basically the internal clock of the CS may not be as accurate as the AK in the 2496… which according to spec is almost jitter free…. however, if you are really crazy about the details and your are recording outside in freezing weather or inside a volcano, then research the temp range of both chips

4) Audiophile 2496 uses AsahiKASEI AK4528, slightly better Dynamic range 108… but better, and signal to noise of 94 DB (this number is basically negligible as long as you have basic audio levels coming in… if your audio level is extremely low…like not even on the meter… then the Cirrus would have ness noise when recording (in Theory)

AK4528 Datasheet: http://pdf.datasheetcatalog.com/datasheets/320/137041_DS.pdf

Big plus of the Digi001 is Ins (8) and Outs while the 2496 shines superb quality of the digital-out (due to the separate transceiver chip CS8427)

Digi001... One MAJOR negative (my biggest turn-off) is TL074 op-amps used in the mic preamp and line inputs.  Basically known to have a analog stage noise issue added to your signal during the input stage which can never be removed, so the signal to noise ratio of the entire device is much lower than the stated in the A to D chip data sheet

5) Focusrite Saphire Liquid 56 - Input Winner over Digi001  Mic Pres on this baby beat the balls off of the Digi001 and the other specs are very good, super bang for the buck, converters are CS 4272 (cirrus logic) (same as Echo Layla 3G) with 114 dB dynamic range, -100 dB THD+N http://pdf.datasheetcatalog.com/datasheet2/4/08q97yp6h0s7yrzq74qzk60396yy.pdf

But no jitter specs anywhere ?!
From Cirus Logic...
Quote
Jitter is a measure of how consistent a clock is and how close the edges are to their ideal positions. A perfect 10MHz clock for example will have an edge (rising or falling) every 50 nSec. Noise on the power supply, quality of the PLL (when syncing to an external clock), circuit design, etc. all produce a clock that is less than perfect. The actual edges will often occur slightly before or after when they theoretically should. This is jitter and it is measured in units of time (either pSec or nSec) and is generally expressed as an average deviation from the ideal. We don't specify the jitter on our products but it is generally around 200 - 300 pSec with internal clocks being the best.
hmmm, 300… better than the Digi001

More Focusrite Saphire Liquid 56
Microphone Inputs: Dynamic Range (A-Weighted): 109dB, SNR (A-weighted): -109dB
Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz +/- 0.1 dB

Line Inputs: Dynamic Range (A-Weighted): 109dB, SNR (A-weighted): -109dB
Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz +/- 0.1dB

Instrument Inputs: Frequency Response 20Hz-20KHz +/- 0.1dB
Maximum Input Level min gain no pad +8dBu
Maximum Input Level max gain no pad -42dBu
SNR 109dB "A"
DNR 109dB "A"

Were are we at now ?
Focusrite Saphire Liquid 56 is the overall winner so far, 8 ins (XLR or 1/4) and 8 outs… so basically, use the Saphire as the Main Interface (plus no mixer needed), headphones out, especially since you said you do not want to use your large board for Mic pre(s)…

You can use the additional inputs of the Digi001 for Line level stuff, avoid the Mic pre(s) since they will amplify the noisy input stage discussed earlier… and yes use the Saphire as the master clock, but setup my be a little tricky..also the DIGI Optical output for 8 channels of ADAT (on the card itself) will now be fed into the Focusrite Saphire… however telling the DAW how to deal with this setup may get a little tricky also

From the Web...
Quote
I recently bought a Lucid GenX6 Wordclock generator, have this sending WC via BNC into DBX 386 into 001 via spdif. The 001 WILL clock to incoming WC signal, you must go into session setups and choose spdif as the clock master.
BTW, i think the most cost effective way to have your DAW sounding better is to get a dedicated wordclock generator. The difference, when comparing a session that was clocked w/ the 001, verses a session clocked to the Lucid was nite/day...really.

The difference, when comparing a session that was clocked w/ the 001, verses a session clocked to the Lucid was nite/day...really.… Yeah, we kinda guessed that… the problem is you need to make sure that all the setting hold for both audio interfaces in the DAW itself… my advice is to forget the Digi001 all together… get an Octpre MKII (used on ebay $350)

Guitar Amp… the Yamaha DG60-112 is nice guitar amp, I am a big fan of of the tones, If you have 2 inputs avail for guitar I would definitely use the line out of the DG60, but also record the signal totally dry for re-amping later in the DAW via a direct box.

Final Setup…. Yeah !!!

1) Keep Liquid Saffire 56 and BUY OctPre(s) as needed http://global.focusrite.com/answerbase/connecting-a-liquid-saffire-56-to-2-external-preamps-via-adat
via ADAT lightpipe… clock as shown or shot the moon and buy a LUCID Clock ($300 on ebay) as the master clock…. not really needed though unless you have $300 extra dollars… also BUY a direct box for guitar
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LUCID-GENx6-WORD-SUPER-CLOCK-GENERATOR-96K-FREE-CABLES-PRIORITY-SHIPPING-/291174524028?pt=US_Computer_Recording_Interfaces&hash=item43cb5aa47c

2) Sell 2496 (or save for Mac #2) the mixing mac :)

3) Sell Digi001 and keep the 56 as the main interface

4) Sell Audiomedia III (was awesome in the day at 16Bit/44K… but now we need to record in 24Bit/88K or at least 24Bit/44K)

5) Use the "track master" as Main Vocal PreAmp line out to the 56 (Great reviews on Compressor and EQ) which should be done at input stage
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: supernova777 on July 09, 2014, 02:14:04 PM
how does the sapphire 56 work in mac os 9????
i check compatibility http://uk.focusrite.com/downloads/os?product=Liquid+Saffire+56
do u use some funky driver?
this says 10.4 tiger +

i dont even think the original saffire worked in mac os 9?
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep05/articles/saffire.htm
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: Protools5LEGuy on July 10, 2014, 06:57:14 AM
DieHard, First of all thanks for taking your precious time to make such a long answer for some question on my particular setup.

I have 3 in use DAWs, my main is a
-Hackintosh with a Intel Q6600 Core2 quad overclocked to 3.07GHz, TI chipset firewire card and Gforce 7300LE. It has 10.6.8 and protools 9.0.4HD. It can use the Saphire56 and the AP2496 with audioevolution drivers...http://www.audio-evolution.com/drivers/ (http://www.audio-evolution.com/drivers/), but I use only the Saphire to let the M-Audio for my...
-866DualMDD w 2 gig of DDR400 with AP2496 and a AM-III
-GHz dual DA (original466) w 1Gig Ram and Digi 001.

I have 4 places to design the DAWs setup:
 
Sometimes I multitrack drums on my band's practice-room, needing more than 8 (12 in fact) inputs at least. If recording a band, maybe all my 20 ins should be filled! Taking 3 DAWs and sync'em all, but 80% of time is just tracking drums

My main Project Studio, with the 3 DAWs  on a machine room (my hall). In this place I can have ANY PRE, ANY A/D, ANY CLOCK and NY D/A.

I am in my Hall with my DG-60 and I can choose any DAW to record my Guitar, Bass, etc. I have a Boss D.I.. 80% of the time I would use a G4.

I am in my Sitting room with my guitar and my tubeman or my trackmaster and a G4.


OK… let's do some basics on the stuff you mentioned…

1) The Audiomedia III has 18-bit converters on the analog A to D hardware side… but 24 Bit via S/PDIF RCA in/Out…
so if you are only recording 2 analog tracks at a time… just use the 2496 (Media III is a step backward)… so for nows let's ignore the Audio Media III all together
also for now let's ignore the Behringer UCA202 USB "toy" Audio Interface


I feel there could be a misconception. 20bit conversion should be better that 16 bit, but a Apogee 16 bits conversion can be far more superior than most "cheap" 20-24 bits conversors.

Ditching the AM3 for been 18 Bits A/D and D/A is not fair. It still have a "nice" clock and 24 bits digital path.
I feel that to run Logic you need an XSkey and ProtoolsLE need an LE card(orM-Box) dongle. Using an AM3 with an RME ADI2 or an 001 with an RME ADI8 are still considered High-End Setups.

In my workflow I prefer to use PT from the start. I am tired to jump from Logic to Protools... It is hard enought to take PT 9 sessions (7.x format) to PT 5 sessions.

Let´s focus on the MDD. I can choose to use AP2496 and AM3 A/D, clock and D/A just using a pair of RCA to make a loop of SPDIF, and have the 4 ins. After your post I think you suggest to use the AP2494 as a Apogee... :P. But I could have the A/D and the D/A from the AP2496 but the masterclock being the AM3.

My trackmaster have an option to have SPDIF out and wordclock in, but is 200 euros...280$. I am not going to buy till 2016.

On the practice room the master clock would be the FS56, ADAT to 001 to have ADAT sync and the SPDIF out (RCA) to the MDD for clocking . Only carrying the 2 G4s, with a boot on Tiger/Leopard to adjust FS56 standalone mode. But it could be the AP2496 the "Apogee"lite... ;D. I think the first one is preferred.
how does the sapphire 56 work in mac os 9????
i check compatibility http://uk.focusrite.com/downloads/os?product=Liquid+Saffire+56
do u use some funky driver?
this says 10.4 tiger +

i dont even think the original saffire worked in mac os 9?
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep05/articles/saffire.htm
There is NO OS9 driver, but I can use it as ADAT Master/ SPDIF Master on standalone mode with ANY of my DAWs just booting 10.4 or newer and connecting a firewire cable. "Save to Hardware" and you have a OS9 compatible PREs.   ;D  You call the "ADAT Slaves", but for me are my "Masters" (best clock)

2) The number of tracks you need to record simultaneously is a big factor…. you never mentioned it.. If you have and old DAT… like a Panasonic, the A to D converters are very good and you can go up to 4 tracks with the 2496… 2 analog and 2 digital S/PDIF simultaneously… the S/DPIF signal from the dat will provide audio word clock and digital audio info to the 2496 from the signal itself…so far looking good… but need a mixer :( also 4 inputs is probably not enough… so scratch the 2496




Guitar Amp… the Yamaha DG60-112 is nice guitar amp, I am a big fan of of the tones, If you have 2 inputs avail for guitar I would definitely use the line out of the DG60, but also record the signal totally dry for re-amping later in the DAW via a direct box.

Final Setup…. Yeah !!!

1) Keep Liquid Saffire 56 and BUY OctPre(s) as needed http://global.focusrite.com/answerbase/connecting-a-liquid-saffire-56-to-2-external-preamps-via-adat
via ADAT lightpipe… clock as shown or shot the moon and buy a LUCID Clock ($300 on ebay) as the master clock…. not really needed though unless you have $300 extra dollars… also BUY a direct box for guitar
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LUCID-GENx6-WORD-SUPER-CLOCK-GENERATOR-96K-FREE-CABLES-PRIORITY-SHIPPING-/291174524028?pt=US_Computer_Recording_Interfaces&hash=item43cb5aa47c

2) Sell 2496 (or save for Mac #2) the mixing mac :)

3) Sell Digi001 and keep the 56 as the main interface

4) Sell Audiomedia III (was awesome in the day at 16Bit/44K… but now we need to record in 24Bit/88K or at least 24Bit/44K)

5) Use the "track master" as Main Vocal PreAmp line out to the 56 (Great reviews on Compressor and EQ) which should be done at input stage


I love DG60 sound. Its 20 bits AD and DA sound to me better than original line6's POD. Also love Amplitube1, 2,
UAD's Nigel and Softtube's Guitar amp room.

I love sandwichs, but for 10 bucks, I'll keep the 001... ;D.

I think Audiomedia III (and all AM series) are still amazing. Why we differ? Tell me your AM3 experience, because mine was different. The trackmaster with the AM3 is a good recording combo, IMO.
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: DieHard on July 10, 2014, 11:42:55 AM
Quote
I think Audiomedia III (and all AM series) are still amazing. Why we differ? Tell me your AM3 experience, because mine was different. The trackmaster with the AM3 is a good recording combo, IMO.

I agree... I just never found AM3 to produce the clarity as say an RME 9652, also I have been spoiled these days with using hardware that does at least 24 Bit on the analog side, however using the Trackmaster with the AMIII 24-bit stereo digital input and output (S/PDIF RCA) will yield excellent results :)
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: supernova777 on July 10, 2014, 11:43:47 AM
i could use a sandwhich  ;D

whats a trackmaster?
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: Protools5LEGuy on July 10, 2014, 01:12:02 PM
I just never found AM3 to produce the clarity as say an RME 9652, also I have been spoiled these days with using hardware that does at least 24 Bit on the analog side, however using the Trackmaster with the AMIII 24-bit stereo digital input and output (S/PDIF RCA) will yield excellent results :)
http://archive.digidesign.com/support/specs/toolbox_specs.html (http://archive.digidesign.com/support/specs/toolbox_specs.html)

AM3 produce RME clarity conecting a RME... ;D ADI-2 http://www.rme-audio.de/en_products_adi_2.php (http://www.rme-audio.de/en_products_adi_2.php), an Apogee, or some Sony/Pioneer/Panasonic DATs as clocks (old school good clock desing I would call it). Any MOTU would increase the quality over the Analogs I/O. Even a MindPrint Trio

I used for years the focusrite trackmaster analog output to the 18 bits A/D RCA ins of the Audiomedia III. I never thought it to be a "Low End" hardware. To my ears sounds better than the 001's 24 bits.
http://archive.digidesign.com/support/propix/AM3.html (http://archive.digidesign.com/support/propix/AM3.html)
It has enought OWN gain to connect active basses and stereo keyboards
(http://archive.digidesign.com/support/readme/wvdrv/Image11.gif)
(http://myphone.info/photo/a/18807552_2.jpg)
These guys make a good work for its age... 1996
(http://art6.photozou.jp/bin/photo/17141799/org.bin?size=1024)
(http://art6.photozou.jp/pub/324/165324/photo/17141799_org.v1404904383.jpg)

whats a trackmaster?


It is a channel strip/Preamplifier with optical compresion and EQ with tube emulation. It cost me 500 Euros back in 2002
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/nov01/articles/trackmaster.asp (http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/nov01/articles/trackmaster.asp)
http://www.pixelproaudio.com/focusrite-trakmaster-platinum-channel-strip.html (http://www.pixelproaudio.com/focusrite-trakmaster-platinum-channel-strip.html)
http://d3se566zfvnmhf.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/downloads/7089/trakmasteruserguide1.pdf (http://d3se566zfvnmhf.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/downloads/7089/trakmasteruserguide1.pdf)
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: supernova777 on July 10, 2014, 01:57:50 PM
FOCUSRITE PLATINUM TRAK MASTER
Focusrite Platinum Trak Master: Recording Channel Processor
(http://media.soundonsound.com/sos/nov01/images/trakmaster1.gif)
(http://media.soundonsound.com/sos/nov01/images/trakmaster2.gif)
hmm ok;)
price on ebay: around 99-120$
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: DieHard on July 10, 2014, 03:29:07 PM
Quote
Even a MindPrint Trio

I can't Believe you mentioned the Mindprint TRIO !

My favorite Home studio Box of all time !!!

I own 3 Mac Pros and have a Trio connected to each one, One Home, One at Work, and 1 at my Station behind my counter in my store.  I connect then via S/PDIF into Mac pro Tower stock optical (Mindprint trio S/PDIF Version).  The tracks are unreal for such a small interface (considering it is my Mixer, my interface with Talkback and 2 headphones outs) I also test 3 different Speaker sets by hitting the  buttons on the mindprint (3 Speaker outs)... each mindprint also has a Mac G4 MDD connected with the analog IN/outs simultaneously to a 2496 in each G4. I absolutely love the quality of the Mic Pre and Guitar in and built in compressor :)

Midprint Trio... Ultimate small DAW Miracle: http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/may05/articles/mindprinttrio.htm

No drivers at all needed !
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: Protools5LEGuy on July 10, 2014, 05:02:34 PM
Quote
Even a MindPrint Trio

I can't Believe you mentioned the Mindprint TRIO !

My favorite Home studio Box of all time !!!

Midprint Trio... Ultimate small DAW Miracle: http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/may05/articles/mindprinttrio.htm

No drivers at all needed !

So AM3+Mindprint TRIO SPDIF= DieHard-Aproved system?  :D ;)
MIndprint is cheaper than Apogee, RME or MOTU...
It should have the same A/D D/A than AP2496...but the mic pre, the guitar D.I. and the 3 switchable outs are a bonus.
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: supernova777 on July 10, 2014, 05:11:53 PM
(http://media.soundonsound.com/sos/may05/images/mindprinttrio.l.jpg)
hah diehard loves this thing u guys are homeys for life now
 8)
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: Protools5LEGuy on July 10, 2014, 05:23:12 PM
hah diehard loves this thing u guys are homeys for life now
 8)
(http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2012/055/d/3/homies_4_life_by_outlawthekitty-d4qutmd.png)

http://es.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=homie (http://es.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=homie)

I've to learn slang...
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: supernova777 on July 10, 2014, 05:49:51 PM
LOL!  ;D 'brothers from another mother'
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: Protools5LEGuy on July 10, 2014, 06:50:59 PM
Black Lion Audio http://blacklionaudio.com/ (http://blacklionaudio.com/) sell high end mods. For them even RME can be modded for better...  :P

For them all my equipment is shit  :-[
Digi 001 critic/mods https://web.archive.org/web/20070306052115/http://www.blacklionaudio.com/digi001_mod.html (https://web.archive.org/web/20070306052115/http://www.blacklionaudio.com/digi001_mod.html)
M-audio delta series 1010 model
https://web.archive.org/web/20070306052946/http://www.blacklionaudio.com/maudio_delta_1010.html (https://web.archive.org/web/20070306052946/http://www.blacklionaudio.com/maudio_delta_1010.html)
Focusrite LS56
http://blacklionaudio.com/product/focusrite-liquid-saffire-56/ (http://blacklionaudio.com/product/focusrite-liquid-saffire-56/)

All is shit. Even..
Motu...http://blacklionaudio.com/product/motu-audio-interface-mods/ (http://blacklionaudio.com/product/motu-audio-interface-mods/)Apolohttp://blacklionaudio.com/product/apollo/ (http://blacklionaudio.com/product/apollo/)Apogeehttp://blacklionaudio.com/product/apogee-ensemble-mod/ (http://blacklionaudio.com/product/apogee-ensemble-mod/)

At least their wordclock generator is "cheap". ::)
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: DieHard on July 10, 2014, 09:16:49 PM
OK… I sent a MOTU box to black lion back in the day (circa 2002) and it never worked right after their awesome "mod", they changed the clock chip and op amps… came back with 2 channels not working; I shipped it back to them... and after recieveing it for the 2nd time, clock did not stay synced, in the end…. I wasted $1700 between the interface and the Mod…I was way too busy to deal with it back then and ship it to them a 3rd time, I lost faith :(

Maybe others had better luck ? 
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: supernova777 on July 12, 2014, 07:17:53 PM
M-audio delta series 1010 model
https://web.archive.org/web/20070306052946/http://www.blacklionaudio.com/maudio_delta_1010.html (https://web.archive.org/web/20070306052946/http://www.blacklionaudio.com/maudio_delta_1010.html)

[img  width=300]http://macos9lives.com/smforum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=1215.0;attach=511;image[/img]
http://tinyurl.com/n33d66k

heres a BLA modded delta 1010 for sale on ebay - i really would love to be able to compare 2 to hear the actual difference

notice the pcb board says 002 clock...... does the 1010 use the same AD/DA/clock as the digi002?

Maudio Delta 1010

     

Quote
The Maudio Delta 1010 is one of a handful of sleeper converters on the market these days. The 1010 uses the well-known AK5383 converter for A/D, and the AK4393 for D/A. These are the same converters used in the 002. While they're not 'mastering grade' per se, they are quite a bit better than the converters used in most inexpensive devices.

The problems lie in two major areas. The analog stages are based on the MJN5532. While these are marginally better than the oft-used NJM4580, they're still nothing to write home about. Their sound quality can easily be described as hazy and congested. The clock that these units use is essentially the same clock used in the 001 and 002. The fact that it's located on the PCI card is, in our estimation, a huge cause of jitter. The 1010's clock is forced to share the same power supply and ground that all of the clocks and PLL's inside the computer use. All that cross-talk and noise are defintely harmful to the conversion quality.

To start, we'll clean up the 1010's analog section. This will give a wider, cleaner response with none of the haze normally associated with the 1010's sound. Add a low-jitter clock to the mix, and you'll have nothing but a spacious, defined soundstage with clean detail. Transients will become more focused. Drums will sound like drums should sound, with plump kicks and shimmering cymbals.
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: Protools5LEGuy on December 08, 2016, 04:18:06 PM
I were waiting for the "summer payout" and I throwed the house thru the windows (spanish refrán for spending out all the sallary.  ;D

I bought another MDD 867 dual for 50 bucks on october. (My 3rd G4 dual)

Years ago I bought (by mistake) an Seritek 2SE4 (for Tiger and up  :-[ ). I just ordered the eSATA to SATA cables to test it.

Also ordered last week 2 ATA to SATA converters. I've run out enough > 40Gig 7200rpm  drives for my G4 farm and my hackintosh is refusing < 1 Tb drives, so some 500 gig drives would go to my PowerPC hardware.

The 4th thing is an Original M-Box (My 4th PowerPC Protools LE system after 2 001 and a AM III) that I got last week on eBay for 15 pounds. It will be shared between my "new" MDD and my GMA950 HackBook with 10.5.8 and 10.6.8.

I plan to use the new MDD with the Sonorus STUDI/O in a Mac OS 9 boot, but really curious about how a M-Box&Leopard with the Seritek 2SE4, Protools 8.0.1 and Logic 9.0.2 performs just because I never had PowerPC DAWs past Panther or PowerPC Protools LE > 6.4

Going to re-do all my studio again. I hope it to be in that way for at least 3-4 years.

Main DAW: Hackintosh w PT 10 on 10.6.8 Maybe will try also Yosemite just because PT10 works fine there.

3 dual G4s for samplers. Logic 4-9 and Kontakt mainly.
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: Protools5LEGuy on January 16, 2017, 02:56:30 PM

Just bought a 1.8 dual Sawtooth/GE with 1.75 Gigs of Ram mainly for its CPU.  My 4th G4 Dual.
(http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTYwMFgxNjAw/z/cQoAAOSw44BYc5S1/$_57.JPG)

(http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTYwMFgxNjAw/z/dWYAAOSwnHZYc5K~/$_57.JPG)

These are pictures of the auction on eBay I won. I wonder what video-edition card is the one with the RCA jacks.

Will the CPU be this?

G-Celerator G4/1.8 Dual AGP 7A (7AD-1418U) Specs

(http://web.archive.org/web/20061111092036im_/http://www.everymac.com/images/card_pictures/gigadesigns_gcelerator_d2.gif)

The Giga Designs G-Celerator G4/1.8 Dual AGP 7A features dual 1.8 GHz PowerPC 7447a (G4) processors (1.42 GHz overclocked to 1.8 GHz) each with an AltiVec "Velocity Engine" vector processing unit, and a 512k on-chip level 2 cache operating at the same speed as the processors. The card plugs into the processor socket provided by AGP-based (Sawtooth), Gigabit Ethernet, Digital Audio, Quicksilver, and Quicksilver 2002 Power Macintosh G4 models, replacing the original processor card. Please note that not all AGP-based (Sawtooth) systems are dual-processor compatible (they must have a uni-N of 7 or greater to be able use this card). All upgrade cards in this series are designed so that both the bus and backside cache ratios can be adjusted. Requires MacOS X 10.3.5 for installation, compatible with MacOS 9.2.2 but Giga Designs does not provide a warranty "third party software operations under OS 9". Another version, the 7AD-1416C, for the Power Macintosh G4 Cube is also available. It runs at 1.6 GHz and includes a Cube VRM upgrade and a low speed fan kit.

(http://www.macos9lives.com/downloads/_img/7AD-1418U.png)

Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: Protools5LEGuy on January 16, 2017, 07:38:30 PM
Nice!! ;D

Check The Machine (A little dust cleaning needed)

http://www.ebay.es/itm/222372425043 (http://www.ebay.es/itm/222372425043)

I am happy!

2 shitty 120 Gig 5400 rpm drives, unknow capture card, 1.75 Gigs of Ram and the Dual 1.8 CPU + Monitor.
Quote
A fully working g4 mac power mac. complete with wireless keyboard and mouse has Word 2008 loaded, plus tec-tools 4 , and other assorted 10.3 software discs

Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: MacOS Plus on January 16, 2017, 09:44:38 PM
I've got that same upgrade CPU in my Quicksilver Rev.1.
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: devils_advisor on January 17, 2017, 01:24:44 AM
"these are pictures of the auction on eBay I won. I wonder what video-edition card is the one with the RCA jacks."

Possibly one of the aurora pipe cards

http://w01-0670.web.dircon.net/products/appleprovideo/aurora.html (http://w01-0670.web.dircon.net/products/appleprovideo/aurora.html)
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: Protools5LEGuy on January 17, 2017, 04:32:25 PM
I've got that same upgrade CPU in my Quicksilver Rev.1.
How do you deal with the 7447a on Mac OS 9?


Possibly one of the aurora pipe cards

http://w01-0670.web.dircon.net/products/appleprovideo/aurora.html (http://w01-0670.web.dircon.net/products/appleprovideo/aurora.html)

It seems like a old TV capture card with a tuner... At least it have antenna IN and OUT.
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: MacOS Plus on January 17, 2017, 08:03:14 PM
I've got that same upgrade CPU in my Quicksilver Rev.1.
How do you deal with the 7447a on Mac OS 9?

  I don't think I ever ran Mac OS 9 on it, only 10.4 and 10.5.  I'm going to see soon if it can be done though because it was always inexplicably slow in OS X, and I have better alternative machines running now for that.  The GeForce 7800 GS card will need to be swapped out for something 9-capable though.
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: devils_advisor on January 18, 2017, 01:04:49 AM
I've got that same upgrade CPU in my Quicksilver Rev.1.
How do you deal with the 7447a on Mac OS 9?


Possibly one of the aurora pipe cards

http://w01-0670.web.dircon.net/products/appleprovideo/aurora.html (http://w01-0670.web.dircon.net/products/appleprovideo/aurora.html)

It seems like a old TV capture card with a tuner... At least it have antenna IN and OUT.
damn that machine collected some dust. Needs a heavy cleaning.
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: Protools5LEGuy on January 26, 2017, 07:28:54 PM

Possibly one of the aurora pipe cards

http://w01-0670.web.dircon.net/products/appleprovideo/aurora.html (http://w01-0670.web.dircon.net/products/appleprovideo/aurora.html)


It seems like a old TV capture card with a tuner... At least it have antenna IN and OUT.

It is a Philips LifeView with SAA7135 chip http://www.lifeview.com.tw/html/products/internal_tv/flytv_platinum.htm (http://www.lifeview.com.tw/html/products/internal_tv/flytv_platinum.htm) with no modulator. It should have a Mac driver
Quote
    Windows driver is fully BDA compliant.
    Windows 2000/XP compatible drivers.
    Linux driver is available for OEM request.
    Mac driver is available for OEM request.

FM in, TV in (old school analog ), Video In (Composite), S-Video In, Audio In, Audio Out and Remote.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1580478 (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1580478)

The dual cpu has 2 Fans with Sonnet brand. I had to take off the Multiprocessor Apple CPU Extension and it is seen as a single 1.8 G4 by now.

The Graphics Card is a Rage 128 AGP with DVI and VGA.  :(

Included a original Panther install CD Set, Microsoft Wireless Keyboard and Mouse set and a 17" LCD VGA
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: Protools5LEGuy on January 26, 2017, 07:58:35 PM
Help me sorting my stuff  ;D 

G4s

G4 Sawtooth(?) 1.8 Dual (7447 Probably) 1.75 G. Ram  3 PCI Slots, 1 less than the rest. ATI Rage 128

G4 DA GHz Dual (7455) 1 G. Ram Geforce4MX

G4 MDD 867 Dual 2 G. Ram Geforce4MX

G4 MDD 867 Dual 1 G. Ram Asus Geforce2

G4 QS 733 0.5 G Ram ATI 7500

G3 B&W rev.1 @450 0.25 G. Ram 2 ATI Rage 128




Toys to spare on them.

2 Digi 001 (9-Panther)

1 Audiomedia (9-Panther)

1 Audiophile 24/96 (9-Leo)

1 M-Box (9-Leo)

1 StudIO (9 only)

1 XsKey (Logic Platinum 4 to 7)

1 UAD-1 pci with no extra plugs.

1 Berhinger BCF2000 (Panther-Leo)


Storage Cards


Seritek 2se4 (Tiger-Leo)

Sonnet Tempo 66



I shouldn`t have more than 3 G4s aside my hackintosh. But I am open to use 4-5.

The Idea is have maximum polyphony spreading V.I. across them.

Only Logic or Protools as DAW.

VI will be EXS24, Kontakt, Sampletank and Reason mainly.
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: Protools5LEGuy on January 29, 2017, 12:14:10 PM
I have decided to build and use only 3, the most powerful ones.

The Dual 1.8 is equiped now with a GeForce 4 MX, the UAD PCI, Digi 001 and M-Audio 24/96, but it refusses to boot now to Mac OS9, probably too much for the 100 MHz bus, so I will try to find why now it doesn't. With the ATI Rage 128 AGP (DVI+VGA) and no PCI cards it booted. Now it hangs when stuffit finish loading the Instant DAW.

The DA will go to garage spares. The Dual GHz CPU is now mounted on a Quicksilver with 1.5 Gigs of RAM. And One Digi 001. And a M-Box for Leopard/Logic. It keeps a GeForce 4MX.

My Dual 867MDD will have the AudioMedia III. 2Gigs of RAM and the Asus GeForce 2 MX 64 Mg. It will have the Edirol UM-1 also for USBtoMIDI.

Little time to test the Seritek 2SE4. It needs the drives to be "repowered". I mean, turned off and on to be recognized (?) And It only works Tiger/Leo, so I will try it later. Also the StudIO will be stored for later.

The 2 Digi 001 will feed the Focusrite LS56 ADAT and the AM-III the SPDIF.

The MDD onboard sound (Usefull for Leopard) will be analog wired to some INS, still to be decided.

I have to decide still if the Sawtooth is clogged by all the cards. Maybe the UAD will go on the QS or the Sawtooth. Also the 24/96. Going to try if it the sawtooth boot to 9 with the ATI 7500 or the Rage 128. Mac OS X will suffer in performance, but I really want to use the Dual 1.8 in Mac OS 9, even as a 1.8 solo.
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: Protools5LEGuy on February 01, 2017, 06:26:00 AM

Possibly one of the aurora pipe cards

http://w01-0670.web.dircon.net/products/appleprovideo/aurora.html (http://w01-0670.web.dircon.net/products/appleprovideo/aurora.html)


It seems like a old TV capture card with a tuner... At least it have antenna IN and OUT.

It is a Philips LifeView with SAA7135 chip http://www.lifeview.com.tw/html/products/internal_tv/flytv_platinum.htm (http://www.lifeview.com.tw/html/products/internal_tv/flytv_platinum.htm) with no modulator. It should have a Mac driver
Quote
    Windows driver is fully BDA compliant.
    Windows 2000/XP compatible drivers.
    Linux driver is available for OEM request.
    Mac driver is available for OEM request.

FM in, TV in (old school analog ), Video In (Composite), S-Video In, Audio In, Audio Out and Remote.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1580478 (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1580478)


The card is also called AlchemyTV DVR
https://eshop.macsales.com/Descriptions/alchemytvdvr_faq.html (https://eshop.macsales.com/Descriptions/alchemytvdvr_faq.html)

Quote
Q: Will AlchemyTV DVR work with a US Cable TV box?
A: The NTSC version is fully compatible with cable boxes that have an analogue output. If you have a digital cable box, you will have to connect it to the AlchemyTV via the S-VHS input and change programme using the cable box.

Q: Will AlchemyTV DVR wake up my PowerMac to start recording?
A: This feature is not yet implemented. We plan to add this to the DVR software in the future if it is technically possible.

Q: What QuickTime codec's are supported by the Alchemy software?
A: All QuickTime codec's are selectable, however due to processing power constraints on some Macs, MJPEG and MPEG-4 will probably give the best results. Capturing straight to DV-25 or higher is not recommended.

Q: Does AlchemyTV DVR support the French TV signals (Secam)?
A: Yes, the European version of the AlchemyTV DVR supports Secam.

Q: Is AlchemyTV DVR compatible with Mac OS 9.x?
A: No, the software is compatible with Mac OS X 10.2 and higher only.

Q: What is the maximum viewing size?
A: The full viewing size of AlchemyTV for PAL footage is 752*576 and 640*480 for NTSC. A G4/400 processor is usually sufficiently powerful to watch TV in full screen mode.

Q: What is the size of captured videos
A: Capturing videos to your hard drive requires significantly more processing power than just viewing them. Slower PowerMacs should use the M-JPEG codec for best results. Faster PowerMacs can use the MPEG-4 codec. A PowerMac G4 Dual 800 MHz can capture a M-JPEG movie in 752*576 at 25 fps.

Q: Can I capture straight into iMovie?
A: No, iMovie requires a DV source like a digital camcorder or a Director's Cut 'Take 2' . AlchemyTV can create some types of editable files (M-JPEG for example) that can be opened in Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere for limited editing. It is also possible to import M-JPEG files into iMovie, however this process can be rather long and slow and not ideal in terms of quality. For serious video editing a Director's Cut 'Take 2' is a far better choice.
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: truitecuite on February 07, 2017, 03:37:53 AM
Haven't followed all the conversation, but...

To record audio, any G4 will do. Digi001 is an excellent, very stable daw. Plus, it has low latency while recording, which is very important. The preamps and the converters of digidesigns hardware are shitty. And, for speed, a mac G4 MDD 1.25 Ghz is the best, but noisy. A pro setup has to have good preamps and good converters. As most of us will record on Shure sm57, sm7b, sm58 (great mics with a good preamp) the best choice for a pre is API A2D. Great match between mics and pre's. In fact, that's all you need. There will alway's be limitations with old G4's and mac OS9, but it allow you to put the money where it counts. A digi001 card is very cheap, as are the MDD's.

My 2 cents on the subject.

Happy recording!
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: mrhappy on February 07, 2017, 06:25:02 AM
"Mac driver is available for OEM request."

So are you going to 'request' a Mac driver so you can watch some Bay Watch re-runs on that thing!??  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: Protools5LEGuy on January 13, 2018, 07:33:58 PM
Shit, I am a year older and my studio isn't finished yet.

One of my MDD is unreliable. I will send to the garage for spare handles/PSU. One out.  :(

One digi 001 lost sync. I consider it almost dead.  :( A shame, because it has aftermarket mods on the clock (not the clasical ecliptek , but a SARONIX for 22k I mean 44.1k))

The Sawtooth dual 1.8 is 7447 1.75G RAM and i have no clue how to deal with PCI+OS9. It boots 9 with the cpu-multi extension out. It sports a Seritek 2se4. Will be a Logic 8-9 EXS24 MIDI-networked using the Audiophile24/96 analog out to the Focusrite analog ins. I think it is my best G4 machine and gave a Nvidia 4MX. I had also made a drive with Panther+Protools6LE for the case I need a 16 tracks (pull out the AP24/96 for the 001) to be recorded outside for a gig. It is my "lighter" G4.

The Digital Audio 1.5G RAM has recieved back the GHz dual CPU card and a nVidia 4MX. It has the Digi 001 and will have a Tiger-Leo boot for my new M-Box mainly for its (Protools8) VI. It also has the DieHard Instant DAW+PT5Le for OS9. I find Panther as a good OS for Digi 001+Protools6. The 001 is ADAT wired to the Focusrite (To allow the LS56 clock to rule them all).

The Digidesign M-Box will send SPDIF to the Audiomedia III and will have various USB cables from different machines....

The MDD Dual 867 with 2GRAM Asus GeForce2MX400 64Mb has the Audiomedia III and that sends SPDIF to the Focusrite.It has DieHard Instant DAW.

Intel side

Main DAW Asus P5KPL/EPU Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400S 2.67 OC 3.0 4 Gigs RAM nvidia 9400 With MacOS 10.6.8 and Protools 10.3.10 HD with the Focusrite LS56.


2nd DAW Abit IP35Pro Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4 OC 3.0 4Gigs RAM nVidia 210GT iAtkos S3 (10.6.8) and Protools 10.It also has a Win 7 32 boot for Wavelab for mastering.

I have the Focusrite between the Intels in Firewire and they both share it. But the one that uses it, keeps it.

I am open to Mac OS X or macOS suggestions for this machine. I think I will prepare a Leopard-PT8LE install for the M-Box this time on Intel + Quad.

As I have limited space in my room and I want a silent mix-recording room only the G4 DA is on the room. The Intels, the Sawtooh and the MDD are in the living room behind a sofa corner.

Every time the MDD hangs I have to open the door, walk a L-shaped corridor, open the living room door and walk all that room  to get to the machine and keep pressed power to shut-down. And walk all that back again. Every hang make me loose patience and is making me away from unstable beta VST instruments and OS9. I find Panther less inspiring but more stable for running RTAS VI.

To communicate with the main DAW I have only a Edirol UM-1EX as a USB to plug anywhere for midi...

There is where Tiger+Leopard really help multiDAW setups, on the networked midi. The 001 has its own MIDI as the AP24/96, but the AMIII and the M-Box don't.

By now I have only 4 ethernet ports available for all this farm.
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: devils_advisor on January 13, 2018, 07:52:10 PM
Shit, I am a year older and my studio isn't finished yet.

One of my MDD is unreliable. I will send to the garage for spare handles/PSU. One out.  :(

One digi 001 lost sync. I consider it almost dead.  :( A shame, because it has aftermarket mods on the clock (not the clasical ecliptek , but a SARONIX for 22k I mean 44.1k))

The Sawtooth dual 1.8 is 7447 1.75G RAM and i have no clue how to deal with PCI+OS9. It boots 9 with the cpu-multi extension out. It sports a Seritek 2se4. Will be a Logic 8-9 EXS24 MIDI-networked using the Audiophile24/96 analog out to the Focusrite analog ins. I think it is my best G4 machine and gave a Nvidia 4MX. I had also made a drive with Panther+Protools6LE for the case I need a 16 tracks (pull out the AP24/96 for the 001) to be recorded outside for a gig. It is my "lighter" G4.

The Digital Audio 1.5G RAM has recieved back the GHz dual CPU card and a nVidia 4MX. It has the Digi 001 and will have a Tiger-Leo boot for my new M-Box mainly for its (Protools8) VI. It also has the DieHard Instant DAW+PT5Le for OS9. I find Panther as a good OS for Digi 001+Protools6. The 001 is ADAT wired to the Focusrite (To allow the LS56 clock to rule them all).

The Digidesign M-Box will send SPDIF to the Audiomedia III and will have various USB cables from different machines....

The MDD Dual 867 with 2GRAM Asus GeForce2MX400 64Mb has the Audiomedia III and that sends SPDIF to the Focusrite.It has DieHard Instant DAW.

Intel side

Main DAW Asus P5KPL/EPU Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400S 2.67 OC 3.0 4 Gigs RAM nvidia 9400 With MacOS 10.6.8 and Protools 10.3.10 HD with the Focusrite LS56.


2nd DAW Abit IP35Pro Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4 OC 3.0 4Gigs RAM nVidia 210GT iAtkos S3 (10.6. 8) and Protools 10.It also has a Win 7 32 boot for Wavelab for mastering.

I have the Focusrite between the Intels in Firewire and they both share it. But the one that uses it, keeps it.

I am open to Mac OS X or macOS suggestions for this machine. I think I will prepare a Leopard-PT8LE install for the M-Box this time on Intel + Quad.

As I have limited space in my room and I want a silent mix-recording room only the G4 DA is on the room. The Intels, the Sawtooh and the MDD are in the living room behind a sofa corner.

Every time the MDD hangs I have to open the door, walk a L-shaped corridor, open the living room door and walk all that room  to get to the machine and keep pressed power to shut-down. And walk all that back again. Every hang make me loose patience and is making me away from unstable beta VST instruments and OS9. I find Panther less inspiring but more stable for running RTAS VI.

To communicate with the main DAW I have only a Edirol UM-1EX as a USB to plug anywhere for midi...

There is where Tiger+Leopard really help multiDAW setups, on the networked midi. The 001 has its own MIDI as the AP24/96, but the AMIII and the M-Box don't.

By now I have only 4 ethernet ports available for all this farm.


could be worse believe me. im old too i think the majority here is out of their diapers :D
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: Protools5LEGuy on January 13, 2018, 08:09:43 PM
I have a iMac G3 Indigo (silent) on the room to be the VNC viewer of all networked machines. I recieves wifi on Tiger via an old Android phone with EasyTether App. But also boots on 9 and uses the M-Box to visualize PAZ-Analizer audio from the main DAW

I am thinking on getting a gigabit switch soon.

I seriously think I can't manage/use more than 3 machines at a time. And only have 2 19" monitors (with DVI and VGA) to see them. So the main Intel machine is dual head (DVI+VGA), but I can directly see 2 G4s, one via DVI (The DA GHz dual) and one VGA (the MDD) and planning to prepare the sawtooth headless VNC networked.

And in all this wishes  >:(  ALL my G4s are refusing to install anything more modern than Panther.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/my-g4s-dont-want-modern-oses.2100409/

Most probably because most of the drives are survivors from that age or my PSU are all walking dead.

I bought to a friend a passive PSU and I have at least 2 more good ATX PSU, but to adapt them is tedious. I am thinking on DIY a adapter cable to keep the PSU outside the tower (at least the passive one)
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: Protools5LEGuy on January 13, 2018, 08:23:04 PM
could be worse believe me. im old too i think the majority here is out of their diapers :D

I will not mention all the stuff I don't have energy to fight with. Sonorus Studi/o, Guillemot MaxiSound ISIS, Sonnet Tempo cards, building RAIDs, checking what RTAS demos can be reset on Panther, Firewire video output from Premiere/FinalCut, trying to use a MacOS> SL, and the list goes on and on.

Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: Philgood on January 14, 2018, 10:02:03 AM
Can you connect the digi 001 to the focusrite via wordclock sync ? Would be worth a try.
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: Protools5LEGuy on January 14, 2018, 11:47:00 AM
ADAT out@ focusrite LS56 to Adat in In Digi 001

Digi clock set to ADAT external on Protools LE

Adat out @001 to Adat in @LS56

Midi Out LS56 to Midi IN 001
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: Protools5LEGuy on January 14, 2018, 11:49:07 AM
Digi 001 has no wordclock, but can run internal, ADAT in or S/PDIF external
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: mrhappy on January 14, 2018, 08:29:33 PM

could be worse believe me. im old too i think the majority here is out of their diapers :D

Hahaha! Yes I think you're right devils_advisor!!! ;D ;D
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: mrhappy on January 14, 2018, 08:49:09 PM
Shit, I am a year older and my studio isn't finished yet.


I feel your pain Protools5LEGuy! Have been trying to get things sorted out here too... putting in a serious push but mostly cleaning, organizing, etc... not the fun stuff! Testing some expansion chassis/ components ... DP500 wouldn't start tho... power light briefly lights but then immediately fades out. Haven't looked into this yet. Just acquired a 1" 16 track reel to reel that I'm trying to integrate and yes I'm out of my diapers!! Haha! ;D
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: Protools5LEGuy on June 24, 2018, 12:41:18 AM
Update. Achieved/To DOs/reminder for myself.

Adquired a GHz PB 17" and maxed out with mSATA and 2 Gig'o'RAM. My only machine that boots 9+Panther+Tiger+Leo now. It uses an original M-Box and
it has almost All protools LE iterations (5.2.1 on 9, 6.4 on Pant., 7.4 on Tiger and 8.0.1cs on Leo) Cant find 6.7 that is needed to upgrade to 6.9 on Panther Realized M-Box is a shit compared to AM-III or Digi 001. No 128 samples of latency to work means too much to play live anything. So I decided to get a firewire cheap modern card ...

Bought a M-audio AP firewire this week, waiting it to come.

Shit, I need a fw-800 to 400 cable adapter to use it on 9...  :'( and Logic 8+9 should be installed too.


My MDD boots Panther and serves files to all my machines with a 10/100 switch  8) . Added a 1Terabyte 7200rpm drive with  an 40 pin ATA to SATA converter. An Edirol UM-1. Also has Protools 6.2.3 LE with an Audiomedia III with lots of Virtual Instruments from this same forum! In most of our ISOs we give love to jaguar and panther users. Sampletank 2 and PlugSound are stable there more than in Mac OS 9.  :(  :-[  :-\

At the end 777 is right, I am a troll!  ;D

The SawTooth 1.8 7447 dual is on Panther and has now my Digi 001 + Seritek s2e4. PT 6.4 Le. Maybe i should try to clone the Tiger Partition from the PB to it and search for the 001+core audio+Logic 8 alternative or even Leo+logic 9... but not on my list of first to do right now.

Downgraded to just 1 intel machine with SL and ptHD 10 + focusrite LS56 (Master DAW). Thinking of trying el crapitan+fwAudioPhile, maybe for a modern kontakt access/logicX.

iMac G3 Indigo should downgrade the m-box protools it has installed to be protools free and use the internal mic to record riffs + or the line in + WavesPAZ Analizer to see the mix from main DAW.
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: DieHard on June 24, 2018, 05:51:19 PM
Quote
Downgraded to just 1 intel machine with SL and ptHD 10 + focusrite LS56 (Master DAW). Thinking of trying el crapitan+fwAudioPhile, maybe for a modern kontakt access/logicX.

Just helped a "friend of a friend" acquire a Liquid Safire two months ago and swapped out his Digi003 Pus XLR (which he used on every album for the last 8 years); he said the 003 was "the bomb", I told him the Safire IMO would be a noticeable upgrade... anyway, he called me yesterday, to tell me the drums are tracking with a noticeable better quality, for the price-range, I doubt anything can touch the LS series; they record extremely clean, uncolored (as far as EQ), and don't overload as easy as the Digi's. 

For bedroom studios, I have another friend that swears by his FW M-Box pro, I never used one, but always thought it had very good specs... I will buy one and test it out one day since they are dirt cheap now.
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: WhiteWarlock on June 25, 2018, 09:28:11 PM
(http://datasheetcafe.databank.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/TL074-datasheet-pinout.gif)
silly question:
can you upgrade the TL074's in Digi001 preamps easily(sockets)
with something like BurrBrown OPA4134 and/or MC33079?
(have Digi001 piped for ADAT & some extra BB 4134s from upgrading compressors)
ssm2017s for ssm2019 or BB INA217 in the Mic preamps?
this is What BLA mod was for Digi001...
Analog Stages + Mic Pres
We approach the 001’s analog stages in two ways. Although there isn’t much in the way of replacements for the TL074, we’ve chosen the OPA4134 as an upgrade. For the microphone preamps, we replace the SSM2017’s with a pair of our proprietary high-speed discrete instrumentation circuits. You’ll find that they will compete with many high-end microphone preamps.
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: WhiteWarlock on June 26, 2018, 09:15:30 AM
Would the TL074/SSM2017 upgrade mods presented help make any real audible quality difference (reduced noise floor issue) with the Digi001?
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: Astroman on June 26, 2018, 01:40:45 PM
I don't know the circuit diagram of the Digi-01, so guessing he's talking about the TL74 in the line path. For connection of regular gear it's not a showstopper imho (say a DX-7 or some Drumsynth).
The TL74 may not be the most noisefree component, but is sometimes described as a kind of 'musical' opamp. Not all amplification is about clinical precision. I've spotted them in expensive bass amplifiers (Genz Benz).

The SSM2017 (a micpre on-a-chip, not an opamp) also has a nice 'musical' sound, but in this position the lack of resolution is much more obvious.
I've compared it (in a channel of a Soundcraft mixer) with an Audient discrete mic channel, using 2 identical mics.
Would have liked to keep the mixer, but the difference was too significant.
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: Protools5LEGuy on November 02, 2019, 11:50:00 AM
Just bought an Mac Pro 1.1 to have all my PowerPC machines file served and unified

So what's the plan?? :)
My best machine still is a Quad Extreme hackintosh that show himself as a Xeon 3.0 Mac Pro 3.1 with 4 GBytes RAM

The plan is the usual. To convert the Mac Pro 1.1 with  only 2 Dual Cores 2.0 GHz and 2.5 GBytes of RAM in a 2.1 with 2 Quad Cores at 3.0GHz and 32 GBytes RAM. The RAM will come in 2 weeks. The processors, from China can take a month.

The graphics card from the Mac Pro was screwed. Couldnt finish a Lion Install. Then I began to remember that Lion could use PC Graphics cards. Started looking and found 2 nvidias: a silent 210 with 1 GBytes of DDR3 and another silent 9400 GT with 512 MBytes (Double the original 7300). Both are now in the Mac Pro.

it´s for his collection of shopping lists in simpletext format.

The Album of my band is on Snow Leopard/PT 10, and I decided years ago to finish in that platform. If all my Snow Leopard/PT 10 plugin colection + the eventually new ones I end up finding this month for RTAS that still run on Lion will have to do the work. If it doesnt, I will have to finish it with the Hackintosh.

So, now until RAM arrives I have made a Logic 9.1.8 install with all (or most) of the Logic X sound library via Pacifist.

I think it works, at least my EXS-24 mk2 test on Lion confirm that.

The plan is to see how far away in versions would those Logic X sound library work. I mean, if those can work in Logic 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 as I see them working on 9.1.8 on Lion.
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: Protools5LEGuy on November 02, 2019, 12:07:39 PM
Just bought an Mac Pro 1.1 to have all my PowerPC machines file served and unified

So what's the plan?? :)

The plan is keep using the Protools 10 where it still runs (on Mac) and rediscover Logic 9 on Intel Lion will serve me until I decide if I get an Snow Leopard Card.

My future projects will probably be Win 10/Protools 12 platform, but with all my G4 farm around and the Yosemite on the hackintosh with PT 10 and Logic X.
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: IIO on November 02, 2019, 10:58:59 PM
you forgot to mention your OS9 machines.
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: Protools5LEGuy on September 24, 2020, 01:32:14 PM
Last sunday I went 35 Km away to pick a broken MDD Uni 1.25 with Radeon 9000 128 Mb and a Sonnet FW 400 card. Also a broken Samsung PSU. Ad no drives. And 1 pound of dust.


That model is 166 bus (at last!) and I have been fighting until today with 10 ATA drives (only 5 past SMART) to get clones of Instant DAW and clones of my PB 17" installs that include Panther and Leopard.

I borrowed my G4 Sawtooth 1.8 dual with a Digi 001 to a drummer to allow him record 16 tracks at once using his behringer 8 ins+ADAT.

you forgot to mention your OS9 machines.
PowerPC:


G4 MDD 867 Dual Mac OS 9/Panther Audiomedia III

G4 DA GHz Dual Mac OS 9/Panther Digi 001

G4 MDD 1.25 Mac OS9/Panther/Leopard Sonorus STUDI/O M-Box

PowerBook G4 GHz 17" Mac OS9/Panther/Tiger/Leopard shares the M-Box and the M-Audio FW duo


My most used cards are still the FW Solo+FW Audiophile + Focusrite LS56 that go with an

Intel

i5 2500K oc 3.4GHz nVidia 730 Win 10 64 (Planning on go Capitan soon) Protools 10+12

Mac Pro 2.1 2xQuad 3.0 8GB RAM nVidia 210, 9400, 7300 Lion + El Capitan (Planning on go Win 10 soon). Protools 10

All those machine are actives and running.


For the future decide to use the SONORUS Studi/o on a maxed Windows XP and build a system with W98/WMe around a Guillemot Maxi Sound ISIS that have an onboard 4 Mb sampler and a fine I/O box.

I have board+cpu+heatsink+RAM :

3 Intel 775 Quads to fulfill that but also

board+cpu+heatsink :

2 Pentium D, 2 Pentium IV a Pentium III and a Pentium 2

But only 2 good ATX 12cm fans boxes, 3 old PSU and no money to invest on drives till.


Next week I hope to send recycling all Pentium  D and below If I get a stable W98 Setup for the ISIS.



Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: smilesdavis on August 08, 2022, 11:05:30 AM
mac os 9?

g4 mdd dual
digidesign mix core + 3 farm
888/24 io on each
zsys router
use as dsp box running logic
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: Protools5LEGuy on September 13, 2022, 07:55:26 AM
Time to update.

A year ago I changed 20 artisan beers to a Sweeden guy and he sent me his Mac Pro 3.1 2.8GHz

The producers that help me finish my band album forced me to move to El Capitan (from Lion) to have the latest Protools 10 chance. I am happy with El Capitan on my 2 Mac Pro

After years of bullying from the members of this forum to became an TDM user finally this week got an offer I could not refuse.

A SBS pci expansion box with 2 DSP farms and an D24 card for 20 Euros made me rethink the LE thing. It is missing the host card and the SCSI cable, but for the 20 bucks I still consider it interesting. The SBS can be retrofitted as a good PC box.

Then an original ADAT bridge (20 bit by ADAT but 24 bits thru SPDIF) for 45 Euros.

And finally 3 cables for the cards for 50 bucks (It would costs a lot more if it werent second hand).

Aside this Protools 24 rig that I am wishing to install on a MDD 1.25 mono, I bought last month an Apogee GiO (to play a little with Mainstage).

Also a RME Multiface (original, not the Multiface II). The seller of the RME sent me almost every card on the market to use it. I mean a PCI, a CardBus and a ExpressCard 34 and a Cardbus to expresscard converter. I plan to install a pciexpress to expresscard converter on my MacPro 3.1. That thing will come in October.

I guess the best wordclock would come from the RME or the Focusrite LS 56

I guess I should avoid the 20 bits D/A conversion on the ADAT bridge and send the SPDIF from that unit to the RME or the Focusrite.

I guess I should add a MIX Core or a MIX Farm to my Protools 24 setup just because MIX gear is faster and have x6 Motorola instead of x4 Motorola

Also in PT 5.1.3 you can use both types of cards. AFAIK there are plugs that only work on MIX cards that I cant use right now.
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: Protools5LEGuy on September 13, 2022, 08:17:44 AM
Before all this new gear I had Protools 10 HD on the Mac Pro 2.1 with a FW M-Audio (Solo or Audiophile) sending SPDIF to the LS56 conected to the Mac Pro 3.1

On the 3.1 I have Hi Jack running Sonarworks for room correction. I also use it to record Youtube or Spotify (Played on the 2.1).

The easy upgrade would be to use the wordclock from the RME to the focusrite but it could produce bigger jitter.



                   
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: IIO on September 13, 2022, 09:49:26 AM
A year ago I changed 20 artisan beers to a Sweeden guy and he sent me his Mac Pro 3.1 2.8GHz

i have the same. used only for testing / software development but eventually one day i will use it for mixing with poco.

it is much slower but maybe i get of the Xserve soon and use the 5.1 for video rendering also.

a good mac pro 3.1 2010/2012 is nowadays almost cheaper than a good G4 quicksilver.

of course my G4 will remain the core system of my multi(12!)computer setup for all times.
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: DieHard on September 13, 2022, 10:07:48 AM
Quote
a good mac pro 3.1 2010/2012 is nowadays almost cheaper than a good G4 quicksilver.

of course my G4 will remain the core system of my multi(12!)computer setup for all times.

The 3.1 is 2008 and a bear to re-arctic silver, also only DDR2.  The best buy these days for a more modern "native" setup for PT10 or Logic Pro X is a 2010 4,1 Single CPU.  These are incredible audio machines and use DDR3 and are easier to re-paste CPU. You can score then for around $200 or even less sometimes.

With the 4,1 you can...
1) Burn it to a 5,1
2) Then Upgrade firmware to support NVMe M.2 boot via a PCI card, HD speeds of about 2K read & write
3) Upgrade CPU to 6 Core 3.06 for about $25
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: IIO on September 13, 2022, 10:32:19 AM
oh sorry, mine is a 5.1 of course... i keep mixing those numbers.

the nehalem and westlake boards from 2010 are not the fastest horse either (and limited to a max of 48 RAM.. maybe you remember... the 4*8 or 3*16 thing) - but you can get them for 250 bucks, where the 12 core top model late 2012 goes for 600+.

for protools or poco or even photoshop jobs you probably will never need anything better in your life, you just sit back and work and laugh about people who spend 15,000 for the next M2 übercomputer.
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: IIO on September 13, 2022, 10:33:50 AM
they also sell those EFI chips you can solder yourself. you probably know about these things, i wouldnt dare and rather use a software solution.^^
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: Protools5LEGuy on September 13, 2022, 03:38:02 PM
[url]https://www.amazon.es/gp/product/B071ZDS4CB/url]
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: smilesdavis on September 13, 2022, 06:58:33 PM
oh sorry, mine is a 5.1 of course... i keep mixing those numbers.

the nehalem and westlake boards from 2010 are not the fastest horse either (and limited to a max of 48 RAM.. maybe you remember... the 4*8 or 3*16 thing) - but you can get them for 250 bucks, where the 12 core top model late 2012 goes for 600+.

for protools or poco or even photoshop jobs you probably will never need anything better in your life, you just sit back and work and laugh about people who spend 15,000 for the next M2 übercomputer.

had a 5.1 sold it regretted it ever since. now the trashcans are getting cheaper might pick one of those up eventually.
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: tunedbytad on September 13, 2022, 08:49:39 PM
My $.02

their are tiers / zones / happy combos that make a good sounding "stable" productive PT Rig

by age

PT 5.1.3 OS9 MDD w/ Sata Mix Plus min two cards min 888 882 1622 i/o

PT 10 HD Win7 NVME reg edit min two HD cards PCIe or PCIX 192/92 i/o

PT 12.7 HX High Sierra or better 1 card min 192 and newer i/o

PT 2022 any of the current $1500US and up macs w/ interface of choice and subscriptions :-(
*call Sweetwater swipe the card charge it to the game.

Each have pros and cons
some cost more some cost less
but these are the stable tiers as I see it

I just burned thru my vacation time and a undisclosed amount of money trying to prove out a PT5.3.1 HD rig.
there are tiers and combos that are not so good to peruse
*I reserve the right to change my mind at any time your mileage my vary
 
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: tunedbytad on September 13, 2022, 08:56:37 PM
addressing how this thread started years ago

if you are in the box.
100% making music and mixing in the computer
man is it cheaper, simple, portable, and scalable.

Look up Joel from Deadmouse talking about his huge Neve based studio.
and how Skrillex {who is on his label} does all the same music on just a top notch laptop.
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: tunedbytad on September 13, 2022, 09:03:50 PM
addressing how this thread started years ago

If your building a tradition studio

Just my $.02
everyone can have their own take on this ...all good. :-)

my basic in rough order,,, is not :
this DAW vs DAW
that i/o vs this i/o
this clock...yha yha yha...

more like

-GOOD CLEAN POWER AND GROUND

-Good Acoustics

-One really insanely great microphone preamp combo <--money goes here first

-Good head phones and monitors <--- don't have to be expensive

-organized, clean, no clutter, no fat setup so everything works and is ready to make music and move signal before you need it

-spend time on your skills, on your gear, on your craft, on your songs

-set dead lines make releases <---it is easy to go a decade and have endless folders filled with unfinished gems and turds
*I am personally guilty of this

Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: smilesdavis on September 14, 2022, 01:07:37 AM
ive been down the all analog road, the hybrid road, been there done that. each to the max extend.

im not trying to find the perfect one atm, im trying to build them all and route them into the most current...digitally

as soon as iio uploads his sdii plugins ill get a nubus card and a sound accelerator to hook up sound tools ad and dat devices.

as soon as i find more nubus dsp farm and a lexicon nuverb i can fill my nubus expansion

today arrives my marathon g4. ill need an expansion chassis for it that i will fill my mix farm cards

its more of a statement really at this point

i want access to every early audio plugin from my modern hdx rig
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: IIO on September 14, 2022, 03:47:50 AM
for a total of 1500 you are eventually in the HDX range already.
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: IIO on September 14, 2022, 03:48:06 AM
...
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: smilesdavis on September 14, 2022, 06:01:25 AM
for a total of 1500 you are eventually in the HDX range already.

hdx go used for 3.5 atm rarely lower
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: Protools5LEGuy on September 14, 2022, 07:37:39 AM
You have 2 choices:

 1 Never ask 110 how much cost something

 2 Give 110 a fistfull of money and he will give you a distressor + 888/24 + good stuff for 100 bucks

Jokes aside, 110 will always say cheaper than in Spain.

You cant get a 4.1 or 5.1 for less than 500 Euros

for a total of 1500 you are eventually in the HDX range already.

HD gray+blue converters (192 IO / 96 IO) cost 400 to 1000 still. Rarely you see an empty chassis for 250 bucks. I wonder if a empty blue can work only with SPDIF without cards.

Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: IIO on September 14, 2022, 01:06:50 PM
what do you think about cracked PT 2010 for mac? with native audio driver and unlimited tracks?
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: smilesdavis on September 14, 2022, 02:13:49 PM
what do you think about cracked PT 2010 for mac? with native audio driver and unlimited tracks?

ah ye unsanity my hero
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: Protools5LEGuy on October 14, 2022, 09:41:53 AM
With this

https://www.amazon.es/gp/product/B071ZDS4CB (https://www.amazon.es/gp/product/B071ZDS4CB)

my MacPro uses the original Multiface thru an ExpressCard. But needs to be powered. Not a big trouble.

I think that RME Hammerfall Multiface has the longest lifespan EVER in a soundcard.

From Mac OS 9 to Big Sur AFAIK. I am using in El Capitan with PT 10.3.10 HD and it seems more stable than the M-Audio I was using before.

And now I have to decide between Focusrite Liquid Saphire 56 converters vs RME Multiface. RME is the MasterClock for the LS56.

RME also sends ADAT clock (Or 2-4 stereo stems) to my new Mac OS9 MIX++ rig with a Mix Core+ Mix Farm + DSP Farm II + DSP Farm + Original ADAT Bridge.

At last you can call me Protools5TDMGuy   ;D

Mix Core + Mix Farm cost me both 60 bucks.  Maybe in the future I will get another Mix card, not so sure by now.

I tried that setup on the MDD 1.25 Uni I have but gave me lots of errors on tests. Finally is working on my dual GHz Digital Audio with a 12 cm extra fan. 

The 2 Mac Pro + G4 DA are in other room for a silent room.

The best approach for my studio will be to return the LS56 to the main DAW to have 2 ADAT stems to the PT5 TDM ADAT bridge. I guess I could mix with 20 bits returns(Original unit ADAT depth limit) but I am the search for a cheap 24bit ADAT bridge.

Other good approach is to use the 24 bits SPDIF onboard on the original ADAT Bridge and convert it to Optical (I would need 2 Coaxial to optical SPDIF converters, already have 1) to have an stereo 24bits insert from PT5 TDM

I have to say that I am shocked by the quality of the TDM package. Drawner + TC Works X-something + LexiVerb blew my mind, just to name a few
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: Protools5LEGuy on November 20, 2023, 11:37:29 AM
What can I say? 2023 was a fun year in gear investment.

Mac Pro 3.1 with Focusrite LS56 on capitan with PT 10 HD but mainly for  HiJack running Sonarworks for room correction. Occasional Mainstage as guitar station with Apogee GIO on Capitan and Mojave . I also use it to browse internet and record Youtube or Spotify. Plan to install Logic on Monterey just for the fucking Atmos.

Mac Pro 2.1 with Digi 002 mixer on capitan with PT 10 HD as my main mixing rig.

i5 2500K at 3.4 GHz with 8 GB RAM RME Digiface W10 with Protools Ultimate 2021.7 just for The God Particle or Mastering& 2Bus stuff. I guess it is my digital ADAT Patchbay

G4 MDD 867Dual with 2 Mix Cards + 2 DSP Farm with PT 5 TDM, ADAT bridge 24+ a ADAT bridge not 24
. It can be my 2nd DAW or ADAT DSP for the MP 2.1   Also, plan to use Panther with PT 6 TDM + latest findings.

PowerBook 17" GHz ALU G4 RME Multiface that needs OSX thanks to CardBus not working on Mac OS 9  :'(  PT 5 to 8 LE on OS 9 + Panther + Tiger  + Leo. I use it as a line to ADAT

HP EliteBook 8470 i5 3xxx 12 GB RAM with 3 Windows systems for another RME Multiface with its Express Card + M-Audio FW Audiophile + FW solo. Or Digi 002 or Cyan M-Box, depending on the project. This is my main portable. Trying to install Capitan + Monterey this week.

A ASUS Pentium4 portable for the above RME multiface with a PCMCIA in case HP is stored. This is a just in case, because both RME Multiface can be driven by a single portable recording presets and using them in stand alone mode for maximun silence.

Now the guitar stuff.  :D

I couldnt resist to an M-Audio Black Box with pedalboard for 60 bucks. It is the cheap version of an Adrenalinn with awesome modulations. The guitarist knows what I am talking about. Sound to my ears somehow better than original Line6 POD and it has SPDIF out. Perfect for another setup I plan do with my unused Audiomedia III or Digi 001.






Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: Protools5LEGuy on November 20, 2023, 11:45:33 AM
Can be compared the digidesign 888 24 against the Focusrite LS 56, Digi 002 or RME original Multiface   ???

An 888 24 can be had for 50 bucks and 882 20 for less.


Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: teroyk on November 20, 2023, 01:50:50 PM
PowerBook 17" GHz ALU G4 RME Multiface that needs OSX thanks to CardBus not working on Mac OS 9 

If you have flat RME Cardbus-card Multiface should work with Mac OS 9. But I am not sure does Mac OS 9 support Powerbook 17" Cardbus-slot?
Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: Protools5LEGuy on November 20, 2023, 02:55:00 PM
If you have flat RME Cardbus-card Multiface should work with Mac OS 9. But I am not sure does Mac OS 9 support Powerbook 17" Cardbus-slot?

The 17" ALU works mostly on OS 9 but the Firewire 400 and the Cardbus. Maybe someone could take care of that unit and develop a new Mac ROM that enables the Cardbus. Wishful thinking

I have 4 ways to connect the 2 Multiface and the Digiface.

Own 2 flat connector PCMCIA HammerFall, one with PowerPC firmware and the other with Intel firmware, a PCI card, and an ExpressCard. I guess I should search for a Pismo or a Titanium for a Mac OS 9 setup, but Main use for the pair of RME Multiface is converters analog to ADAT and ADAT to analog. Now for my Yamaha DG 60, HK Tubeman, Focusrite Trackmaster and Yamaha FX500.

Later to have the 12 outputs needed for Atmos..

I will need to buy a RME USB DIGIFACE for the Atmos thing if I can't get to work with the Focusrite LS56 on Monterrey. Apparently, if you update the Mac OS X from Mojave to Monterrey on various steps~OS it can work. 
Quote
Release notes
This will be the last software release for the Saffire range as they are now discontinued, please see this article from our Help Centre.

Tested on:

macOS 10.15 (Catalina)
macOS 10.14 (Mojave)
macOS 10.13 (High Sierra)
macOS 10.12 (Sierra)
macOS 10.12 or later is required to run Saffire Mix Control 3.9. This version will not install on macOS 10.11 or earlier.

What’s New

Saffire Mix Control is now a 64-bit application

The thing is the installer is not signed for Big Sur +, but the App that moves it is 64 bit. So there is some hope. With SIP disabled, for sure. But I need to understand a little more about Open Core, just in case some kext have to be installed.

Firewire is very difficult to handle from Big Sur onwards. People report partial success with thunderbolt 3 to TB 2 to FW800 to FW 400 adapters.

Most people are selling cheap any firewire gear just because it is difficult to make it work.



Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: Protools5LEGuy on November 20, 2023, 03:30:51 PM
Once I set up the ATMOS I swear to only update the Windows setup.  :)

I have way more gear than needed.  8)

I have absolutely no excuses to finish the album from my band.

I still have the same questions from years ago, but related to the new gear. In my opinion, ordered from better to worse

What is the best clock? RME Digiface vs LS56 vs Digi 002 vs ADAT bridge 24. I guess M-Audio Black-Box and all my FW Solo and Audiophile have the worst clock design+converters.

What are my best converters? LS56 vs Multiface vs Digi 002 vs Apogee GiO. GiO has fewer bits but it is Apogee.

Best Mic Preamplifier? Focusrite TrackMaster vs Focusrite Liquid Saphire 56 vs Digi 002.

Best guitar Pre? Yamaha DG-60 vs HK TubeMan vs BlackBox vs GiO

Title: Re: Building the BEST setup for my equipment
Post by: Protools5LEGuy on November 20, 2023, 04:29:59 PM
My mixing setup is not ITB or OTB but between various ADAT and SPDIF boxes.  It is inspired by a classic SSL studio with 2buss CLA, Pensado, and Jaycen Joshua style. But all ADAT or SPDIF are wired. Think of them as chains of 1, 2, 3, or 4 elements.  8)

SETUP A
MIX on MP 2.1, room correction on MP 3.1

SETUP B
MIX on  MP 2.1, DSP on MIX ++++, room correction on MP 3.1

SETUP C
MIX on  MP 2.1, DSP on MIX ++++, summing on PT Ultimate, room correction on MP 3.1.

In 2024 I am going to change the order of the chain to an even more modern approach.

MIX on MIX ++++, summing+modern DSP on MP 2.1, 2 buss on PT Ultimate and last, room correction.

Metric Halo Channel Strip is as good as SSL CS from Waves if used wisely. Lexiverb is as good as Altiverb or Waves IR.On the other hand, the TC Electronics plugs are great. The Voice Strip is GREAT and the Mastering one can be compared to Ozone or The God Particle. Maybe Peak TDM worth investigating more.  :o  I still use Tech 21-Digidesign SansAmp as my guitar tone builder for most of my guitar sound just duplicating the track and using clean+overdrive or crunh+overdrive. Think Mac OS 9 TDM as the multitrack + SSL + Lexicon.

Now PT 10 HD as summing box with Waves NLS Non-Linear Summer you do the console sound + sound toys stuff if the delays from OS 9 aren't good enough. The green Mac OS 9 Line6 delay stuff is good for me. But if you want a different colour...

PT Ultimate for the Iron+ 2Buss or Mastering and Printing the file or master.