Summing Bus

Kenf · Post by **Kenf** » Thu Feb 19, 2004 9:17 am

Hi
Is there a 'analogue' sounding summing bus device available? I use a digital mixer on my system as I believe it sounds better than summing in Cubase SX. I have thought about getting or making a nice analogue summing bus, then thought maybe there's a device around to do the same job? If not someone should make one... I would buy it.
Regards
Kenf

sinix · Post by **sinix** » Thu Feb 19, 2004 10:45 am

Kenf,

There are several out there... Most of them are very expensive (aimed at the high end market). I've read many positive posts about this particular company:

http://www.dangerousmusic.com

valis · Post by **valis** » Thu Feb 19, 2004 10:54 am

Dangerous Music 2BUS (16 balanced XLR in)

2BUS LT

All eight *stereo* inputs of 2-Bus are fixed gain with an input clip point at +26 dBu, sent to a simple summing amp without without the additional circuitry found in a big analog console. *Stereo pairs* can be switched into 'mono summing' mode allowing 2 mono tracks to be fed into the pair rather than a left and right signal.

There are no track faders so you use your DAW's automated mixer for volume & pan changes. 2-Bus units (as well as 2-Bus LT units and mixers) can be linked with the 25-pin D-connector expansion port, essentially joining each stereo bus (with a 3d increase in noise floor with each 2Bus). (For each 2-Bus added, there will be a 3dB increase in the noise floor.)

Personally I use a 16x8 Sountracs board (and DEFINATELY appreciate the advantages of summing in it) but I saw a lot of good press about the Dangerous Music stuff when it came out and have heard good things since.

[edit: sinix beat me to it =p]

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: valis on 2004-02-19 10:54 ]</font>

Kenf · Post by **Kenf** » Thu Feb 19, 2004 11:06 am

Hi
Yeah I have seen these summing boxes, but I was thinking of a basic mixer summing device, that sums the outputs of your sequencer, maybe in XTC mode, with 2 and 5.1 outputs. It could try and emulate that 'analogue' summing sound.
I am in the process of trying a Creamware mixer as a 'summer' compared to my behringer ddx3216 mixer.
Regards
Kenf

interloper · Post by **interloper** » Thu Feb 19, 2004 11:32 pm

I don't have any experience with any of these products, but a friend did a comparison with mixes coming out of a Neve desk and compared it to the same track with Logic. This guy is a pretty credible source, since he works at an academic institution for audio recording.

No EQ's were applied, just the summing functions. The results were that the difference was minimal, which shocked the hell out of me...

Some of this was posted on Yahoo Groups, you might try looking there for more info.

visilia · Post by **visilia** » Sat Feb 21, 2004 1:03 pm

If you want to hear the differences between different summing platforms for yourself, you should check out Lynn Fuston's dawsum cd.

http://www.3daudioinc.com/catalog/produ ... 42f1691bfa

cheers,
vincent

interloper · Post by **interloper** » Sat Feb 21, 2004 1:23 pm

Cool, glad you posted that. I couldn't remember what it was called.

medway · Post by **medway** » Mon Feb 23, 2004 11:10 am

actually i did use eqs on the neve, which is what made the test even more unbelivable. i prefered the logic mix. i have access to the neve 9098i and a ssl 9000j yet ill continute to mix in the box as the trouble isnt worth it. as long as you have vinco at the end of your chain things will be fine

interloper · Post by **interloper** » Mon Feb 23, 2004 7:42 pm

There it is, guys. You've heard it from the man who ran the test. Makes me feel really good about mixing in SX, which should be really encouraging for us all. It sure as hell saves me a wad of cash.