Best ADC for under $2,000
Home > Home Recording Forum > Gear Gab > Best ADC for under $2,000
Posted on Jul 09, 2010 07:51 pm
CavvyStudios
www.cavvystudios.com
Member Since: May 31, 2010
I'm looking to get an Apogee Rosetta 200 analog to digital converter. Is there a better ADC on the market for $1,600?
[ Back to Top ]
Quincysanhttp://www.unitedmusicians.infoContributor
Since: Nov 11, 2007
Jul 09, 2010 08:05 pm I am no expert in the AD converters...however my API A2D comes with two very wonderful API 312 pre-amps, and a word clock/AD converter. Here's the skinny on the product:
www.apiaudio.com/a2d.html
The API unit significantly improved the sampled audio from my M-Audio pre's (but it's the only high end converter I've spent time with, so I have no frame of reference). There's an insert in the back so you can put an effect between the pre-amp and the converters (or you can use the same insert to feed a signal directly to the converters, bypassing the API 312 pre-amp). This is particularly useful for running parallel compression, and I bet it would sound great with rap vocals. I use mine with a DBX 160a; sounds good to me! It has an SPDIF output.
Jul 09, 2010 11:21 pm The A2D's AD is quite good, the Rosetta is a decent enough unit also (although it really needs the updated clock to rock).
I think you'd find the Lavry Black AD worth looking at in a major way...
Jul 10, 2010 02:51 pm I've read some really good things about the A2D, although I wish it had D/A conversion for monitoring. I'll have to check out that Lavry Black AD, I'm not familiar with it. Thanks for the info, guys. One question, MM. What do you mean by updated clock?
Jul 10, 2010 11:14 pm The Rosetta isn't all that wonderful unless the BigBen is driving it.
Jul 11, 2010 07:40 am Right on, thanks for the info.
Jul 11, 2010 07:48 am I checked out the Lavry Black AD and the part about "The Black AD is essentially a very clear and transparent converter, then with Lavry’s new “Alias-Free Emulations”, the AD10 can add the color of tubes, transformers, or both!" sounds really appealing to me. Have you heard how realistic their alias-free emulations sound? Are they like the real thing? I'm thinking this could solve my need for having a nice clean sound without a lot of coloration and also a warm analog tube sound that some people I record prefer.
Jul 11, 2010 12:41 pm There are two circuit designers I rarely question -- Dave Hill and Dan Lavry. If Dan thought his emulations were good enough to put on the unit, you can feel pretty good about them.
That said - I've not personally used the Black series.
Jul 11, 2010 03:31 pm Hmmmm... out of these 3 ADC's, the Lavry Black AD sounds like it would fit my needs the most. I'll just have to figure out an inexpensive D/A solution, maybe from Presonus or something. Thanks MM.
