alesis masterlink external HD

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

I've been planning to upgrade the HD on my Masterlink once the warranty
expires; I was wondering if it would be possible to replace it with an
external swappable harddrive? That way, instead of burning everything
slowly to CD to transfer it to the computer at 24/96 I could just swap
the entire disk into the PC. Has anyone tried this? Would it work?

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

On 2 Aug 2005 17:26:39 -0700, joshuafein@gmail.com wrote:

>I've been planning to upgrade the HD on my Masterlink once the warranty
>expires; I was wondering if it would be possible to replace it with an
>external swappable harddrive? That way, instead of burning everything
>slowly to CD to transfer it to the computer at 24/96 I could just swap
>the entire disk into the PC. Has anyone tried this? Would it work?

Looking at the FAQ page at
http://www.alesis.com/support/faqs/ml9600_faq.html#g1

I see:
...................................
Does MasterLink connect to a computer?

No. While it does not have a SCSI, FireWire, RS-232, USB or other
computer port, the Red Book CDs and CD24s that it "burns" can be read
by PC or Mac CD-ROM drives so you can export any audio recorded on the
MasterLink to a computer. And, of course your computers soundcard can
be routed directly to and from the MasterLink for digital and/or
analog transfers
....................................
The lack of any suitable port seems to count out using a removable
drive.

What advantage do you find with the Masterlink as compared to a
quality sound card, your computer and an audio recording program?
Was portability an issue?

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

On 3 Aug 2005 12:43:42 -0400, mrivers@d-and-d.com (Mike Rivers) wrote:

>
>> What advantage do you find with the Masterlink as compared to a
>> quality sound card, your computer and an audio recording program?
>
>It doesn't require a quality sound card, computer, and audio recording
>program.

But as this user is going to transfer to a computer anyway.... :-)
And the Alesis seems to retail at a price that would buy a whole
computer with a MUCH bigger hard drive :-)

>> Was portability an issue?
>
>Could be, but I'd go for simplicity of operation. Though I'll admit
>that the couple of times I've used a Masterlink for anything other
>than recording and transfer to CD, it's been a bit clumsy.

So, apart form portability, you rate no advantage for this user?

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

On 3 Aug 2005 18:07:33 -0400, mrivers@d-and-d.com (Mike Rivers) wrote:

>I dunno. I've never met him. But I'll tell you this - I have a
>computer with a nice Lynx L22 card right a chair's turn from the
>console. I could mix to that, but instead, I mix to my DAT recorder. I
>have a handy remote at the console, it has easy-to-read meters, I
>don't have to open new files or name them (or accept obtuse default
>names and then rename them later). When I decide what mixes I want to
>put on CD, that's when I'll boot up the computer, play the DAT into
>the computer through the L22's digital input - yeah, I know, it's real
>time. This gives me time to listen to the mixes one more time, or if
>it's a long program, to eat dinner or read the newspaper.
>
>When the disk is loaded up, I can get into "computer mode" and do
>computer things.

And you're probably the last generation who would dream of doing it
this way :-)

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

In article <mVkIe.207546$on1.122078@clgrps13> Lorin@DAMNSPAM!v5v.ca writes:

> Want another one?

DAT? I'm always happy to have spares of stuff that I still use.

> I agree with, or at least understand the reasoning behind most of your
> comments about workflow and preferred methods. I gotta admit though, I
> just don't get this one. It really does seem like an unnecessary step,
> and the converters in your Lynx probably sound better than the ones in
> the DAT machine.

One thing is that I'm not all that fussy about sound. I have a 15 year
old cheap-for-its-day analog console that's never been re-capped,
re-potted, or re-switched. The difference between the Lynx, the DAT,
and the Mackie HDR is really inconsequential for my projects. If I was
doing other things, I probably would consider a different mixdown
path, but that would have to include a new console.

I don't want to buy an inexpensive digital console, I don't want to go
to "the box" and I don't want to even move one of the Onyx mixers I
have on loan in to replace the Soundcraft, because eventually I'll
have to give the Onyx back to Mackie, and there are a lot of cable
ends to change. Also, I'd have to store the Soundcraft someplace since
it would probably go back into service eventually. I'm just waiting
for Mackie to send me my evaluation dxb. By the time I've finished
evaluating it, it would be well out of date and they wouldn't want it
back. <G>



--
I'm really Mike Rivers (mrivers@d-and-d.com)
However, until the spam goes away or Hell freezes over,
lots of IP addresses are blocked from this system. If
you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring
and reach me here: double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo

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

Thanks to all for the advice; the advantage of the masterlink is
portability - i'm recording performances of classical music and i want
the highest fidelity possible, but i only need stereo. two good mics,
good pres and the alesis make a marvelous recording at 24/96. i want
to move it to the computer for some limited editing (mostly cleaning;
stuff i could do on the unit itself but it would take forever),
occasionally some light EQ and also for backup purposes.
my original intention had been to extend the original hard drive's IDE
cable and just mount the hard drive in a small external box. if i
managed to keep the firmware on the disk always, is there any reason
this wouldn't work?

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

at the time i purchased, i don't think they existed. if they did, they
would still have been out of my price range. now i already own the
masterlink; i'm just looking to customize it.