PlanetZ forums - scopeusers.com

Hopefully those on the Pulsar maillist will forgive my cross-post =]

Currently I have a need for better mixing of my outboard gear (fx eq etc) than my poor little 1202 (runs stereo into pulsar). Seems to be what the pulsar is made for. So I'm currently considering an a16 & a Pulsar2 (my pulsar1 is barely hanging on with the 2448). However I've seen the statement (or similar) a few times that the a16 is noisy.

So is the a16 a wise investment? I love my Pulsar and don't mind expanding it and using it to sum/mix all of my digital/analog audio (plus the pulsar's own sound "gear") and a Pulsar1 is almost a given at this point, but noise is the primary reason I'd consider an outboard converter box.

Which leads me onto my NEXT logical step. Were I to get the a16 & more dsps, I'd want some way to improve my mixing in Pular. I love Logic and will probably stay even if it means buying (what imo is) an overpriced mac next year. But I have a curiousity about the Logic Controller. It's the perfect match for Logic, of course, but shouldn't there be some way to create environment objects to control the pulsar with the LC?

At the simplest level some object that the controller sees just cc automation on. Since you can create sliders, etc in Logic could that possibly update the knobs/etc in the LC then retransmit changes to the Pulsar?

At the most complex end, the Pulsar has great 3rd party grass roots support. Some shouldn't it be possible for some enterprising person to undertake the hurculean task of creating an environment object that the LC will actually 'see' as the type of automation it's used to dealing with?

Realize that based off the responses to this thread I'll quite likely spend all my extra income this fall... =]

Hi,
I've got a Luna II with A16 ultra running on a PIII 1gig. The A16 is a very nice AD/DA, I don't know what you mean about noise though......as a convertor it's got a very respectable S/N ratio.....and as a piece of hardware it's totally silent (maybe you're thinking of the original A16, I think that had an internal fan.....the A16 ultra has no fan at all).
I have also just got a Logic control, which I'm using with LAWP v5.2. I love the LC, even though I've had less than a week it's 'almost' made it possible not to have to use the mouse/keyboard anymore. Obviously I still need the keyboard for entering text, or to use a few regular key commands that are currently unavailable on the LC. Emagic are continuing to add features to LC, with Michael Haydn from Emagic (Head of LC development) informing me that future features (say that 10 times quickly) will "blow you away". I'm tipping that eventually you'll basically be able to fully customise your LC in a way like you can with key commands. Also coming is full control of all MIDI cc via the MIDI track mixer with LC.
If you're able to demo a LC at a music shop I'm sure you'll very quickly be 'converted' by the features and intergration of LC & Logic.....IMHO it's a very slick & professional combo, with even better features to come.

Regards.....Dave

Great, a16 Ultra and a new card...the question is which Pulsar2 variant do I need to work with Z-Link?

Will I need to add an additional Z-Link board even when upgraded to a Pulsar2 (I have a 1 right now)?

If so, can I just add the bracket to my Pulsar1 for the time being?


<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: valis on 2002-08-16 09:26 ]</font>

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: valis on 2002-08-16 09:28 ]</font>

Nope, you can't add the bracket to your pulsar1. And the A16 Ultra works fine with an ADAT connection, although 10 DSPs with an A16 Ultra would be better. I'd suggest you go for the Pulsar2 with the ZLINK plate. Zlink is sooo trouble free compared with ADAT. And 96khz w/o SMUX to boot!

I concur, Sub! Pulsar II Z is the way to go! I decided on the PII+ because of the balanced analogue I/O, I wasn't considering an outboard multi I/O converter then, now that I have an A16U, I wish I could have gotten the Z-Link instead. But, all is not lost since you can replace that with a Z-Link plate anyway, but for extera $$$. I'm content of what I've got now though. SMUX is cool albeit half the capacity of a Z-Link but for most of my apps are only ADAT (for now).

Regarding the noise. The only time I hear the "hiss" is when I use my headphones and have all the faders on U (Mackie 1604vlz) and all the vmixers within SFP is also at 0. Other than that, the A16U is a truly Pro converter, considering the price!

The Plus and Z are the same price...

Well it sounds like I have an upgrade path now. Thanks to CREAMWARE for getting dual cpu's solid. A year ago I couldn't wait to be away from the Pulsar, now I'm ready to expand.

Then an LC for christmas (even though I'm on winxp).

Incidentally...when I'm in the market (month or so) to start my upgrades, can anyone suggest a good stateside shop for Creamware products? Of the two I've been able to find one has nothing listed under the creamware page on their site and the other is apparently closed for the summer.

I'm not sure if it's ok to post that here so you can feel free to catch me at valisATancients.net (replace AT w/ @ of course).

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: valis on 2002-08-17 05:24 ]</font>

I've always gotten my CW stuff from Novamusik.com. In fact, the CW Guru at CW N.America suggested that one to me. They're located in Wisconsin; talk to T1 or T2 they're both the CW guru there. Another place is Audiomidi.com, and, returning to guitarcenter.com. Unfortunately, here in Seattle, we don't have a local CW authorised dealer, that is, until Brian K came in to town; although his store front is not set up yet... For now, on-line is where I get my CW stuff.

Seattle, great I'm in Spokane atm...
It'll be a bit before I can afford this so I may call on you again and see if his storefront is open. I'll most likely go a16 into adat until i can afford the P2 Zlink as well.

Hi, this is my first post to this forum. I have been an avid observer for some time now and feel like contributing to this great forum for Creamware users.

I would advice anyone to just get the standard Pulsar II Classic, which has 16 ADAT channels in and out. The Z-link option if I am not mistaken, only has one Z-link I/O, which means 8 tracks in and out simultaneously. I am currently using the A16 Ultra with the ADAT interfaces on the Classic, but I am thinking of upgrading to a Z-link plate later on which at least has two Z-link interfaces just for the 16 I/O 24bit/96K possibility.

If I am mistaken about the Pulsar II Z-link, then please smack me.

Just get the Classic, fiber optics are so cool anyway (yeah, you need to buy four, or at least two).

z link is 16ch.using the a16?
zlink is prob'bly better.
need to interface w/other companies stuff?(ad/da,mixer,deck)
in that case adat would be better.

So the Pulsar II Z-link has two Z-link interfaces?
I read it has 8x ADAT and 8x Z-link, which would mean you would have to run your a16 on split Z-link and ADAT.

Pulsar2 Zlink has 2xZlink ports (2 ports, one port does 8 channels@upto 96khz both in/out), and 1xadat port (in, and out).

Yes, it has 8 more channels than the Classic I/o plate.