Expandability with the V-Studio

Hello everyone,

I set up my V-Studio 700 a couple of months ago and am running an additional 8-channel preamp (a Digimax D8) through the ADAT in.  I need to expand, since 16 simultaneous channels isn't enough for me; I've had some inquiries to recording a band live and that would require many more than 16 channels.  How do I go about doing this with only one ADAT in? 

I still have a MOTU 24I/O (24in/24out audio interface) that the V-Studio replaced.  Is there a way I can use them in conjunction?  I really like how the V-Studio has MIDI and the 8 mic pres. 

On a side note, I'm disappointed that there aren't separate outputs for each channel.  I had to get 8 mic splitters and send them to a mixer in order to make malleable monitor mixes.  Anyone else have a solution for that?

Thanks,
Gregg
Erypsus Studios

A second VS700R is the way to go.

Also with that many outputs it is easy to set up as many headphone mixes as you want and all internally within Sonar as well. Just create special headphone busses and route their outputs to the hard analog outputs on the back of the VS700R to feed headphone amp/s directly. I have had a session that had 5 or more different headphone mixes going on. You can always insert a reverb and create reverb for the singers if they want it.

You just create extra sends now on every channel to feed to headphones.

No splitter is required to feed a second monitor mixer. Think conceptually all within Sonar and achieve what you want to do. But this does involve the latency of the main Sonar mixer. You then have to depend on a super fast machine to make this area work well. Using the direct mixer wont allow separate sends to be created.  I would not mind a few extra features on the direct mixer. If Cakewalk ever feel like beefing it up they are very welcome. I see more output options and also sends on these inputs to be able to create zero latency headphone mixes. Be nice to be able to patch in an effect (insert or side chain ) on the direct mixer inputs.

On the want front some activity meters such as gain reduction be put onto those compressors on the Mic Pres would be good.

Erypsus


Hello everyone,

I set up my V-Studio 700 a couple of months ago and am running an additional 8-channel preamp (a Digimax D8) through the ADAT in.  I need to expand, since 16 simultaneous channels isn't enough for me; I've had some inquiries to recording a band live and that would require many more than 16 channels.  How do I go about doing this with only one ADAT in? 

I still have a MOTU 24I/O (24in/24out audio interface) that the V-Studio replaced.  Is there a way I can use them in conjunction?  I really like how the V-Studio has MIDI and the 8 mic pres. 

On a side note, I'm disappointed that there aren't separate outputs for each channel.  I had to get 8 mic splitters and send them to a mixer in order to make malleable monitor mixes.  Anyone else have a solution for that?

Thanks,
Gregg
Erypsus Studios

I'm sorry, I didn't follow you on two points. There aren't seperate outs for each channel? Are you refering to Midi or audio? 8 mic splitters? Are you trying to feed two mono channels with one mic?
There are seperate output channels for everthing in the V700R.
The Motu 24 I/O will accept the 10 analog outputs from the V700R. Are you having a problem with ASIO driver dominance problems with two interfaces?
If I remember correctly, the 24 I/O has only analog in/out via PCI?
It sounds like your intregration of systems into a 32 channel setup has hit the same road blocks as all systems from different manufacturors. If you're moving toward a simultanious 32 track digital recording system from a 24 I/O PCI unit, you're going to have to realize what you bought and it's capabilities.
16 tracks should be more than enough for segmented studio work. Could you do a whole Band with the 24 I/O?
 
 

Hey Gregg, you should still be able to monitor with very low latency through the direct mixer without using a splitter and a second mixer. I am not sure what happens when you have two VS700R's connected in terms of the direct mixer. You must either get a second direct mixer or the first one doubles in size! Not sure.

The great thing about the direct mixer is that it is connected to all the same inputs as you are assigning to Sonar tracks. You just have to shut off the Sonar tracks from echoing the input and listen through the direct mixer instead. Dont forget the direct mixer has 3 output destinations. You could set it to output through SUB instead and connect the headphone amps there. You wont be able to get different mixes though for different musicians which could be a problem if you really needed that facility.

When you set the output to SUB though watch out because the MONITOR control is still active so you have to have it up a fair way before you will get anything coming out the SUB output. Another option is to set the direct mixer output to Digi 1 instead. But here you will need some sort of D to A in order to hear it of course.

I am a fan of the direct mixer. It is excellent for tracking and seems to do the job well. I also use it for external midi synths. I bring the outputs from the external gear straight into the VS700R inputs and straight into the mix that way. Dont even have to convert those tracks to audio unless really necessary.

But if you have a fast enough computer and dont use any processing during tracking you should be able to get the latency right down on the Sonar mixer as well.  I am not a fan of much processing during tracking. It is not a good idea. Musicians should not be focussed on effects during tracking, (guitarists are an exception but they seem to take care of all that themselves) they should focus on performance instead. Even reverb is not a great idea during tracking vocals because it makes the vocalist a bit slack. Notes that are pitched a bit off will be much harder to hear when reverb is added. Best to keep it dry so they can really hear what is going on. Effects can also complicate the sound in the musicians headphone mixes during tracking.