NEW TO.... AD/DA converters ..Help!?....

[mark feld]

Before I go and plunk down some hard earned $$$ ,

Rosetta 200...MH ULN-2....Or any AD/DA Converter...

So here's the question :

For example........

Let's say I take track ONE (on my Roland Vs880) which is guitar...send it out(via SP/DIF coaxial 'out')through the converter (which will then convert the guitar signal back to analogue) to be effected with a pedal... Then send that effected guitar back into the converter(which will then convert it back to digital) and assign that to track TWO On the Vs880 (via SP/DIF coaxial 'in')...At the SAME TIME...Is that possible ???

I use to do this by sending a track out (and panning it so it wouldn't feedback) effecting it
and sending it back in to another track...

I guess what I'm asking...

***> CAN A AD/DA CONVERTER.... CONVERT DIGITAL TO ANALOGUE AND ANALOGUE BACK TO DIGITAL
...AT THE SAME TIME ??? ...(Like a loop?) <****

I'm using a Vs880 and will be using a good 2 channel preamp
into a good converter( In order to bypass the lousy pre's/converter in the VS880)

I hope this question makes sense...

And if you can help, then... THANK YOU.

[James Perrett]

If you want a good AD/DA at a reasonable price then take a look at the Sonifex Red Box range. There's probably very little point spending thousands on something to just put signals through guitar effects pedals but the Sonifex range strikes a good balance of quality and price.

[Bob Moose]

Let's say I take track ONE (on my Roland Vs880) which is guitar...send it out(via SP/DIF coaxial 'out')through the converter (which will then convert the guitar signal back to analogue) to be effected with a pedal... Then send that effected guitar back into the converter(which will then convert it back to digital) and assign that to track TWO On the Vs880 (via SP/DIF coaxial 'in')...At the SAME TIME...Is that possible ???

Yes it's possible, though the analogue inputs and outputs of converters are line level, while the ones of guitar effect pedals are usually instrument level. Connecting them directly, the levels or dynamics may not be correct. Some digital effect pedals also have line level I/O, but most analogue ones are instrument level. Which specific pedal do you have ? You would normally use a D.I. box and a re-amper for using 'guitar' analogue pedals as outboard

I don't know the VS880, but as a digital device it has built-in A/D and D/A converters. Why do you need to use an additional converter ? (maybe not enough analogue I/O on the VS880)

Cheers

[mark feld]

thanks James! I'll check it out.

[mark feld]

Hello Bob... Yes I'll be using pedals and rack gear for out board processing.

I have a JDI Radial(w/Jensen)passive d.i box ....and an active BSS AR 116 d.i.

So which should I use passive or active...for routing to outboard processing?

* But do I REALLY need a re-amp box? Is there an alternative? I've read some things.
...Would there be a great loss in fidelity if I just used a good preamp (w/d.i box
?)..and just adjust input volume if the mismatched signal runs too hot?

As for why I'm using an external converter.. It's to bypass the lousy mic pre/amps and ad/da
converter in my Roland Vs880... For a better sound.

Thanks very much for your help.

[Bob Moose]

Hello Bob... Yes I'll be using pedals and rack gear for out board processing.

I have a JDI Radial(w/Jensen)passive d.i box ....and an active BSS AR 116 d.i.

So which should I use passive or active...for routing to outboard processing?

I guess the passive one would be ok. But try with both and choose the one that sounds best.

* But do I REALLY need a re-amp box? Is there an alternative? I've read some things.
...Would there be a great loss in fidelity if I just used a good preamp (w/d.i box
?)..and just adjust input volume if the mismatched signal runs too hot?

I do not understand why you want to connect a preamplifier between the converter output and the pedal input.
A preamp converts from microphone or instrument level to line level. This is ok for connecting the output of the guitar pedal to the converters. But for the input I would use a re-amp box. Orchid Electronics make a rather inexpensive one:
http://www.orchid-electronics.co.uk/Amp_Interface.htm
With some pedals, who knows, it may work without the re-amper, or you may prefer the sound, but generally speaking it is not correct to do this (level and impedance mismatch, which often results in poor dynamics, more noise, or even altered spectrum). To complicate things, I have encountered some pedals that do not seem to work at usual instrument level; for non-standard things it's difficult to tell if you really need a re-amper.

[Goddard]

Easy rule of thumb is whether a pedal/fx unit works ok in a guitar amp's fx loop. If so, then it should work fine when fed a line level input signal (which what the fx send on almost all amps supplies) without needing a re-amper.

[mark feld]

hello Bob,

I was just thinking that putting a preamp after converter in order to
adjust volume if the recorded signal would run too hot into the pedal or
guitar amp when reamping.

But... yes a re-amp box would make more sense.

* And thanks... Good price on that Orchid Electronics! Was just looking to cut corners
because most re-amp box's are pricey. But that looks like a getter.

Thanks.

[Bob Moose]

Easy rule of thumb is whether a pedal/fx unit works ok in a guitar amp's fx loop. If so, then it should work fine when fed a line level input signal (which what the fx send on almost all amps supplies) without needing a re-amper.

Good to know! I am not a guitar player but my keyboard has a built-in amplifier and the fx loop is instrument level (I do use a D.I. box, a microphone preamplifier and a reamper when processing it with devices that work at line level)

[Bob Moose]

I was just thinking that putting a preamp after converter in order to
adjust volume if the recorded signal would run too hot into the pedal or
guitar amp when reamping.

Yes but as far as I know a preamp can usually only boost levels, not attenuate them. Maybe you could try a cheap passive attenuator or a volume pedal instead.

But most reampers have a built-in level attenuator, and also adapt the impedance

[G-Doubleyou]

STOP the insanity!

Buying hi-end A/D will not improve your sound, as long as you use the VS880.

The A/D hardware you've mentioned require a computer to operate and are not standalone.

To improve your sound you need to take the 16bit VS880 out of the equation, it is what it is and will not get better.

If you go computer-based then you have the opportunity for higher resolution 24bit, 96Khz audio.
Then you will have a modular upgradeable system.