ADAT XT Question

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Noizman wrote:
> My studio uses 2 ADAT XT20's and a MOTU 428 MkII w/adat interface.
Some
> friends of mine in Miami have switched from ADATs to the HD24. They
say
> the converters are much better than the ADATs. I can get another XT20

> fairly cheap right now but I'm thinking if the HD24 is so much better
I
> should save up for that. How many people here are sticking with the
ADAT
> format and those who have compared with the HD24 - is there really a
> differance or is it smoke and mirrors.
>
> Noizman
> Gainesville, Fl.

There is a measurable difference between the 20 bit ADATs
and most 24 bit systems, including the HD24. Depending on
the rest of your system and your ears it may not be an
audible difference. The HD24XR is also better than the HD24.

I try to maintain 1 ADAT in working condition for the times
when it may be needed, but that's been less and less recently.
Stuff that gets imported here now is mostly 24 bit wav files
from HD24 that's been burned to disk.

Save up for the HD24XR and get the fireport to tranfer the
files to computer for editing. Should last you for a lot
longer than the tape based ADATs would and sound better.

good luck
rd

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Noizman wrote:
> My studio uses 2 ADAT XT20's and a MOTU 428 MkII w/adat interface. Some
> friends of mine in Miami have switched from ADATs to the HD24. They say
> the converters are much better than the ADATs. I can get another XT20
> fairly cheap right now but I'm thinking if the HD24 is so much better I
> should save up for that. How many people here are sticking with the ADAT
> format and those who have compared with the HD24 - is there really a
> differance or is it smoke and mirrors.

I've never used the original ADATs, so I can't give you a direct
comparison, but the HD24's converters are generally given very high
marks. And the XR model is the best yet - even at 44.1k or 48k, it is
said to sound better than the stock HD24. But even the standard HD24 is
considered far superior to the original ADATs.

To get opinions from people who have actually used both, you should
probably join the HD24 group on Yahoo:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hd24

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

So the HD24 audibly sounds better even if you've recorded the original
sounds to ADAT XT20? I have a BRC. It looks like it works with the HD
too. I always thought the converters in the adats were better than most.
I'm surprised there is a big difference (or maybe not so big?). Has
anyone tried clocking the ADAT's with an Apogee Big Ben. I hear this
will make a difference as well.



Wayne wrote:
>>Noizman wrote:
>>
>>>My studio uses 2 ADAT XT20's and a MOTU 428 MkII w/adat interface.
>
> Some
>
>>>friends of mine in Miami have switched from ADATs to the HD24. They
>
> say
>
>>>the converters are much better than the ADATs. I can get another
>
> XT20
>
>>>fairly cheap right now but I'm thinking if the HD24 is so much
>
> better I
>
>>>should save up for that. How many people here are sticking with the
>
> ADAT
>
>>>format and those who have compared with the HD24 - is there really
>
> a
>
>>>differance or is it smoke and mirrors.
>
>
>>Jim Gilliland wrote:
>
>
>>I've never used the original ADATs, so I can't give you a direct
>>comparison, but the HD24's converters are generally given very high
>>marks. And the XR model is the best yet - even at 44.1k or 48k, it
>
> is
>
>>said to sound better than the stock HD24. But even the standard HD24
>
> is
>
>>considered far superior to the original ADATs.
>>
>>To get opinions from people who have actually used both, you should
>>probably join the HD24 group on Yahoo:
>>
>>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hd24
>
>
> Had two Blackface ADATS, traded to two XT ADATS, traded to three
> XT20's. Kept one XT20 (for transfers)and have been using the HD24 for
> last couple of years with BRC running both units and a ProTools LE at
> times.
>
> The standard HD24 has very good converters. I just upgraded mine to
> the XR 96k/24 converters and they are very nice. Said to be on par
> with the Radar converters. These new converters even sound great at
> 48k/24. The HD24 is not in the same class as the tape ADATS.
> FWIW.
> Wayne
>