Adding spdif I/O - using Behringer V-Amp Pro ?

geoffd99 · Post by **geoffd99** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 12:58 am

Hi all
I have a P2 card and an SRB; only one stereo I/O analog. The easiest/cheapest way to add inputs is the Behringer V-Amp Pro which has spdif I/O.

I want to input guitar anyway. The P2 ins have a synth on them.

This is 24 bit I think; does anyone have any experience of this unit?

Quality, stability etc (I think the spdif has to be Master).

Or using an spdif device to get a couple of extra channels? The cheapest of all is the M-Audio Black Box which can run Pro Tools (!).

Thanks

astroman · Post by **astroman** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 4:29 am

well, ProTools M-Powered... isn't exactly ProTools TDM

I've only heard by someone who switched from V-Amp Pro to the Boss GT-8 that the latter is significantly better sounding. But it's twice as expensive...
If it's about the pure guitar signal a Mindprint Trio S/PDIF is a sellout item, too - same range as the M-Box.
Depends a bit on the 'style' of guitar play you want to record.

cheers, Tom

geoffd99 · Post by **geoffd99** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 7:20 am

The Trio is optical spdif, does this work with a P2?

See this

http://www.planetz.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=20358

astroman · Post by **astroman** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 10:40 am

yes, you can define one of the Adat IOs as S/PDIF in the samplerate settings window. The Puslar 2 can do full S/PDIF loops (not sure if that is required in your case), the old Pulsar One can only handle one direction at a time.
My guess is that the Trio has better analog performance than the M-Box, but the latter comes with a stripped down version of Roger Linn's AdrenaLinn (tempo synced FX in the first place).

cheers, Tom

geoffd99 · Post by **geoffd99** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 10:55 am

Yes the Black Box is intriguing. The Behringer Pro is mono input (guitar) and so not sure what the I/O actually is. I have had some useless gear from them but their ADA800 ADAT converter is good.

The Alesis IO14 mixer has ADAT in (not out)) which is annoying, otherwise that would be the one.

nightscope · Post by **nightscope** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 2:50 pm

astroman wrote:Boss GT-8 that the latter is significantly better sounding. But it's twice as expensive...cheers, Tom

I got a Vamp Pro. I don't use it much as I ended up with a rack Sansamp. My co-writer has just got a GT-8 which is great. He plays guitar for the vintage rock band Barclay James Harvest. Vamp Pro has very good selection of outputs. The GT-8 has come down in price a lot in the last few months. Worth the extra cash for sure. Vamp Bass Pro is more versitile than guitar one. Selection of guitar, bass and keyboard sims. Not as many guitar ones as Vamp Pro but plenty enough.

If you must have all the guitar processing stuff in stereo the Vamp is ok but not great. Cabinet sims are better than the amps. FX are good and can be used without the rest of it. Editing patches is great. Spdif, balanced outs, insert points. Changing patches live takes a little time. I also have a M-Audio Tampa preamp which has a spdif output on it and a really good compressor as well. Only one channel though. It's a great DI box for guitars and bass. Again price has dropped significantly.

The other option is to get another Scope in/out plate which doesn't need a PCI slot. About the same price as the Vamp according to Ralf. I'll probably be getting one soon.

http://www.soniccore.com/optionalHardware.htm

ns

PS Vamps outs

bosone · Post by **bosone** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 12:04 am

i have a vamp pro connected via spdif to pulsar 1, no problem here.
but you can handle only the output of the vamp, not the input, so for example, via spdif, you cannot send a "dry" signal and process it with the vamp.
in order to do this you will need an additional analog out from your board, and connect it to the line in jack of the vamp.
i know that pod pro xt (if i remember well) has both in and out in spdif.

geoffd99 · Post by **geoffd99** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 1:50 am

Very interesting.
What does the MIDI do? Can it be used as normal (software controlled) midi?
I ask because apart from the uses of a Vamp etc as input to the P2 card, I have a laptop with no I/O and would like to use the same device for both - ie at home, as P2 input; at gigs, laptop output.

Thx

nightscope · Post by **nightscope** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 2:12 pm

geoffd99 wrote:Very interesting.
What does the MIDI do? Can it be used as normal (software controlled) midi?Thx

Well, it does what every MIDI does!! MIDI in MIDI out, etc. It changes patches and is used with the PC patch configuration software that's available. Or whatever else you fancy.

ns

bosone · Post by **bosone** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 12:51 am

yes, the knobs do output midi signal and they are rotary encoder. they output midi CC around 10-15 or so on and you cannot change it...

geoffd99 · Post by **geoffd99** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 4:59 am

Finally got down to a shortlist of 3 - Lexicon Omega, Alesis IO2, Tascam US 144. All about same price here in UK (119,99,119 UK pounds respectively)

I have Amplitube and some Sonar guitar fx, plus Dynatube etc, so the Behringer and also Line 6 Toneport have been ruled out.

The Omega looks good as it has a mixer onboard and lots of inputs - 44.1 or 48khz / 24 bit but that is OK for my use. Others are 96khz

These all do 24 bit SPDIF which I will use to the P2 card.

Then use USB for the laptop.

QUERY:
I once had an M Audio box with firewire, when I put it on my PC it clashed with the Scope software, which disappeared - no I/O appearing anywhere, just the M Audio. Had to reinstall!

Does anyone know if a USB interface will also do this? (this is reason I am using SPDIF by the way).

I can buy it and try it, and use SPDIF anyway if it clashes, but I could do without the hassle of reinstalling Scope!

astroman · Post by **astroman** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 5:34 am

afaik all USB audio interfaces have high latency values, under real-working conditions much higher than the theoretically possible figures suppliers usually spread.
With Dynatube and Amplitube you have some well regarded processors, so I'd focus on a really good analog input stage with S/PDIF connection (if 2 channels are sufficient). I don't think any of the 3 candidates is a great performer in this domain, but well, they don't cost an arm and a leg.

Personally I'd stick with a DAT or another 'classic' device known for good conversion. Just as an example: my Phillips DCC 730 has the same converters as the old A16 and cost me 75 Euro.
It's in record-standby for several years and never switched off... converting the S/PDIF of my internet machine's onboard audio

There's a ton of such gear on eBay.

I've recently found a very affordable guitar cable with high-to-low impedance conversion
Haven't tried it yet, but I'm about to buy their active speaker system, which is extremely high quality and convinced me 110%.