Getting a good A/D converter for MPC3k

Hey there, I was in the market for an 8ch / 96khz (dual smux) adat adc to go with my new UAD Apollo 8 Quad, however after recent debate I was looking for an opinion if actually recording at 96kHz and also using the plugins in realtime would benefit in quality at all.
I understand that the 3k is a 16/44.1khz sampler but i'm just checking otherwise if it made any difference. thanks

I have read interview with guy who does programming for PSP Software(vintage warmer etc.) and he said higher samplerates could benefit in better sound because some plugins work better at higher samplerate. I tried it and I belive him. He also said that working at 48/96/192 khz is worse than 44.1/88.2/176.4 because output format for cd is 44.1khz so if you downsample from 96khz to 44.1khz you do not get whole numbers and samples are proximated. And that affects sound in bad way.

I have read arguments that sticking a multiple of 44.1kHz isn't necessary, as it is up converted to a much higher common sample rate, before being converted back down to 44.1kHz.

thanks for the replies. i take it, thats one vote for yes

Still in the market for an AD/C but having lots of trouble deciding.
I was wondering if it was worth getting in the market for an expensive 8ch converter w/ ADAT toslink.
I've also been looking around for a medium priced ADC such as the Aphex 142, but I can't seem to find it anywhere since it has been discontinued.

If you want to plug the digital output of the ADC into the digital input of the MPC, it needs to have a coaxial SPDIF digital output on the ADC (or the output needs to be converted to coaxial SPDIF).

ADAT lightpipe will not work.

SimonInAustralia wrote:If you want to plug the digital output of the ADC into the digital input of the MPC, it needs to have a coaxial SPDIF digital output on the ADC (or the output needs to be converted to coaxial SPDIF).

ADAT lightpipe will not work.

sorry i meant to track out of the mpc to an ADC and routing the converter via adat to an interface

fknchino wrote:sorry i meant to track out of the mpc to an ADC and routing the converter via adat to an interface

Ahhh, right.

I use an RME HDSPe RayDAT interface card for my PC, which has 4 x ADAT lightpipe IO connections for multiple ADAT lightpipe interfaces...
http://www.rme-audio.de/en_products_hdspe_raydat.php

I am using second hand, slightly older generation AD/DA converters, with ADAT lightpipe IO, as they are a lot cheaper than current high end options.

At the moment I have a Lucid 88192, for 8 channels of AD/DA, as well as an 8 channel AD digital option in a couple of Focusrite mic preamps, to give a total of 24 channels of AD and 8 channels of DA.

Plan to maybe get hold of an Apogee AD16x and DA16x, and/or a Mytek 8x192, later on, for better quality AD than the Focusrite digital options.

Nice. That's cool but i noticed the lucid only has XLR inputs.
Any other recommendations?
And do you think they're worthwhile the investment?
Spending money on quality converters are quite expensive.
Thanks Simon

Most higher end dedicated AD/DA converter units will only have XLRs.

The idea is that they normally take a standard line level input on XLRs, and you use mic preamps and DI units with them to convert mic level and instrument level outputs to line level.

If it is just for tracking in your MPC3000, it probably isn't worth the investment to go that hard at it, probably more useful if doing other recording through it as well.

More of a high end solution, but can make your 'audio interface' a little large...

SimonInAustralia wrote:

fknchino wrote:At the moment I have a Lucid 88192, for 8 channels of AD/DA.

thats a really good call - after I bought my Lio-8 I kinda felt like a second hand Lucid would have been a better financial option - getting a lucid for an extra 8 outs on mixdown is something I'm considering.

Your selection of preamps looks cool!

If people can handle 2 tracking their recordings a second hand Burl B2 would give very hard to beat quality if you can afford it.

Those that need more outs a second hand Lucid, RME, Apogee, Lynx, MOTU will do you - now is the time to buy them, they are real cheap. pair with some sexy pre amps and BOOM!!

Shortly I'll be recording my samplers through a Sowter transformer balanced custom patchbay> Redd47 valve preamp> Lio-8 >Logic Pro

I think I will go for one of these next, for some Neve sounding mic pre channels...

http://auroraaudio.net/products/outboard/gtp8-about



And later, maybe, matching EQ...

The Aurora stuff is amazing. Really expensive but it meant to sound stunning. Their compressor interests me big time, but I'll prob end up with a SSL clone instead.

I have a guy building me a stereo pair of Dripp Electronics Redd47 valve clone at the moment.

Those on a smaller budget its worth checking out DAV or Warm Audio. Or is you have access to a technician a 2nd hand vintage x BBC set of preamps that needs love.

Yo FC! Thanks for the sp1200 book! Im using the UA 710d connected to my Apollo via lightpipe. Its got 8 line inputs and 8 channel converter. On top of that you get 4 710 pres / comps. Hard to beat at the price! Ive used nicer stuff to track the 3k, but the difference was negligble. Sounds GREAT!

I Loooooooovvveee my Aurora stuff. Definitely a little colored! Geoff Tanner is the man... Im drooling over his 12 channel sidecar!