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Richie78



Joined: 12/07/08
Posts: 16
16-channel interface to import analogue tracks new
      #705979 - 08/02/09 11:11 PM
Hi, just wondering if i could pick everybody's brains. I'm all Google-d out on this one. I'm looking for a firewire/USB interface with which i can import 16 tracks of audio from a 1/2" tape machine. There seems to be nothing in the £1000 and under market. The only solution seems to be the Allen & Heath z16, which would be too costly. Plenty of interfaces offer 16-channels of ADAT conversion but what i need is 16 jack inputs.

Any ideas or alternative solutions? I must also say that i want to be able to do this on a regular basis, so taking it to a studio isn't an option!

Thanks,

Richie.


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wardo



Joined: 16/03/06
Posts: 388
Loc: sydney
Re: 16-channel interface to import analogue tracks new [Re: Richie78]
      #705981 - 08/02/09 11:18 PM
Do you need to record all 16 at the same time, could you not do 2 passes of 8 tracks for instance? If so there's a lot more options.


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MarcB



Joined: 01/01/08
Posts: 125
Loc: Lancashire UK
Re: 16-channel interface to import analogue tracks [Re: Richie78]
      #705984 - 08/02/09 11:31 PM
Why not get an 8 channel analogue and an 8 channel adat like a ada8000 ?

or an edirol m16dx ?


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The Elf
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Joined: 14/08/01
Posts: 8214
Loc: Sheffield, UK
Re: 16-channel interface to import analogue tracks new [Re: MarcB]
      #705987 - 08/02/09 11:39 PM
...or one of the RME multi-ADAT cards and a pair of ADA-8000s.

--------------------
An Eagle for an Emperor, A Kestrel for a Knave.


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GaryM



Joined: 06/11/08
Posts: 623
Loc: Dundee, UK
Re: 16-channel interface to import analogue tracks new [Re: Richie78]
      #705988 - 08/02/09 11:40 PM
You could get 2 daisy-chained Presonus FP10s for £700.


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Dave B



Joined: 03/04/03
Posts: 5384
Loc: Maidenhead
Re: 16-channel interface to import analogue tracks new [Re: Richie78]
      #706032 - 09/02/09 08:22 AM
16 channels is a bit of an odd one.

Creamware do a good converter (A16) but that is either over Adat optical or a custom z-link protocol.

You could buy two Saffire Pro units as the 10/26 both support multiple units.

Or I have a Saffire Pro26 _and_ an A16 which gives me a 24 ins and outs on a single firewire interface using the Adat connections.

--------------------
Veni, Vidi, Aesculi
(I came, I saw, I conkered)


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uhogb



Joined: 21/04/08
Posts: 37
Alesis io/26 new [Re: Dave B]
      #706067 - 09/02/09 10:36 AM
This seems to be the cheapest solution.You can daisychain 2 devices so you can stream 16 analouge channels plus you get extra adat inputs.
http://www.dv247.com/invt/32250/
If you prefer something more decent then go for MOTU 8Pre Firewire.The same 2 daisychained devices.Firewire protocol has this advantage over usb 2.0 that allows you to connect
( i think ) up to 4 devices to only 1 firewire port in your pc or laptop.But make sure you`ve got Texas Instuments firewire chip.Ricoh causes so much trouble.
http://www.dv247.com/invt/36152/


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Mixedup
active member


Joined: 03/09/03
Posts: 4265
Loc: Cambridge, UK
Re: Alesis io/26 new [Re: uhogb]
      #706070 - 09/02/09 10:43 AM
The cheapest solution by quite a way will be to get an eight-channel interface, such as a MOTU 828, RME Fireface, Focusrite Saffire etc etc and add a Behringer ADA8000 ADAT expander.

Do you need to do this on a regular basis, though, or are you just trying to capture old projects from the multitrack tape? If the latter, you might as well get someone else with the kit to do the job for you - in which case tell us where you live and you'll probably find someone friendly on the forum to do it for you. (And if Cambridge is any good to you, PM me...)


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uhogb



Joined: 21/04/08
Posts: 37
Re: 16-channel interface to import analogue tracks new [Re: Richie78]
      #706081 - 09/02/09 11:07 AM
What Richie78 means that he needs 16 analogue inputs to transfer from analogue tape so i don`t think that it`s got adat interface.So two daisychained 8ins firewire devices will do the job.


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adrian_k



Joined: 30/01/03
Posts: 1741
Loc: Gloucestershire
Re: 16-channel interface to import analogue tracks new [Re: Richie78]
      #706111 - 09/02/09 12:03 PM
@mixedup - the OP says he wants to do this on a regualr basis..

@UHOGB - the ADAT link people are talking about here is from the audio interface (e.g. RME FF800) to preamps/line inputs (e.g. Behringer ADA8000).

cheers
A

--------------------
getting better all the time..


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uhogb



Joined: 21/04/08
Posts: 37
Re: 16-channel interface to import analogue tracks new [Re: Richie78]
      #706186 - 09/02/09 03:20 PM
When i said adat i meant that reel to reel tape machine doesn`t have an adat interface so it would be useless in this case.you need to route 16 analogue outs to specific audio interface.


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snipsnip



Joined: 07/01/07
Posts: 875
Re: 16-channel interface to import analogue tracks new [Re: uhogb]
      #706189 - 09/02/09 03:38 PM
Quote UHOGB:

When i said adat i meant that reel to reel tape machine doesn`t have an adat interface so it would be useless in this case.you need to route 16 analogue outs to specific audio interface.




???


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adrian_k



Joined: 30/01/03
Posts: 1741
Loc: Gloucestershire
Re: 16-channel interface to import analogue tracks new [Re: uhogb]
      #706194 - 09/02/09 03:50 PM
Quote UHOGB:

When i said adat i meant that reel to reel tape machine doesn`t have an adat interface so it would be useless in this case.you need to route 16 analogue outs to specific audio interface.




OK my set up (and many others) is a firewire interface plus an 8-channel pre connected to it via ADAT. I get 16 analogue ins - 8 from the firewire interface and 8 from the ADAT-connected pres.

PC<-(FW)-->RMEFF800<-(ADAT)->Octamic

So I can connect 16 TRS jacks to my system and do exactly what the OP wants.

A possible advantage of this over daisy chaining firewire is that your levels can all be controlled from one mixer (the one in the audio interface) and signals clocked from a single unit. Not sure if all firewire units allow this if daisy chained.

cheers
A

--------------------
getting better all the time..


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Richard Graham



Joined: 10/04/06
Posts: 2259
Loc: Gateshead, UK
Re: 16-channel interface to import analogue tracks new [Re: Richie78]
      #706199 - 09/02/09 04:01 PM
Alesis io26 plus ADA8000: about £400.

--------------------
Battle flags are flown at the feet of a garden gnome.


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adrian_k



Joined: 30/01/03
Posts: 1741
Loc: Gloucestershire
Re: 16-channel interface to import analogue tracks new [Re: Richard Graham]
      #706205 - 09/02/09 04:18 PM
Yep lots to choose from inside the OPs budget. OP seems to have got bored and wandered off though!

--------------------
getting better all the time..


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Richie78



Joined: 12/07/08
Posts: 16
Re: 16-channel interface to import analogue tracks new [Re: Richie78]
      #706303 - 09/02/09 09:45 PM
Sorry! No, i'm still here. How rude of me.

Thanks for the ideas - i'm usually such a good Google-researcher aswell, must have had an off day. The Saffire Pro10 solution (daisychained) appeals to me, as i already have a standard Saffire and really like the pres on it. Hence, i could sell the standard Saffire and get two Pro10s.

Thanks for clearing my head on this, now if anyone can find me 1/2" tape that i don't have to sell family members on the black market to afford...

Cheers,

Richie.


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