Workstations 101-Anything from Software to Hardware

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Any questions or answers about Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) can be posted right here.

-- Lynn Fuston (go3daudio@aol.com), February 08, 1998

Answers

Response to Workstations 101

There seems to be quite a few **Recording Studio on a PCI card** solutions coming down the pike, as well as a few already in use. I would love to hear what has been the experience of those using Events Darla,Gina, Layla ..are they shipping yet?The Korg 1212I/O? How about MOTU Audio System and Digital Performer... 40 tracks plus effects?really? Down the road is the new Yamaha O2R on a PCI card.16 tracks of audio plus tons of on board DSP...and Lexicon Studio with 32 track of audio and 2 PCM90 reverbs on board. Is Digidesign going to become a dinosaur and become extict? Anyone remember New England Digital and the Synclavier?

-- Robert (RndmAxess@aol.com), February 08, 1998.

Response to Workstations 101

Not to mention the Alesis PCI card with lightpipe & Sync hookup. Supposed to be available by 2nd quarter of '98.

-- Harold Fay (CWProd@aol.com), February 08, 1998.

Response to Workstations 101

<>

Yeah, that's what we need! A few more setups that only work with and inof themselves! It's all ones and zeros and we still can't interface macs and pcs!

<< I would love to hear what has been the experience of those using Events Darla,Gina, Layla ..are they shipping yet?The Korg 1212I/O? How about MOTU Audio System and Digital Performer... 40 tracks plus effects?really?>>

DigiPerformer is really cool, actually. I'm running a 604e/180 and could probably run 24 tracks if I needed to, though screen size seems to dictate limitations moreso than processor speed these days. ram ram and ram... people are throwing out their quadras like they're dogs--t, but with the right hardware and enough memory they're totally fine! that's just apple trying to be like microsnot lately.

<>

Show me how to fit 40 motorized faders on a pci card and I'll eat my socks, bro. I'm the biggest o2r enthusiast you'll ever meet. Thing is, you need a mac ANYWAY to do your offline editing and patch storage (the o2r's onboard memory is the rough equivalent of a sampler with 512k... do the math). Oh, and I'm still wet enough behind the ears that I leave my faders enabled during mixdown, just because I enjoy watching them snap around.

I'll leave it at this... I've got lots of software and plug ins and yaddi yaddi yaddi, but I haven't sold or traded away a single piece of outboard or patchbay rack yet. People are jumping into one box recording like it's already the answer. While all this happens, I'm trying to get the cash up for my first 2" 24 track. You know what? I've used analog, and I've used digtal running "analogizer" or whatever. You're still going in drag. If you want analog sounds, use analog tape! And mixing with a mouse is a scam.

Just ranting. Anyone from sss knows to expect nothing less from me.

jfs

-- the artist formerly known as ai3000jfs (judson@avdeli.com), February 09, 1998.


Response to Workstations 101

Well, you make a good point. One of the things that I like about using a "traditional" board is that it is NOT everything all in one box. I can pull in whatever I need and patch it wherever I think it should go, and route complex series of effects through the patchbay. And at any time, with just a few patch cords, I can completely reconfigure everything and introduce new setups, elements, and equipment into the existing setup. I am not dissing All-In-One-Box setups, but simply stating that they may not have all the flexibility that I prefer. Some people *don't* need that, but I want it.

-- Ken/Eleven Shadows (ElevenShad@aol.com), February 09, 1998.

Response to Workstations 101

>I would love to hear what has been the experience of those using Events Darla,Gina, Layla ..are they shipping yet?<

Gina and Darla, yes, purportedly with Mac drivers available.

>Yeah, that's what we need! A few more setups that only work with and inof themselves! It's all ones and zeros and we still can't interface macs and pcs! <

My gripe exactly. What I'm working toward in my modest setup is to try to integrate the advantages of what computer/HD/sequencer stuff does best, along with outboard tape/mixer/processor stuff, for what it does best. But doggone it, getting it all to talk to each other is going to require more sync boxes, adapters, and interfaces than I can even believe. But, with a Layla, I'll be able to get 10 real analog channels in and out, good outboard convertors, a midi interface and word clock sync all in one box. All they gotta do now is ship the thing....

-- Tom Armbruster (pcctomtrf@aol.com), February 09, 1998.



Response to Workstations 101

>I would love to hear what has been the experience of those using Events Darla,Gina, Layla ..are they shipping yet?<

Yes they are. I have a gina card and love it. Very clean and quiet card. I'm getting better than ADAT quality(as I should with 20 bit converters!)

It installed with no problems. The digital inputs are nice. Up to 24 bits. It has left my preamps needing an upgrade to match Gina's quality.

You can get some very pro results recording with Gina if you know what your doing. I am still in school but do demos that sound better than some of my friends in town that do it for a living on 16 track analogs.

Kev

-- Kevin Perry (ckevperry@aol.com), February 13, 1998.


Response to Workstations 101

This post is being transferred to this thread. -Lynn

*************

SUBJECT: Triple-Dat VS Samplitude 4.0

BODY: Hello,

I am about to go "tapeless" and was wondering if anyone could give me insight as to which of these two products is better.My main concerns are ease of use and reliablity in day to day use. My computer is a Compaq presario 4508 w 24mb and will be adding a scsi adapter(2940uw) asap. Thank you, Matt

-- Lynn Fuston (go3daudio@mindspring.com), February 22, 1998.


Is this newest influx of inexpensive workstation hard/software going to represent the straw that will break Digidesign's singular hold on the workstation industry? What do you think?

Lynn

-- Lynn Fuston (go3daudio@mindspring.com), March 12, 1998.


Here's a question for you. Paris has finally come around like David stalking the Goliath of ProTools. For $3K, you can get roughly the equivalent of a PT entry level system that would set you back about $12K. I know that the sales are steady, but have not been breaking any records. Now that the Yamaha and Alesis and MOTU PCI cards are coming along, is the Paris concept a little too much money and a little too late, realizing that the playing field has just been levelled down to the $499 to $1000 price range? What do you think?

I just found out that Ensoniq has released a new pricing schedule for Paris and the entry level system just dropped by over $300. That's a good sign, but are they adjusting or scrambling? I don't know.

By the way, these are rhetorical questions, because I have seen and auditioned the Paris system and am also in close contact with the principle designers. I think it is a very serious system with a bright future ahead.

-Lynn Fuston

-- Lynn Fuston (go3daudio@mindspring.com), March 13, 1998.


I think PARIS, although a lot pricier than the new cards you mentioned (Yamaha, MOTU, etc.) is well worth the price. (and this coming from someone who missed the price decrease by a week!!) There's a lot to be said for PARIS's integration of software and hardware. I struggled with latency problems with the Gina card and Cubase VST for a while before breaking down and getting PARIS. No more problems, having all mixing chores handled by the onboard DSP horsepower is a plus. Although I'll still be using my better quality outboard gear with PARIS, the integrated DSP functions (EQ, verbs, delay, etc.) sound pretty darn good. Outside of the Protools world with the DSP farm concept and a few plugins being made available for the DAL V8, I don't know when any plugin manufacturers will actually take advantage of the onboard DSP chips being included on all the inexpensive boards available for the PC platform. By the time you add up the cost of I/O cards, recording software, a few quality plugins, and trying to duplicate what Ensoniq has done with the PARIS control surface you'd be closing the price differential quickly. Just my thoughts, Kevin.

-- Kevin Hennessey (pianoman@ntplx.net), March 15, 1998.


Hi All, I'm getting ready to purchase a new computer and am pretty convinced it will be a Mac G3/233 or G3/266 tower. Right now I'm using a Mac Performa 6115CD with Performer 5.5 but I plan on upgrading to Performer 6 and using that with the new 2408. I have 2 ADATs and a VS880. Considering that the 2408 already comes with editing software is there any reason why I should get the latest version of DP, as opposed to Performer 6? Also,I believe the G3 Tower is my best option for the money ($2000-$2800). Any one out there have a different opinion? If so, why?

Rob C./Nashville

-- Rob C. (RVamboRLZ@aol.com), March 25, 1998.


>>Right now I'm using a Mac Performa 6115CD with Performer 5.5 but I plan on upgrading to Performer 6 and using that with the new 2408. I have 2 ADATs and a VS880. Considering that the 2408 already comes with editing software is there any reason why I should get the latest version of DP, as opposed to Performer 6? Also,I believe the G3 Tower is my best option for the money ($2000-$2800). Any one out there have a different opinion? If so, why? <<

I would strongly suggest checking with the manufacturer of the hardware you will be buying and getting their recommendations on computers. There are numerous stories (mostly Digi-related) about people buying a great computer and then picking up the hardware, assuming since it's fast enough, they won't encounter any problems. It AIN'T SO. Don't buy anything until they (the mfg) promise you it will work together, or you may find yourself and your software swinging in the wind. The G3's have not been compatible with everything, by the way. On Paris, you have to have the card in one very specific slot, or the whole thing won't even boot. Other than that, though, the reviews on Paris and its reliability and ease of installation are ecstatic.



-- Lynn Fuston (go3daudio@mindspring.com), March 27, 1998.


I'm considering adding a workstation to my set-up, nothing fancy just a simple 2 track editior for doing fades and edits for my clients. I also need a soundcard for PC with either spdif or aes i/o. Quality and the ability to upgrade aren't nearly as important as price is, but sound quality is important. At some point I also want to add a CD-R. I have a Pentium 200MMX that probably won't get used for this (the 16 bit slot is filled with a scanner card, plus it's not my computer) so i'd also be getting a new computer, at least a Pentium 133.

-- Brad (MrXAudio@hotmail.com), March 28, 1998.

Hi all, I'm getting a new Mac this week, a G3/266 with 6 gig HD, 128 MEG RAM, 6 MEGVRAM and audio/video ins & outs. I plan on upgrading from Performer 5.5 and Unisyn 1.16 to the latest version of Digital Performer, Unisyn and the new2408. Right now my set-up includes a Mac 6115CD Power PC, 2 ADATs with a J.L. Cooper dataSync2 (for converting the ADATs to MTC), 1 Roland VS-880 and a MOTU Midi Express with numerous sound modules. Here are a few questions I have:

1) Have the MOTU devices and software I plan on upgraging to all been tested with the new Mac G3's?

2) Are there any conflicts?

3) Will I need some sort of new sync device for my modules other than what I have (Midi Express/dataSync2) or will the 2408 tie everything together via the ADAT's?

4) If I partition the G3's 6 gig hard drive can I use Digital Performer 2.3 on it or is an external hard drive still recommended?

5) Are ther any other software/hardware options I will need that I'm not aware of? Thanks for your input.

Regards, Rob C./Nashville

-- Rob C (RVamboRLZ@aol.com), April 05, 1998.


I have a question about using my DAT machine to back-up my hard drive. I read a couple years ago that there was a Mac utility that would allow you to use your DAT machine as a tape back-up. I haven't heard anything since and was wondering if this was ever true at all. I am now moving to PC and was hoping this might also be available there. I'd appreciate any information.

-- Lance Gibbon (lgibbon@lkwas.wednet.edu), April 07, 1998.


I have Digital Performer 2.3 with a Radius 81/110. Mackie Board, Kurzweil etc... I can only get about 2 tracks with maybe one or two effects or 4 tracks with one effect, so I need faster processor speed.

I thought I was waiting for Newer Technology's G3 upgrade card for the 8100's (and compatibles), but today saw an ad for Sonnet Technology's upgrade cards. I called and the salesman told me that they'd be coming out with a $499 G3 upgrade card for the 8100 series in May (about $100 cheaper than Newer's Card which doesn't ship till June). He said they're card was better because it runs synchronous to my computer's clock as opposed to the Newer Card which runs asynchronous.

My question is: Anybody out there have experience with Sonnet Technology's upgrade cards? He said they'd been in the biz for 9 yrs. and that Newer has gotten all the press only because Sonnet doesn't believe in announcing a product before it is ready to ship. Hmmm...

I sure would feel more comfortable hearing from someone out there who's had experience with this company. He assured me that if it was incompatible, I'd get my money back, so I can't see not trying it out....but what do yawl think?

Adam

-- (Bubbleman@aol.com), April 09, 1998.


Looks like MOTU is rallying significant support for MAS,(Motu Audio System) and the 2408 as a result.

A number of companies offer MAS plug-ins, with the lastest coming from Waves.

I feel that selling my Nubus Protools was a smart move. I'm getting into CD-ROM development and don't operate a commercial studio so I think the 2408 will be the next Digital Audio card in my setup. $1000/MOTU versus $10,000/Digi and the same plug-ins.

What are you guys using for Daw's? I've got my budget done and money in hand for a whole new system and need some feedback and pointers.

Thanks, Robert

-- Robert Frank (RndmAxess@aol.com), April 29, 1998.


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