re: X32 Discussion
Rob,
I had no audio problems at all using Sonar X1. I'll check it with X2 in the next day or two. I haven't tried any control emulation so I can't speak to that.
-Jim
Thanks Jim,
I am having a really hard time making my mind up on how to proceed. I currently have a Sonar based project studio that has been non-operative for about a year now for a couple of reasons, space and hardware. As for space, I have a 24x36 space with 15 ft ceilings just waiting for me to build out a control room, booths and main room, but without working hardware, it is pointless to spend that money to have it sit empty until I get the hardware working.
My old setup was based on 32 bit OS and a MOTU 2408 feeding a Yamaha 02R V2 via ADAT connection with 24 channels of I/O. I used Sonar as a "tape machine" and editing platform, and mixed everything out of the box with the 02R. When I upgraded to Win7 64, I discovered I would have to buy a replacement PCI card to use the 2408 with W7 64. Also, the pre amps in the 02R really suck so, I had been using outboard pres and all but one of them has developed a problem. (they are over 10 years old, some older) So, in looking how to proceed I have some serious choices to make.
First, I have tried "in the box" with Sonar so that all I needed was an interface and pre's, and it just SUCKS. Proper gain staging for the mix-engine is a pita and the whole "mouse mixing" just feels wrong to me. It frustrates me so much that it takes all of the "fun" out it. Cost to me, roughly $500 US for a Mackie Blackbird to have 8 in capacity. (I already own a Blackjack and am fairly impressed with the pres.)
Second, I can buy the MOTU PCI upgrade card, $300 US, another 2408 breakout box, $300-400, an extra ADAT card for the 02R, $175 and a Mackie 1604 VLZ Pro $900 for 16 decent preamps to D/I into the 2408. This would give me 16 in and 32 out for about $1800 and I could do it a little along, not necessarily all at once.
Option 3, and quite frankly, the most desirable to me is to buy a X32 for about $3000 after tax. However, this all has to be done at once and frankly with paying for a kid's college right now, 3K is a lot to drop at once. However, this option is only desirable if the I/O works flawlessly with Sonar, and all of the "noise on channel" issues have been resolved.
I have played with an X32 the best I can at the local GC, but it is hard to make critical decisions about recording usefulness when the console is hooked to various Peavy cheesbox speakers and there is a ton of noise around. I did like the ergonomics somewhat, and the EQ worked as advertised. Again, it is a lot to drop for something that may or may not exceed my old workhorse Yamaha, but 32 XLR connections on what should be just as good of pre's as you can get for less than $500 a channel is so very tempting to me.
I will have to convince a long-time and loyal customer base that I have not lost my mind by buying a Behringer board. The quality would have to exceed my MOTU/Yamaha setup if I am going to use it. I ran into a similar issue with Sonar Vs. Pro Tools, everybody expected me to use PT but I had to convince many of them to just give me a try and to compare my work to the other locals that used PT. Every client that was willing to give me a shot agreed they would take my Sonar/02R mixes over any of the other Pro Tools studios in the area they had tried, from the $25 per hour bargain hacks, all the way up to the "professional" $150 an hour guys. There is one studio that I consider "real" in our area and he is a close friend of mine that sent me a lot of my clients when he was covered up with larger projects. I am the only person he will refer people to and I can't afford to take a step backwards.
If the equipment can get the job done I am willing to fight the Behringer fight, but I can't afford to take a $3000 chance without some real-world examples/feedback of what this thing can do in a studio environment. I really hope time shows this is a usable board for project studios that do local act level work. I almost bought one a few weeks back but instead re-installed XP 32 so I could work on some mixing projects with my current setup. My poor i5 16 gb memory machine is crying at having it's hands tied by XP 32.
All the info you guys using it to record can give me would be greatly appreciated. Any sound examples made using Sonar and the X32 pres with good quality condensers would REALLY be appreciated.
