new modules wanted

[hollywood_steve]

As a locaton recording guy, I really like the idea of carrying almost everything I need in a 500 series rack. (other than the actual recorder..)

Two important items still not available in 500 module format:
1. a stereo A/D and D/A converter (already covered in another thread on this forum)
2. a very simple / basic M/S matrix, preferable a simple transformer based unit with only a 'width' control.


These are two items that would make a 500 series rack into a complete location recording signal chain; everything you need from immediately after the micophone to right before the recorder inputs.

[[silent:arts]]

one thing to think about it:
where would you place the (needed) additional connectors ?

a stereo AD/DA would need 6 I/Os
the MS Matrix would need 4 I/Os

[hollywood_steve]

;687']one thing to think about it:
where would you place the (needed) additional connectors ?

a stereo AD/DA would need 6 I/Os
the MS Matrix would need 4 I/Os

The MS module is easy, with only one knob, the front panel would work for the I/O (2 on back, 2 on front, or ??)

The ADDA module would require the connector hated by some, but used by all location guys, the dSub. One dSub on the front panel and you have more IO than you could ever need. Or, the ADDA unit would certainly be worthy of either two modules (one for AD, one for DA) or a 'double-wide', whichever makes more sense from the manufacturer's poit of view. That would open up enough room for front panel IO.

[[silent:arts]]

mhm, I think front pannel connectors are fine for HiZ, sometimes for the Mic In ...

but for a fixed installation it just looks not right in my opinion.
I'm fine with SubD, but again - un-tasty on the front in a studio rack. :eek:

ok, for location recording this doesn't matter :D

[raf]

We just finished a new MS matrix. They require 8 I/O so 500 series would be a no go. Unless of course you put DB25 on the front as you suggested.

Better off 19" rackmount for this, especially if you put in all the various routing and muting options along with the 8 XLR connectors.

Roger
FCS

[peterc]

Stoopid question time:

a stereo AD/DA would need 6 I/Os

Why 6 I/O's????:confused:

Peter

[[silent:arts]]

2 x analogue in
1 x digital out
1 x digital in
2 x analogue out

or did I miss something :eek:

[peterc]

:o

Didnt think of the digital I/O!

[Denyle]

Not to mention word clock.

The M/S mixer could be a double wide, giving plenty of space for the required transformers & discrete amps, assuming you'd want it combined with a pair of nice sounding preamps. And of course you could throw a switch to make it two independent preamps.

[hollywood_steve]

i finally found the Peter Engh product; the Sonic Orbit M/S matrix.

http://www.peterengh.com/sonicorbit.php

This unit in a 500 series module PLUS a single 'width' control would be perfect. It should be a relatively inexpensive device, and it would make the typical lunchbox even more useful on location.

[mixedupsteve]

I've always wanted A/D and maybe D/A too. My Idea was to have it built in to an 8 slot rack along with monitoring.

Steve

[Denyle]

An 8 slot enclosure with 8x2 mixer, adat & spdif. I like it. :)

[raf]

i finally found the Peter Engh product; the Sonic Orbit M/S matrix.

http://www.peterengh.com/sonicorbit.php

This unit in a 500 series module PLUS a single 'width' control would be perfect. It should be a relatively inexpensive device, and it would make the typical lunchbox even more useful on location.


That would work, only requiring 2 apaces for 1/2 of an M/S prcessor. (encoder or decoder only)

But to do real time M/S processing as in mastering where you want to process mid and side signals with different EQs or compressors you need 2 sets of these.

Or just re-use the 2 space unit during playback/mixdown to retrieve L/R stereo signals for use.

I could esily adapt to do a 500 series L/R to M/S encoder like this one...

Roger

[tubemooley]

(((An 8 slot enclosure with 8x2 mixer, adat & spdif. I like it.))) That's a Cranesong Spider right there. Get out your checkbook. I'm not a big fan of Dave Hill. Anyways...... I don't want to dampen anyone's party and/or dreams. But AD/DA in the 500-series format is tough. Several to many mechanical obstacles. AD needs analog in and digital out. You could do one channel. But how are you going to get two balanced input signals into one module? The I/O is tough. Let's keep thinking on this. DW.

[Denyle]

(((An 8 slot enclosure with 8x2 mixer, adat & spdif. I like it.))) That's a Cranesong Spider right there. Get out your checkbook. I'm not a big fan of Dave Hill. Anyways...... I don't want to dampen anyone's party and/or dreams. But AD/DA in the 500-series format is tough. Several to many mechanical obstacles. AD needs analog in and digital out. You could do one channel. But how are you going to get two balanced input signals into one module? The I/O is tough. Let's keep thinking on this. DW.

Exactly why it should be designed from the ground up as an 8 slot enclosure with integrated stuff. :D

[[silent:arts]]

not everything makes sense to be adapted to the API500 format.
some things would be more practical and cheeper in their very own enclosure. :)

[pan60]

;805']not everything makes sense to be adapted to the API500 format.
some things would be more practical and cheeper in their very own enclosure. :)

ditto
to me the AD DA conversion just dose not make sense in the 500 format.
i would not even want it in a mixer myself. i think convertor should be stand alone, and replaceable and upgradable with out effecting anything else in the studio.

[LunchBoxHero]

i tend to agree ... 500 series AD/DA might not be the best use of those valuable slots. Now, do we wanna bet that someone makes one anyway? :eek:

[pan60]

i tend to agree ... 500 series AD/DA might not be the best use of those valuable slots. Now, do we wanna bet that someone makes one anyway? :eek:

oh you know it: )~

[mixedupsteve]

ditto
to me the AD DA conversion just dose not make sense in the 500 format.
i would not even want it in a mixer myself. i think convertor should be stand alone, and replaceable and upgradable with out effecting anything else in the studio.
I could go along with that. From a remote recording perspective I would just like to have a 500 series 6 or 8 pre case with monitoring (solos)built in. Purple makes a rack with a slot for summing but no monitoring. Buzz Audio makes a rack with monitoring buit it's not 500 series. The outputs for the external AD could be Dsub for multitrack recording but a built in firewire AD is what I'd like. I would also like to see the direct line level outs left in place for a back up recorder.