Apogee Big Ben

The Apogee Big Ben is a rackable unit taking up 1 rack space. It will offer up to 192 kHz sample rates and simple real time conversions between any audio digital formats. While using Big Ben you will not have any issues with popping noises or cracking sounds and though this unit might look easy to use because of how smooth the front interface is, it could still take some getting use to and some time to understand just how everything works. It comes with a manual that is easy to understand and comprehend if you want to go that route and read it.
The Big Ben analog converter is made to last you a long time, and not to mention it has a flawless design that is made to be shown off. I am very happy that I purchased this unit over a year ago and I still use it very much today. The quality of audio you can get with the Big Ben is outstanding. Most of the products that Apogee makes are well built and stable. I have used many other analog converters, some good and some not so well. But with the 1 video BNC, 1 ADAT optical and 2 AES clock inputs with 6 word 2 AES and 1 S/PDIF outputs you will have all of your clock options to keep everything working together and in synch.
A normal issue with some other analog converters that I have used in the past is the popping and jittering sounds it can give you when converting. With the Big Ben I have not had any unwanted noise at all. This unit came out long before I purchase it, but after hearing another local musician talk about the Big Ben I knew that I had to give it a shot. If something were to ever happen to the one that I purchased I would purchase another one right away.

The Apogee Electronics Big Ben is an analog to digital converter that can handle sample rates up to 192 Khz. I run it with a Digidesign 192 I/O that controls Pro Tools HD and this basically serves as a separate world clock that I synch up with my Pro Tools system. It also 2 XLR inputs and outputs in the back as well as connections for ADAT optical and AES/EBU. The reason I run this in addition to Pro Tools is because these converters are a world of a difference when compared to Digidesign's.

I've been using the Apogee Electronics Big Ben analog to digital converter for about a year and I'm definitely to have it in my chain as it provides a super clean conversion. Apogee has been building up a reputation for making great converters, and the Big Ben is one of their best products and is starting to be seen in a lot of professional recording studios, even though it doesn't have a huge price tag. The unit pretty easy to use, and since it was set up the only thing I ever need to set is the sample rate. This being said, the Big Ben has a lot of capabilities, some of which I haven't had a chance to look into and some of which I don't have much use for in my line of work. If you have a Pro Tools HD system and are unhappy with the converters on there, the Big Ben is a great choice to expand your set up and get your signal coming in that much cleaner. While I could live without this, having the Big Ben in my chain helps to get the highest possible sound quality I can get while I am recording. I definitely recommend looking into the Apogee Electronics Big Ben converter for all types of analog to digital audio conversion.

This is not a converter but a master clock, it will say what synchronsier numrique a string to obtain and / o keep the best possible sound and with fewer artifacts. we can attack in any format all display resolutions, and all outputs are active at the same time.
This means that you can concrtement gnrez clock big ben and all connecting both bnc spdif adat aes, and four copies to the BNC or the clock rcuprer aure a device spdif / adat / aes or the BNC "reclocks" by big ben to stabilize and return to the machines enslave.
Again just carries clock signals, not sound.
So we have everything we need in all formats utiliss auourd'hui.

Used for 2 years.
Likes: The ease of rglage front and quick implementation (I use it in car-rgy to synchronize records numriques, so rglages may vary) the balance of the signal returned Systm front which warned of a bad connection or a cable fatigue simple and clear digital display.
I do not like: and this is a special case (or maybe not ...) you must buy a dde sync video to it GNER natively sync a PAL of references, and c ' is for a one had been the basis for our recorders may have a clock PAL qynchro. But his grace FLEXIBILITY we could enslave in a spdif REFERENCE machine for the big ben clock recorders refers to DSIR with stability and a great sound. Carl'horloge normment plays on the sound of the converters, they are not everything. A Digi001 example, no longer on the agenda too ... sounds incredibly enslaved a big ben.
Great product, there are equivalents but are less "REFERENCE".
Qualitprix excellent report and it is a real product looks to the future (24/192).
8, it is to buy the card in addition to the native sync PAL y'en fed up with their Stantard NTSC standard, EMU had at least one standard to PAL for products sold in Europe ....

How long have you use it?
dapuis 1 year

Have you tried many other models before acqurir?

c is the only non-clock

What is the particular feature you like best and least?

most: the multiple outputs what I like least: nothing

influence on the sound?

the widening of the stereo image precision and sound plans slight improvement in the definition. cmbine all it improves sound quality (with an apogee used together)

How do you report qualitprix?

given the many exits and the influence on the sound: rather good

Note: This review was written after more than a year of tests and comparisons. apogee big ben enter reviews on google to United States for further advice