Recording interface for Dave Smith Tetra
Recording interface for Dave Smith Tetra Posted on: 26.12.2011 by Araceli Georgis HiI'm seriously considering buying a Dave Smith Tetra synth http://www.davesmithinstruments.com/products/tetra/ I'm after advice as to which interfaces to look at in order to get the sound from the Tetra into Ableton. I have no other analog synths (and at the price, I probably won't be getting any more for a while) so I don't need a stack of inputs (just enough for the Tetra). Importantly, I want to try and keep as much of the analog sound quality as possible. Does anyone have any experience with the Motu Microbook? http://www.motu.com/products/motuaudio/microbook I'm looking to switch over to a Mac soon, so an Apogee Duet 2 feels a bit out of reach. I don't have much experience with recording devices so wondering if there is anything at the $2-300 range that would keep the sound quality for me or is it just not comparable? Thanks | |
| Dorie Scelzo 30.12.2011 | Yeah |
| Dorie Scelzo 29.12.2011 | Sorry to quote everything. I'm not 100% sober and this helps me keep my thoughts clearer.
Originally Posted by djfrogstar
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| Dorie Scelzo 28.12.2011 | Analog doesn't actually "have" higher quality than digital. It never did. Read about the Nyquest sampling theorem. The only reason that I can find that Analog is preferred is because of 2 things.
But, random not-special analog piece of gear vs random not-special digital piece of gear |
| Dorie Scelzo 30.12.2011 | Yeah |
| Dorie Scelzo 29.12.2011 | Sorry to quote everything. I'm not 100% sober and this helps me keep my thoughts clearer.
Originally Posted by djfrogstar
|
| Dorie Scelzo 28.12.2011 | Analog doesn't actually "have" higher quality than digital. It never did. Read about the Nyquest sampling theorem. The only reason that I can find that Analog is preferred is because of 2 things.
But, random not-special analog piece of gear vs random not-special digital piece of gear |
| Dorie Scelzo 30.12.2011 | Yeah |
| Dorie Scelzo 29.12.2011 | Sorry to quote everything. I'm not 100% sober and this helps me keep my thoughts clearer.
Originally Posted by djfrogstar
|
| Dorie Scelzo 28.12.2011 | Analog doesn't actually "have" higher quality than digital. It never did. Read about the Nyquest sampling theorem. The only reason that I can find that Analog is preferred is because of 2 things.
But, random not-special analog piece of gear vs random not-special digital piece of gear |
| Dorie Scelzo 30.12.2011 | Yeah |
| Dorie Scelzo 29.12.2011 | Sorry to quote everything. I'm not 100% sober and this helps me keep my thoughts clearer.
Originally Posted by djfrogstar
|
| Jacquiline Dua 28.12.2011 |
Originally Posted by funlife
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| Dorie Scelzo 28.12.2011 | Analog doesn't actually "have" higher quality than digital. It never did. Read about the Nyquest sampling theorem. The only reason that I can find that Analog is preferred is because of 2 things.
But, random not-special analog piece of gear vs random not-special digital piece of gear |
| Dorie Scelzo 26.12.2011 | The Microbook doesn't quite look like it'd cut it |
| Asuncion Osorto 26.12.2011 |
Originally Posted by Nephew
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| Araceli Georgis 26.12.2011 | Hi I'm seriously considering buying a Dave Smith Tetra synth http://www.davesmithinstruments.com/products/tetra/ I'm after advice as to which interfaces to look at in order to get the sound from the Tetra into Ableton. I have no other analog synths (and at the price, I probably won't be getting any more for a while) so I don't need a stack of inputs (just enough for the Tetra). Importantly, I want to try and keep as much of the analog sound quality as possible. Does anyone have any experience with the Motu Microbook? http://www.motu.com/products/motuaudio/microbook I'm looking to switch over to a Mac soon, so an Apogee Duet 2 feels a bit out of reach. I don't have much experience with recording devices so wondering if there is anything at the $2-300 range that would keep the sound quality for me or is it just not comparable? Thanks |
| Dorie Scelzo 30.12.2011 | Yeah |
| Araceli Georgis 29.12.2011 | I agree about the aversion to mapping and pages - it's one of the reasons I'm keen to get an analog - I just want to touch and play with something real. It's more expensive than VSTs and not as flexible and might be some time before I'm able to get into it but I believe I'd really like to try it. If I got a BCR it would be covered in labels and probably only mapped to one VST - then it starts to become a bit exy. I thought pretty hard about the Microkorg, might look at it again. I'm pretty keen on the Tetra at the moment just for the technoness, and I actually like the minimal design. Nice point about the Digital I/O - I actually don't know anything about it so it's something I'll have to read up on. I just looked at the Mbox, saw four inputs (that looked like they'd take 1/4") and thought it would take all 4 separately. |
| Dorie Scelzo 29.12.2011 | Sorry to quote everything. I'm not 100% sober and this helps me keep my thoughts clearer.
Originally Posted by djfrogstar
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| Jacquiline Dua 28.12.2011 |
Originally Posted by funlife
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| Araceli Georgis 28.12.2011 | Yeah a lot of internet opinion seems to point to good VSTs being comparable to analog. I guess I'd like to check out analog and experience producing with it. The deal I had on a tetra just fell through so that venture is on pause at the moment. I'd like to get into some more tactile control when producing - I believe a BCR2000 and some mapping would go a long way. This would allow me to "play" and record, rather than just drawing automation lines.
And the differences between the cards you're talking about are very small
Any chance this is the review?: http://acapella.harmony-central.com/...th-Conclusions I believe it was the only one I came across with graphs @djfrogstar: Nah I don't believe I really need to sync up hardware and software - really would just be using Ableton to record into and then arrange. There might be a better program for this - it's just what I've been using lately. But thanks for the heads up |
| Jacquiline Dua 28.12.2011 | External hardware in ableton..? Be prepared for the Joy of Jitter. One thing to consider.... You will never get 100% sync if you plan on lets say having an arp playing on your hardware and an arp in ableton... It might stay closely in sync for 4 bars.. then the jitter happens. I have a DSI Tempest... and a Motu MK3 and there is no way to do this 100% flawless and endless AKA Live performance unless you buy an interclock system |
| Dorie Scelzo 28.12.2011 | Analog doesn't actually "have" higher quality than digital. It never did. Read about the Nyquest sampling theorem. The only reason that I can find that Analog is preferred is because of 2 things.
But, random not-special analog piece of gear vs random not-special digital piece of gear |
| Araceli Georgis 27.12.2011 | I was reading things on the Mbox last evening
and yep, read the same things about the decoupling and improvement in quality. Read quite a few positive comments and a few suggestions it was close to the Duet. I looked at the Komplete a little ago and it does look decent, especially at that price. But a slightly higher step in quality would be nice. I might shop around and see if I can find an Mbox at a good price. I just don't want to spend a few hundred on an interface (such as Komplete) and then be concerned about losing analog quality. |
| Dorie Scelzo 27.12.2011 | I thought it was closer to $300. Sorry. Based on everything I've read, yes. It's actually good. Avid decoupled Pro Tools from their interfaces, and the result was that they started charging more for the software and made the budget interfaces not suck so they'd actually compete in the marketplace instead of being sold in droves simply because they were "that crap you had to buy to run Pro Tools LE on your laptop without carrying around a 002 that's 3-times its size and weighs 13 pounds." When I'm in the market (shortly), one of the Mboxes will probably find its way to my doorstep. From what I've been reading about the komplete audio 6, it looks like it might actually not suck. It's converters aren't as good as the Mbox or anything Apogee makes, and I'd bet it's preamps aren't as good. But, it also costs less than half as much and comes with some (almost) interesting software. |
| Araceli Georgis 27.12.2011 | Thanks for the replies, starting to form a clearer picture.. I have an Audio 2 DJ which I use but unfortunately offers no inputs. I was very close to buying an Audio 8 second hand, though I feel like I'd be losing some quality as it's not designed primarily for recording.. Quality is important - through something like an Audio 8, Komplete 6 I'd feel I was losing some quality. I figure if I'm spending $500 on a synth then using an interface that loses some of that analogueness is counter-productive. It's just a bit hard to stomach an interface that costs as much as the synth itself. That Mbox3 looks interesting. It seems to be around $450-70 though I haven't hunted too hard yet. At that price it's starting to get towards the Duet 2 though as you say has the capability to record all 4 outputs of the Tetra simultaneously. In terms of building synth sounds I'm not sure how big an advantage this would be? If the Mbox is going to offer me quality that is comparable to a Duet then it is quite appealing, would it be close? I guess at the end of it, I want to be able to capture that analogue quality. For release is my goal - at this stage it's a hobby |
| Dorie Scelzo 26.12.2011 | The Microbook doesn't quite look like it'd cut it |
| Breana Singerman 26.12.2011 | Do you have an interface you use for DJing? That would do the trick as well. |
| Araceli Georgis 26.12.2011 | Yeah duet 2 would be the what I'd really like - so I guess saving for that is the best option.. Was just wondering if there was anything I could get a bit sooner that was sufficient and more in my price range. There's a few things that really appeal to me about the Tetra. 1) Cost - they're a lot less that a Virus / other desktop synths 2) Analog sound - I believe I read somewhere that they're purely analog - though Virus / other VA's are going to have a great sound architecture too. 3) Deep house / Techno - that's the kind of style I'm looking to produce and I've read that they're really suited to that sound. Juno 106's were used in a lot of deep house but I hear the Tetra offers some new sounds (and is cheaper / more portable than a 106) Really cost is a big one, at that price point it's probably the most accessible option for me that's suited to the sound I'm looking to produce. I saw Octave One a fortevening ago and they had a Mopho on stage so I figure I'm looking in the right direction |
| Asuncion Osorto 26.12.2011 |
Originally Posted by Nephew
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| Breana Singerman 26.12.2011 | Duet 2 should do the trick |
| Asuncion Osorto 26.12.2011 | I just picked up a M-Audio Fast track Pro today. Ive yet to record with it though. Cost me $270.00 CDN http://www.uniquesquared.com/blog/41...k-c400-review/ http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_u...TrackC400.html Ever since I saw the Virus TI i've been believeing about getting a desktop midi synth...Since that was the first one I saw or even know about; i need to do more research. Out of curiosity what makes you want the tetra? whats it really good for? |
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