Advantage of going from Gigastudio to digital board via ADAT and then into DAW

[Jerry Gerber]

Does anyone see an advantage (audio quality, mainly) of sending out audio
from a Gigastudio computer via ADAT rather than analog? Currently I am
sending out audio from two Gigastudio computers via analog (D to A
conversion) and into a digital board (A to D conversion), and then into a
DAW using Sonar. By sending Giga directly out ADAT there will be no D to A
or A to D conversion stages.

Assuming everything else is in order (good clocking, good cables) does
anyone think there would be a difference in sound quality, even if slight?



--
Best Wishes,

Jerry Gerber
www.jerrygerber.com
www.cdbaby.com/virtualorchestra

[Jay Kadis]

In article .net>,
"Jerry Gerber" > wrote:

> Does anyone see an advantage (audio quality, mainly) of sending out audio
> from a Gigastudio computer via ADAT rather than analog? Currently I am
> sending out audio from two Gigastudio computers via analog (D to A
> conversion) and into a digital board (A to D conversion), and then into a
> DAW using Sonar. By sending Giga directly out ADAT there will be no D to A
> or A to D conversion stages.
>
> Assuming everything else is in order (good clocking, good cables) does
> anyone think there would be a difference in sound quality, even if slight?


The ability to avoid accidentally overloading the analog inputs comes to mind,
as does the simplification of cabling, elimination of ground loop problems, and
the obvious elimination of 2 conversions.

Of course, these might not be problems in your current setup...

-Jay
--
x------- Jay Kadis ------- x---- Jay's Attic Studio ------x
x Lecturer, Audio Engineer x Dexter Records x
x CCRMA, Stanford University x http://www.offbeats.com/ x
x-------- http://ccrma-www.stanford.edu/~jay/ ----------x

[Jerry Gerber]

Hi Jay,

I have no ground loop issues, but the idea of avoiding 2 conversions is what
is motivating this change. I hope I don't spend a bunch of money and find
that there is no audible difference!!!!

--
Jerry Gerber
www.ottavarecords.com



"Jay Kadis" > wrote in message
...
> In article .net>,
> "Jerry Gerber" > wrote:
>
> > Does anyone see an advantage (audio quality, mainly) of sending out
audio
> > from a Gigastudio computer via ADAT rather than analog? Currently I am
> > sending out audio from two Gigastudio computers via analog (D to A
> > conversion) and into a digital board (A to D conversion), and then into
a
> > DAW using Sonar. By sending Giga directly out ADAT there will be no D
to A
> > or A to D conversion stages.
> >
> > Assuming everything else is in order (good clocking, good cables) does
> > anyone think there would be a difference in sound quality, even if
slight?
>
>
> The ability to avoid accidentally overloading the analog inputs comes to
mind,
> as does the simplification of cabling, elimination of ground loop
problems, and
> the obvious elimination of 2 conversions.
>
> Of course, these might not be problems in your current setup...
>
> -Jay
> --
> x------- Jay Kadis ------- x---- Jay's Attic Studio ------x
> x Lecturer, Audio Engineer x Dexter Records x
> x CCRMA, Stanford University x http://www.offbeats.com/ x
> x-------- http://ccrma-www.stanford.edu/~jay/ ----------x

[Scott Wynne]

It seems to me that as long as you can solve the whole clock source
problem with going digital you will not be losing any quality to the
sounds. In my personal and business studios I like to keep everything
digital unless it is aesthetic choice for the genre. For example, A
lot of engineers like running their keyboards through a nice preamp
with good transformers to "warm up" the sound or good analog
compressors that they own. If you don't own these items in your
studio yet, or don't see a reason to use them for this application,
then it seems to me that your best choice is then to go through ADAT
connections to retain the quailty of the samples your buying. Keep in
mind however, that the digital console and the samples your are using
have a lot to do with the replies you are going to find. You say you
own 2 gigastudios and are going into a digital board. With the kind
of money you spent on the two machines we can only anticipate your
using all high end equipment. Are you running out of the machines
using Apogee converters and into a Behringer digital board with stock
A/D converters? More information could provide better answers for
you. I would guess your not running all high end outboard gear and
that your console is probably a Yamaha or Tascam prosumer unit without
the apogee converter cards. INMO, my advice is to make sure you get a
high end clock with distribution; lock all digital equipment to it;
and run giga with the ADAT cables.
I hope this helps.

Scott Wynne

"Run for your lives, he's grabbed the EQ!!!"



"Jerry Gerber" > wrote in message . net>...
> Hi Jay,
>
> I have no ground loop issues, but the idea of avoiding 2 conversions is what
> is motivating this change. I hope I don't spend a bunch of money and find
> that there is no audible difference!!!!
>
> --
> Jerry Gerber
> www.ottavarecords.com
>
>
>
> "Jay Kadis" > wrote in message
> ...
> > In article .net>,
> > "Jerry Gerber" > wrote:
> >
> > > Does anyone see an advantage (audio quality, mainly) of sending out
> audio
> > > from a Gigastudio computer via ADAT rather than analog? Currently I am
> > > sending out audio from two Gigastudio computers via analog (D to A
> > > conversion) and into a digital board (A to D conversion), and then into
> a
> > > DAW using Sonar. By sending Giga directly out ADAT there will be no D
> to A
> > > or A to D conversion stages.
> > >
> > > Assuming everything else is in order (good clocking, good cables) does
> > > anyone think there would be a difference in sound quality, even if
> slight?
> >
> >
> > The ability to avoid accidentally overloading the analog inputs comes to
> mind,
> > as does the simplification of cabling, elimination of ground loop
> problems, and
> > the obvious elimination of 2 conversions.
> >
> > Of course, these might not be problems in your current setup...
> >
> > -Jay
> > --
> > x------- Jay Kadis ------- x---- Jay's Attic Studio ------x
> > x Lecturer, Audio Engineer x Dexter Records x
> > x CCRMA, Stanford University x http://www.offbeats.com/ x
> > x-------- http://ccrma-www.stanford.edu/~jay/ ----------x

[Jerry Gerber]

I do have some high-end gear, the Yamaha DM2000 is definitely the best
mid-range digital console around, at least for my money it is. I am
currently using the converters in the DM2000 but will be using less of them
if I go ADAT with the 2 Giga computers. The master clock is Apogee's Big
Ben.

Thanks,

Jerry Gerber
www.ottavarecords.com


I was hoping for an improvement in the sound, even though my sound is
already very very good. I only buy the best sample libraries (Garritan,
etc.)
"Scott Wynne" > wrote in message
om...
> It seems to me that as long as you can solve the whole clock source
> problem with going digital you will not be losing any quality to the
> sounds. In my personal and business studios I like to keep everything
> digital unless it is aesthetic choice for the genre. For example, A
> lot of engineers like running their keyboards through a nice preamp
> with good transformers to "warm up" the sound or good analog
> compressors that they own. If you don't own these items in your
> studio yet, or don't see a reason to use them for this application,
> then it seems to me that your best choice is then to go through ADAT
> connections to retain the quailty of the samples your buying. Keep in
> mind however, that the digital console and the samples your are using
> have a lot to do with the replies you are going to find. You say you
> own 2 gigastudios and are going into a digital board. With the kind
> of money you spent on the two machines we can only anticipate your
> using all high end equipment. Are you running out of the machines
> using Apogee converters and into a Behringer digital board with stock
> A/D converters? More information could provide better answers for
> you. I would guess your not running all high end outboard gear and
> that your console is probably a Yamaha or Tascam prosumer unit without
> the apogee converter cards. INMO, my advice is to make sure you get a
> high end clock with distribution; lock all digital equipment to it;
> and run giga with the ADAT cables.
> I hope this helps.
>
> Scott Wynne
>
> "Run for your lives, he's grabbed the EQ!!!"
>
>
>
> "Jerry Gerber" > wrote in message
. net>...
> > Hi Jay,
> >
> > I have no ground loop issues, but the idea of avoiding 2 conversions is
what
> > is motivating this change. I hope I don't spend a bunch of money and
find
> > that there is no audible difference!!!!
> >
> > --
> > Jerry Gerber
> > www.ottavarecords.com
> >
> >
> >
> > "Jay Kadis" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > In article .net>,
> > > "Jerry Gerber" > wrote:
> > >
> > > > Does anyone see an advantage (audio quality, mainly) of sending out
> > audio
> > > > from a Gigastudio computer via ADAT rather than analog? Currently I
am
> > > > sending out audio from two Gigastudio computers via analog (D to A
> > > > conversion) and into a digital board (A to D conversion), and then
into
> > a
> > > > DAW using Sonar. By sending Giga directly out ADAT there will be no
D
> > to A
> > > > or A to D conversion stages.
> > > >
> > > > Assuming everything else is in order (good clocking, good cables)
does
> > > > anyone think there would be a difference in sound quality, even if
> > slight?
> > >
> > >
> > > The ability to avoid accidentally overloading the analog inputs comes
to
> > mind,
> > > as does the simplification of cabling, elimination of ground loop
> > problems, and
> > > the obvious elimination of 2 conversions.
> > >
> > > Of course, these might not be problems in your current setup...
> > >
> > > -Jay
> > > --
> > > x------- Jay Kadis ------- x---- Jay's Attic Studio ------x
> > > x Lecturer, Audio Engineer x Dexter Records x
> > > x CCRMA, Stanford University x http://www.offbeats.com/ x
> > > x-------- http://ccrma-www.stanford.edu/~jay/ ----------x

[Julian Standen]

You can win an Apogee Big Ben on http://www.gearslutz.com this month,
competition ends April 2nd!

All the best!

Jules

[Fong Shui]

I do exactly what you are talking about and it works out beautifully!
Out of one Hammerfall and into another, all digitally.

On Fri, 05 Mar 2004 20:47:19 GMT, "Jerry Gerber"
> wrote:

>Does anyone see an advantage (audio quality, mainly) of sending out audio
>from a Gigastudio computer via ADAT rather than analog? Currently I am
>sending out audio from two Gigastudio computers via analog (D to A
>conversion) and into a digital board (A to D conversion), and then into a
>DAW using Sonar. By sending Giga directly out ADAT there will be no D to A
>or A to D conversion stages.
>
>Assuming everything else is in order (good clocking, good cables) does
>anyone think there would be a difference in sound quality, even if slight?