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external A/D convertor to 'add' digital outs to the Solice


Izen Ears

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  The Solice looks like my next mixer except for one thing, I need a couple digital outs!!!  Why on earth would PSC not put in, or offer as a mod, some digital outputs?!  I mean this is the age of digital fr'crying out loud, all-analog board mixers are so 2007!

  I know this has been discussed before but perhaps there's an updated product or something: anyone know of a good DC-powered 24-bit A/D converter?  If so, I could take the Solice's 8 direct outs for all the iso tracks, then use a bus or two and convert them to digital and be able to rock 10 tracks on the Deva.  Otherwise I'm stuck to 8 tracks and that's kind of a deal breaker, forcing me to either save up for the Sonosax or get a mix-12.  The Cameo II I'm rockin does do it all, but I want something a bit more um, supported.

  Dan

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Guest Ken Mantlo

  The Solice looks like my next mixer except for one thing, I need a couple digital outs!!!  Why on earth would PSC not put in, or offer as a mod, some digital outputs?!  I mean this is the age of digital fr'crying out loud, all-analog board mixers are so 2007!

  I know this has been discussed before but perhaps there's an updated product or something: anyone know of a good DC-powered 24-bit A/D converter?  If so, I could take the Solice's 8 direct outs for all the iso tracks, then use a bus or two and convert them to digital and be able to rock 10 tracks on the Deva.  Otherwise I'm stuck to 8 tracks and that's kind of a deal breaker, forcing me to either save up for the Sonosax or get a mix-12.  The Cameo II I'm rockin does do it all, but I want something a bit more um, supported.

  Dan

I don't know what you complaining about, sounds like you really want a mix 12.  They're $6500

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All is not lost Dan!

A company here in the UK make an A to D box to do just what you need.

The company is called BCD Audio Phone +44 1753-579524. I've got one to feed I/P 9 & 10 on my Deva from a spare output on my Cooper 106.

Really nice company to deal with and the units are made here in the UK not some imported junk.

Regards,

Malcolm Davies A.m.p.s (Production Sound Mixer.)

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  So Malcolm, I took a look at BCD Audio's site and I guess it's two of the the "AtoD-1" boxes you're using?  Seems like the one since it converts two signals and operates on DC, so this really is the perfect solution.  Looks like from Canford one of these would cost about $415.  I'm agog that some US company doesn't make a box like this...  (http://www.canford.co.uk/Products/20-249.aspx)

  The mackie one ain't a stand alone box and since I'm not using an Onyx it wouldn't work for me.

  And hey Ken: my issue with the mix 12 is what if the Deva goes down?  (Which it already has, the touch screen has on three occasions given me problems and twice been sent back, once to have the ribbon cable replaced and the next time the entire touchscreen replaced.)  If that happens I'm stuck with the rotary faders on my backup deck, the PD6.  So I do want a full service mixer in order to be able to use any deck with good faders.

  Thanks for the replies, it seems this BCD box is the solution to getting everything I want out of the Solice!

  Dan

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these are not typical "production sound", "Location Sound", or "Sound for Movies" products.

http://www.fullcompass.com/product/316598.html

http://www.fullcompass.com/product/364399.html

http://www.fullcompass.com/product/330552.html

http://www.fullcompass.com/product/362135.html

http://www.fullcompass.com/product/246814.html

http://www.apogeedigital.com/

http://www.apogeedigital.com/pdf/eq_mini_me.pdf

Andy Cooper found out that the demand was low from our market sector (his customers) and unprofitable, sdo he discontinued the mod.  there are lots of converters, and of course the rule applies:

"generally speaking, you get what you pay for"

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Yes the 01V96 is amazingly flexible (especially with plug in hardware extensions) and very good value for money but its such a beast (heavy and bulky) I was very surprised how heavy and bulky it was when I went to look at one at a retailer and knew instantly that I wanted something smaller/lighter :-)

Yamaha with its resources and expertise could make something for the location film market at a very good price but I guess that market is not big enough for them to justify it, so we'll have to go on paying niche market prices for something good quality, flexible, DC powered AND reasonably compact and light.

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This one looks like the equivalent to that British box:

http://www.fullcompass.com/product/330552.html

  At a better price point too, thanks Senator!  I may be a dummy here, but it says 5-18VDC @ 3 watts.  Would that be .25 amps @ 12V?  I'm sure I could make a cable to come from the Powermax to power it, right?

  I would hope the A/D converters are really good and clean, but then again it's only for those extra tracks 9 & 10 which I hardly ever would use.  I know nothing about this and would just have to trust that this thing would sound good.

  And thanks for the suggestion of that Yamaha mixer, but I'd rather spend the dough on something made for me than a beastly mass market monster that would have to be DC mod-ed by who know who.  After all I expect to be using this same thing in 5 years, and then after I get the Sonosax, have it as a backup forever!

Dan Izen

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I didn't DC mod mine (it would be really hard!).  I run it off a nice small sine-wave inverter and it has 3x the ins and out of the Sonosax.  The Sonosax is a great mixer to be sure, but I get more versitility and a new car for the same price<g>.

D.

Oh and yes it is big, but I don't care.  Small mixers equal the SD 442 for me.

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Dan Wrote>>

So Malcolm, I took a look at BCD Audio's site and I guess it's two of the the "AtoD-1" boxes you're using?<<

You only need one box Dan. Its a stereo (For want of a better description) device.

It has a 5 pin XLR input which I feed from a mixer L & R out. The box output goes to the "D" sub in on the Deva.

A further lead goes from the Deva "D" sub out back into the A-D box. Works a treat.

Kind regards,

Malcolm Davies. A.m.p.s. (Production Sound Mixer.)

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hello

check out the aja A/D 4 channels or D/A  4 channels you can configure any configuration to suit your needs and it locks to all formats, http://www.aja.com/pdf/support/manuals_conv/AJA_manual_ADA4_2nd.pdf

POWERS FROM 5V TO 18V DC and can fit in a bag for converting SD442 to Digital outs if required, works a treat and small i made up various custom cables to its 15 pin connector so it is very flexiable.

just thought i would mention it as an option.

richard paterson

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  Hey that Aja ada4 box does look like the one to get.  Custom cable to its 15-pin connector, that sounds really fun.  Fun to order from someone else!  Thanks for the links, this definitely puts the Solice back in the game for the future.

  Dan Izen

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