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Nrenier
Published on 07/30/06 at 12:03
Console Rack (kit included) complete with firewire interface (ie replacing a sound card), in 24-bit 96kHz max.
16 mono channels with each channel:
- Microphone preamp (XLR) with phantom power individually
- Line input (TRS)
- Insert
- Direct out jack (1 / 4 "TRS) for the first 8 tracks
--20dB pad for the first 4 tracks
- 3-band parametric equalizer, parametric mid
- To send 1.2 and 3.4 (or 5.6)
- Pan
- 60mm fader
- Indicators 20db, peak, channel "on" and solo.
4 channels in groups, with TRS outputs
6 Aux Sends mono, with TRS outputs and 4 stereo to return.
Effects section (lots of reverbs, delays, flanger and phaser), with a "Settings" button. The effects section fits on the 3. TRS output for the individual effect section.
RCA inputs and outputs
Digital S / PDIF (hand out)
MAIN OUT XLR / TRS stereo + mono output XLR / TRS filter for subwoofer. Output "control room" TRS.
In short, a very complete console. Everything is possible for the routing, you can really do what we want. The big plus is the connection to the computer that sends the 16 + runs out in the main sequencer. We therefore, in addition to a standalone mixer sound card 18 inputs, 2 outputs. Latency is very good: 5 ms on my old laptop (athlon 2400).
Ableton announces Live 24ms latency: 9 ms due to the table and the rest due to the software.
Cubase LE is included, which is very frustrating, as it is stuck at 4-track simultaneous recording, and the software and the same level as GarageBand, from the perspective of the possibilities!
UTILIZATION
The manual is very clear, in French.
After, yes it can get complicated, so the possibilities are great. If the buttons are arranged on each channel, the "hand" is very messy.
It is unfortunate that the phantom power switch for each channel is behind, but finally, maybe a safety.
The volume knob is also firewire behind damage.
The use of computer is immediate: it installs the drivers (even bother on a Mac), you plug that's it. The 18 tracks appear immediately on cubase.
After a month of use: [\ B]
I should add that the console is a good stability in terms of drivers. Sometimes when you change the sample rate, it must restart, but not every time! It's still a big plus compared to my Edirol, where everything had to be shut down and restart everything every time you move from one project to a project 44KHz 48KHz.
I did the test on both Cubase SL 3 and Ableton Live 5: simultaneous recording of 12 tracks in 24 bit 96KHz: no problem! I could not test more simultaneously, because right now, I'm still only playing! So I do the test by connecting together all I had on hand (4 synths connected at noon, four microphones to sing).
SOUNDS
There, I'm sorry, I only use it for a week, and I have not had time to test all situations. I will correct the notice in the future, but here's what I can say now:
- The A / D conversion is very good, no problem. Moreover, it seems that the sound card is the same as the Mackie Onyx. Nevertheless, one can notice the level of 0db firewire digital output is actually a level 10 db in analog. I think it's a safe for use in live, not to have digital clipping when levels are in orange.
So I tested: you may well push the input gain without peak until 7 or 10 db for each channel and not hear at all of saturation, and thus have a signal using the entire dynamic of the computer. after, we can lower the hand out to find themselves in the green.
Otherwise, there is nothing to record low in oversampling.
- You can not hear a normal volume of breath, but when increasing the gain of the headset output, means there's breath. The level of the breath is equivalent to that generated by my synth on (an organ Roland VR-760), so I do not think that the breath is audible under normal circumstances.
- The table makes noise, because of his fan, but I do not iron the condenser microphone, while the fan on my laptop, it passes into the microphone without any problems.
- For preamps, I'll be honest, I have not tested yet, since I use an external preamp. But when I do a sound recording with lots of microphones, j'update my opinion. On the site of phonic, they say that the characteristics are equivalent to those of Mackie. After that, it's just "technical".
- The type eq is not "British" as is the fashion now. It did not seem very efficient at, but I have not yet tested in real conditions. I think it does its job, no matter what: when you go up the treble, the treble rises ca. I'll admit I'm not a sound engineer!
After a month of use: [\ B]
I finally tested the preamp: it did not look ashamed. I think this is the level of the map that I also Edirol FA101. The amplification is less powerful and less crystalline ... good, do not linch me that the T1952 Beringer, a tube preamp which I find very good for its price, despite the comments can be seen. So: preamps correct, but not the high end. However, given the public to whom the table, this poses no problem.
Otherwise, I confirm, the circuitry sounds good.
OVERALL OPINION
I wanted to post a first review quickly, to meet the demands. Sorry if it seems a shallow can.
The table is heavy metal, but the buttons are plastic. I think if the frame is solid, I would not trust the buttons, I'll try to care for. Sure, it's less "pro" as more expensive tables.
Therefore, price / quality ratio unbeatable. You still have to realize that there is € 1000 savings compared to the same in Makie. I think the sound quality is good, and does not justify the difference.
Basically,
What you one less compared to Mackie: The talkback mic, the Perkins EQ, the mini meter bridge, the direct out from 9 to 16 ... and great design.
What you one more: an effects section, a subwoofer output ...
With the difference, you can buy stuff like compressors / gates, the quality preamp, microphones ... So if you're just an amateur like me, I see no reason to extend € 1800 instead of 750 € for my use.
I think this is an ideal table to play with the group and check-in rehearsal and in concert. After, when you are ready, it can make a great sound card to make an album.
However, for solo use (home studio), he missed the MIDI and digital inputs. That is why it can not substitute for an additional interface for MIDI.
In conclusion: do not listen to people who say that it is rotten Phonic: it looks not so good from the outside because of the finish, but to use, it works very well and I am still surprised to have a tool of this power at your fingertips.
16 mono channels with each channel:
- Microphone preamp (XLR) with phantom power individually
- Line input (TRS)
- Insert
- Direct out jack (1 / 4 "TRS) for the first 8 tracks
--20dB pad for the first 4 tracks
- 3-band parametric equalizer, parametric mid
- To send 1.2 and 3.4 (or 5.6)
- Pan
- 60mm fader
- Indicators 20db, peak, channel "on" and solo.
4 channels in groups, with TRS outputs
6 Aux Sends mono, with TRS outputs and 4 stereo to return.
Effects section (lots of reverbs, delays, flanger and phaser), with a "Settings" button. The effects section fits on the 3. TRS output for the individual effect section.
RCA inputs and outputs
Digital S / PDIF (hand out)
MAIN OUT XLR / TRS stereo + mono output XLR / TRS filter for subwoofer. Output "control room" TRS.
In short, a very complete console. Everything is possible for the routing, you can really do what we want. The big plus is the connection to the computer that sends the 16 + runs out in the main sequencer. We therefore, in addition to a standalone mixer sound card 18 inputs, 2 outputs. Latency is very good: 5 ms on my old laptop (athlon 2400).
Ableton announces Live 24ms latency: 9 ms due to the table and the rest due to the software.
Cubase LE is included, which is very frustrating, as it is stuck at 4-track simultaneous recording, and the software and the same level as GarageBand, from the perspective of the possibilities!
UTILIZATION
The manual is very clear, in French.
After, yes it can get complicated, so the possibilities are great. If the buttons are arranged on each channel, the "hand" is very messy.
It is unfortunate that the phantom power switch for each channel is behind, but finally, maybe a safety.
The volume knob is also firewire behind damage.
The use of computer is immediate: it installs the drivers (even bother on a Mac), you plug that's it. The 18 tracks appear immediately on cubase.
After a month of use: [\ B]
I should add that the console is a good stability in terms of drivers. Sometimes when you change the sample rate, it must restart, but not every time! It's still a big plus compared to my Edirol, where everything had to be shut down and restart everything every time you move from one project to a project 44KHz 48KHz.
I did the test on both Cubase SL 3 and Ableton Live 5: simultaneous recording of 12 tracks in 24 bit 96KHz: no problem! I could not test more simultaneously, because right now, I'm still only playing! So I do the test by connecting together all I had on hand (4 synths connected at noon, four microphones to sing).
SOUNDS
There, I'm sorry, I only use it for a week, and I have not had time to test all situations. I will correct the notice in the future, but here's what I can say now:
- The A / D conversion is very good, no problem. Moreover, it seems that the sound card is the same as the Mackie Onyx. Nevertheless, one can notice the level of 0db firewire digital output is actually a level 10 db in analog. I think it's a safe for use in live, not to have digital clipping when levels are in orange.
So I tested: you may well push the input gain without peak until 7 or 10 db for each channel and not hear at all of saturation, and thus have a signal using the entire dynamic of the computer. after, we can lower the hand out to find themselves in the green.
Otherwise, there is nothing to record low in oversampling.
- You can not hear a normal volume of breath, but when increasing the gain of the headset output, means there's breath. The level of the breath is equivalent to that generated by my synth on (an organ Roland VR-760), so I do not think that the breath is audible under normal circumstances.
- The table makes noise, because of his fan, but I do not iron the condenser microphone, while the fan on my laptop, it passes into the microphone without any problems.
- For preamps, I'll be honest, I have not tested yet, since I use an external preamp. But when I do a sound recording with lots of microphones, j'update my opinion. On the site of phonic, they say that the characteristics are equivalent to those of Mackie. After that, it's just "technical".
- The type eq is not "British" as is the fashion now. It did not seem very efficient at, but I have not yet tested in real conditions. I think it does its job, no matter what: when you go up the treble, the treble rises ca. I'll admit I'm not a sound engineer!
After a month of use: [\ B]
I finally tested the preamp: it did not look ashamed. I think this is the level of the map that I also Edirol FA101. The amplification is less powerful and less crystalline ... good, do not linch me that the T1952 Beringer, a tube preamp which I find very good for its price, despite the comments can be seen. So: preamps correct, but not the high end. However, given the public to whom the table, this poses no problem.
Otherwise, I confirm, the circuitry sounds good.
OVERALL OPINION
I wanted to post a first review quickly, to meet the demands. Sorry if it seems a shallow can.
The table is heavy metal, but the buttons are plastic. I think if the frame is solid, I would not trust the buttons, I'll try to care for. Sure, it's less "pro" as more expensive tables.
Therefore, price / quality ratio unbeatable. You still have to realize that there is € 1000 savings compared to the same in Makie. I think the sound quality is good, and does not justify the difference.
Basically,
What you one less compared to Mackie: The talkback mic, the Perkins EQ, the mini meter bridge, the direct out from 9 to 16 ... and great design.
What you one more: an effects section, a subwoofer output ...
With the difference, you can buy stuff like compressors / gates, the quality preamp, microphones ... So if you're just an amateur like me, I see no reason to extend € 1800 instead of 750 € for my use.
I think this is an ideal table to play with the group and check-in rehearsal and in concert. After, when you are ready, it can make a great sound card to make an album.
However, for solo use (home studio), he missed the MIDI and digital inputs. That is why it can not substitute for an additional interface for MIDI.
In conclusion: do not listen to people who say that it is rotten Phonic: it looks not so good from the outside because of the finish, but to use, it works very well and I am still surprised to have a tool of this power at your fingertips.