Sep 01, 2004 12:51 pm Is this the Adat HD24 or the the Adat XT or what?
Please help a stupid ADAT rookie....
Posted on Sep 01, 2004 12:24 pm
GratephulPhish
Member Since: Jan 29, 2004
Ok Im pretty much lost here and I need some guidance. I have decided that I want to go the ADAT route to build a basic recording setup in my house. Im looking into purchasing most of this equipment used because I do not have a big budget at all right now. I have several questions that I've come across regarding my proposed system. I plan to buy an analog mixer and an ADAT recorder. I have monitors and headphones and all that but I can't seem to understand how the analog board gets hooked up to an 8-track ADAT. What cables? What connections? The board I'm looking at is a Behringer Eurodesk SL2442FX-PRO Mixer service.bfast.com/bfast/c...mp;bfmtype=gear that Im getting for a dirt cheap price used. Also, being the recording rookie that I am, I cant seem to understand how I can edit the tracks once all the tracks are recorded. Plug the ADAT back into the mixer inputs? Make the adjustments Like I said I'm a total newb and a little basic ADAT recording and mixing guide would be awesome. Thanks for your time!
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Sep 01, 2004 12:51 pm Is this the Adat HD24 or the the Adat XT or what?
Sep 01, 2004 01:07 pm You'll need 2 snakes 8 cables per 1 snake. They will need to be rca male on one end and 1/4 inch male unbalanced on the other. Use one snake to feed the adat from the mixer and the other to feed the mixer from the adat. Hosa is reasonably priced.
Does the mixer have direct outs on the first 8 channels?
Throw a Alesis Masterlink on the stereo out, and you'll have one fine set up, except for the Behringer board of course (LOL)
www.karynwhittemore.com
Sep 01, 2004 01:13 pm Im pretty sure the mixer does NOT have Direct outs on the first 8 channels. I think thats whats throwing me off with the cabling
Sep 01, 2004 01:15 pm Doesnt the lack of direct outs prevent me from using the snakes as such>?
Sep 01, 2004 01:24 pm I don't see them in the pic. I assumed they were on the back of the board. You could probably use the inserts to feed the Adat. (check for sure) The price is good, but I'm hearing great things about the mackie Onyx, though more expensive.
Sep 01, 2004 02:48 pm Can someone please describe a basic ADAT recording system with all connections with the only part that can't change being the Alesis XT-20 ADAT? THANKS
Sep 01, 2004 02:56 pm Idle curiousity, what makes you choose to go such an old-school route as ADAT rather than PC-based or hard-disk recording?
Sep 01, 2004 03:06 pm I don't know dB, there's a certain appeal to the raw hands on approach.
It's basically what we talked about. I'm pretty sure you can use the inserts as sends to the adat. You might have to just insert to the first click though. I'm not 100% on that though, so check. I think Alesis stayed with the rca ins and outs on the XT 20???
Sep 01, 2004 03:10 pm I've worked with ADAT twice in my life. It was the two most nightmarish recording experiences I have ever had...I'd sooner go back to my Tascam 288 syncassette.
But, hey, to each their own, it's what makes life the beautiful tapestry that it is...
All the sound of Digital (good and bad) without any of the conveniences of digital...
Sep 01, 2004 03:37 pm Well, we can't tell you what cables to buy if we don't know the features of the console you are going to purchase.
BUT, basically, for discrete audio tracking using the ADAT XT you would use the direct outs of the board connected to the inputs of the adat and back out of the adat to the line ins of the console for monitoring or mixing. of course this will change a bit depending on the features of your console.
Sep 01, 2004 03:44 pm Very true, Db. The adat route limits you to linear editing and only 8 tracks.
Also, G.Phish, don't forget that if you go ADAT your gonna need another recorder of some sort to mix down your tracks after recording. Since your posting on this forum, I recommend just going through the line in on your computer's soundcard. You should be able to find a stereo 1/8" to dual rca cable cheaply at radio shack or probably any department store.
Sep 01, 2004 03:45 pm Ok. But what if there are no direct outs? Use the inserts as outputs for each track to the recorder? Would I then use the RCA to 1/4" cable snakes for this? I was told that there is a significant difference in sound quality between using the RCA inputs of the recorder versus using the digital TOslink connector. WOuld I use a D/A converter in between the board and the recorder? With a 1/4" to 1/4" snake connecting the board and the converter and a digital cable connecting the converter and the recorder?
Sep 01, 2004 03:46 pm If there are no direct outs, then you need to use the sub outs of the console. So you be limited to recording only as many tracks as your have sub outs.
Sep 01, 2004 03:48 pm Mike; Question for you. Being a total rookie to this whole process, how does the mixing process work on a mixer -> ADAT type system? I believe on a SIAB system after all tracks are recorded you can easily alter volume levels of all tracks add effects to individual tracks, EQ tracks, etc. I just dont see how this works with the mixer _>ADAT system. Do I play back the recorded material through the board then record again as I move the faders etc?
Sep 01, 2004 03:49 pm db, thats what i didnt want to hear. If the board has 4 sub outs for example does that mean I can only mix 4 tracks later with lets say 2 instruments per track?
Sep 01, 2004 03:51 pm Thanks for all the help guys. I think I now understand the cabling config except for the details in my 3:45PM post. Now I need some mixing explanation.
Sep 01, 2004 04:00 pm And can anyone recommend a good 16 + input analog mixer that has direct outs or even 8 sub outs thats less than $450 USD?
Sep 01, 2004 04:27 pm Actually, as rec-chick mentioned, you could use the inserts on the mixer as direct outs, and as she said, only plug in half way or until you feel the first click.
Really if your recording instruments to their own dedicated tracks then you don't really have to get a mix going right a way. Just watch your levels on the adat to make sure they don't clip and also that there not too weak BEFORE you hit the record button.
After everthings recorded, hook up the adat outs into the ins on the mixer and then use the mixer's stereo line out to go into your mixdown recorder. And yes, your right about being able to adjust volume and pan, etc as your recording your mixdown.
Good luck!
Sep 01, 2004 04:29 pm The Mackie 1604 vlz pro has 1/4 inch direct outs on the 1st 8 channels. The onyx Mackie has balanced outs on D-sub connectors. I'm not sure how that would work with the unbalanced RCA connectors on the XT 20. Mabey some one here could answer that. Sorry my recomendation is more than 450 at least new.
Sep 01, 2004 04:58 pm Yes, you can use the insert outputs, but then you loose that aux loop for effects and such. Not the most elegant way to do it, but it'll work.
Sep 01, 2004 05:02 pm Thanks alot everyone. The mess is starting to come together!
Sep 01, 2004 05:11 pm Any ideas on what the absolute cheapest mixdown recorder that sounds alright is?
Sep 01, 2004 05:15 pm And also, I was just thinking, is it possible to bounce tracks using 1 DAT recorder. Lets say i have both the inputs and the outputs all hooked up simultaneously so I can definately hear the already recorded stuff to overdub. What would the bouncing procedure be?
Sep 01, 2004 05:17 pm Scrape and save, whatever you have to do, but get the Alesis Masterlink. It's the best stand alone unit for this I can think of. Even the big boys use it. I've heard pros even praise the onboard A/D conversion. It's like 999.00. I love mine.
I mastered my CD "Slippery Road" on it.
www.karynwhittemore.com
Sep 01, 2004 08:57 pm My very first digital recording setup was with an ADAT XT, and here's how I hooked it up: I used the Elco interface (that's the big rectangular port on the back of your ADAT). This cable gave me eight 1/4" INS and eight 1/4" OUTS. I had it hooked to my Mackie 1604, so I was fortunate enough to have direct outs on channels 1-8, but I never used them. I had four sub outs, and that's what I went into the ADAT with. I never needed to record more than four channels simultaneously. The eight OUTS from the ADAT went into channels 9-16 of the Mackie, for monitoring and mixdown purposes. As suggested, I mixed down through my soundcard into Cool Edit. Another option is to use the ADAT's digital interface to transfer your tracks to the computer for editing and mixdown. (Of course, you'd need an audio card with an ADAT interface as well...)
Your mixer appears to have four subs for recording, and plenty of channels for mixing and monitoring. You can just get yourself an Elco ADAT cable on eBay and you're just about set!
Jim
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