Alpha Base Connectivity Options?

The Lounge Other Gear
1

hey Nauts, I just picked up a mk1 AB for a steal and it has forced a rethink on connectivity in my studio. I could use some advice on the best way to hook it up.

Currently I just run my hardware into my presonus quantum interface, but I’m out of channels.

I’m just wondering what my best option is?

I could just use the stereo output and unplug something else while I’m using it (simple and free!)

I could buy a mixer for it but I don’t have a great deal of room so it would need to be fairly compact. Mixers are rarely compact!!

I have an unused ADAT port on my interface so I could grab an ADAT interface like an octopre or similar…

Anything else I haven’t considered?

Thanks for any help! :slight_smile:

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If you are going to use multiple voices at once it is good idea to have individual outputs, because muting part by part when recording is workflow killer. They are also a lot cleaner than just stereo out (less noise and bleeding and more separated mix). Myself I use ADAT extension (ferrofish).

On the other hand, stereo out is the cheapest option though, and maybe you happen to prefer the non-separated mix out(?).

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Cool thanks for the reply. Which ferrofish box do you have?

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Pulse 16, it’s great value

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I use it in 96khz, but then you need more adat ports in case you didn’t know. Adat channels are tied to sample rate (44-48kHz is 8 channels per port and 88-96kHz is 4 channels per 1 adat port).

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I had a look at the Pulse and I can’t find it for less than a grand so that’s out for now since it’s a bit too expensive for the extra inputs I think.

Another option I’m chewing over is getting a Digitakt 2 and using it as an interface for the AB. I could also sequence and perhaps sample it into the DT2.

Anybody running another hardware machine into their DT2?

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Presonus Series III 16R can be bought for under a grand and can be extended with a simple ethernet cable (and a stagebox).

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This is something that might interest you:

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9

Ah good shout, yes, this is definitely a contender. I could put my synths into this, and plug the individual outs on the Alpha Base directly into my interface. Definitely a good option, as I tend to record things separately rather than all together. Thank you!

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These can be had new for under $200 sometimes (usually around $220) and are pretty decent for what they are. I think most people would be hard pressed to find anything wrong with it sonically if they weren’t told what it was and the price point.

I don’t have one myself, but know people that have and often though about getting one exactly for this purpose.

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11

Yeah ADA8200 is good and very budget friendly option, I had it before Ferrofish. It has Midas preamps on every channel.

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just curious how much of a step up you felt the Ferrofish was once you upgraded? Is it a noticeable difference?

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Beware, the individual outputs of the AB are exceptionally loud and would clip almost any converter if plugged directly into it.

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ah, interesting… how would you get around that then? Use a mixer?

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Yes, mixer, or converters with preamps and input pads.
With some search it could be also possible to find inline analog attenuators. Not that easy though…

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The ADA8200 has gain control for either MIC or line inputs which is very nice. Again, I haven’t explicitly used one, so I don’t know how well it works or not. I’m talking myself into getting one right now, though. :laughing:

I could really use the extra inputs, and they’re on sale at Sweetwater here in the US for $149. That’s pretty killer for an extra 8 in / 8 out (even though I can only use the in with my current setup).

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Well I didn’t do a direct A/B test. But there are some clear differences like 96kHz and very clean direct inputs (no amp in between). Ferrofish has more inputs, which also work in proper stereo pairs and has very easy to use interface. I can go through the Ferrofish multiple times in-out-in loops and it doesn’t degrade sound. Clipping the Ferrofish sounds fairly good too, but I don’t really do it.

Plus points for ADA8200 is price and if you actually want so many mic-preamps.

Btw Alpha Base doesn’t clip converters and you have 2 different volume controls for every voice (volume and accent volume). So there is plenty of room for volume control. (Mixer inputs would get clipped too if that was the case, so that was just plain wrong info.)

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I have a different experience, I am interested to discuss that.

Yes there is a volume control per voice but I believe it affects the behavior of the voices a lot, so I tend to consider it is an integral part of the sound engine. I must admit I haven’t used my AB for quite sometime so maybe I am mistaken.

Edit : I checked, I can confirm the kick drum behaves differently at full volume than mid volume.
So no way to attenuate the outputs without changing the tone. And the individual outputs are loud as f#@

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Yeah I have been on a break too, but guess I have to check it out now hehe.

Anyway just testing and yes you can make it clip if you turn both volume and accent high that is right. Then it actually sounds clearly clipped though.

KICK: I notice that 50 vol 127 acc (which is below zero in converter) there is less clicky attack. Around Vol 60 there is click but it clips a bit on the converter (but it doesn’t sound bad, no audible distortion). And if you turn the volume up more (accent is max still) then you get more and more clipped sound (sounds bad).

I tried with sample track and I couldn’t get 909 snare to clip at 127vol 127acc. Also my Mbrane kick patch doesn’t clip at 127vol 127acc.

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thanks for the info guys. Good to know.

I think I’ll stick with the stereo out for now while I get to know it, then perhaps invest in a mixing desk at a later date.