I want to change up my studio from using a Motu m4 to having either 16 or 32 DA ins for tracking synths and drumcomputers in Ableton Live.
I’m a bit at a crossroads. In my country I can buy a Midas Venice f32 for about 1000 eu. Then I’d have a 32 in mixer and interface. But it uses firewire. I’m on a 2019 MBP, and although there are definitely people reporting good solutions with firewire to thunderbolt 2 to thunderbolt 3 adapters, it all feels a bit wonky to me. Also it would only track at max 48 khz. What makes me doubt is the latency, quality of conversion and stability of clock/possible jitter.
Then another solution would be buying a used RME UCX 2 with a Focusrite Octopre ADAT converter, or Ferrofish Pulse 16, and using either a Midas Venice 160 or 240 board. This would set me back around 1800 or 2700 eu, used prices (for either 16 ins or 24 ins respectively).
The f32 would give me worse conversion and latency, but way more flexibility in routing, especially using the stereo channels for fx returns. If I would use a steady external clock, would it enhance its conversion? Where would I look for good steady clock devices?
it feels to me using firewire in 2024 is just not very reliable. If I could track 16/24 ins at 96 khz would it add so much in terms of quality? It is also a bit of a question of workflow. 16 or 24 is much less flexibility compared to 32 ins.
Any advice is very welcome! I’m probably not the only one who dealt with this dilemma
I had the Midas F32 and sold it… great desk but big and I didn’t like the daisy chaining of Fw connectors to make it work, it also made it feel vulnerable for future compatibility.
I swapped it ultimately for an SSL Big Six that I love, but, I’ve recently got the RME Fireface UCX2 to use live, and it’s blown me away.
I have a Ferrofish Pulse 16 too, and that combo is superb.
I’m actually thinking of getting rid of the SSL now to just stick to the RME, because TotalMix is amazing… add a couple of dedicated surface controls and you’ve got a system that is way beyond the Midas (or the SSL).
Okay! Sounds like a really nice set up. Personally, I rather use an analog console for pre-mixing (the final mixdown will be done in Live anyways) than TotalMix, but still it sound like a better solution than the F32.
Do you ever miss the immediacy of the F32 in terms of eq’ing/using send-returns?
Atm I’m using an old Soundcraft Spirit Folio Rackpac. It really has a shitty sound, but I just love the flexibility it has in using the send-returns and creating feedback loops with fx.
Not really… the SSL gives me more than the Midas did tbh (especially with the channel compression and bus comp on the master, stereo aux sends with DAW integration too), and I have a 2 channel Neve 1073 for tracking.
Don’t underestimate TotalMix though, it’s been a hidden gem for me… I bought the RME for its size and sound (and expandability), and it’s more than met my expectations for this, but TotalMix is the icing on the cake.
I’m not yet, but I’m going to…. So with something like a Faderfox UC4 or a Novation Launch Control XL you can map them to control all the functions in the RME/Totalmix… you can create yourself an incredibly powerful mixer in a very compact space.
