Buying Dedicated AD/DA Converter vs Outboard Compressor

[dominic13]

Hey guys,
I’m a happy user of the Peluso 2247LE, Vintech X73i, and UAD Apollo Twin.
I’m really happy with my vocal chain and considering the next outboard gear to buy.
I heard many studios emphasize on a dedicated AD/DA converter other than the one-in-the-audio-interface for better sound quality.
However, I mix inside the box, but wanted an additional compressor for a more controlled signal.
At this stage when I got the mic & pre, should I prioritize getting a dedicated AD/DA converter, or would it be okay to use an outboard compressor without it?

If I get a compressor, it would probably be a KT-76 or ART Pro VLA-ii. Want to get the Audioscape Opto but shipping and order is too hard for my country.

[Drew Stephenson]

You'd have to spend quite a bit to get better converters than in your Apollo twin. And much more than that to get anything that was in any way noticeably better.

[Sam Spoons]

How good/well treated is your room? Without a very well treated room and very good monitors you are unlikely to hear a difference with dedicated AD/DA convertors.

[resistorman]

Hey guys,
I’m a happy user of the Peluso 2247LE, Vintech X73i, and UAD Apollo Twin.
I’m really happy with my vocal chain and considering the next outboard gear to buy.
I heard many studios emphasize on a dedicated AD/DA converter other than the one-in-the-audio-interface for better sound quality.
However, I mix inside the box, but wanted an additional compressor for a more controlled signal.
At this stage when I got the mic & pre, should I prioritize getting a dedicated AD/DA converter, or would it be okay to use an outboard compressor without it?

If I get a compressor, it would probably be a KT-76 or ART Pro VLA-ii. Want to get the Audioscape Opto but shipping and order is too hard for my country.

I would think the UA software compressors for the Twin would be more than sufficient, especially since you're looking at budget rack gear. Forget "better" converters, heed Drew's words!

[jaminem]

Drew is spot on. The converters in your Apollo are excellent and will not be the weakest link in your recording chain, so adding an external converter is going to have minimal effect if any. If it was me, I’d save up a bit more and get a better quality compressor. The KT’s are fine as far as it goes but things like the Black Lion Bluey are much better in my opinion if you want an 1176 for example.

Having said that I’d be looking at a used Distressor as my first hw compressor they sound excellent and are very very flexible….

[Wonks]

I’d concentrate on room treatment and the performance over anything else.

I’d also think about getting a range of different vocal mics before getting a ‘better’ D/A or a hardware compressor as you’ll never get one mic that suits all voices.

A software compressor will work just as well as a hardware one. It might not sound 100% the same but it will do exactly the same job and no one else will notice or even care.

[MOF]

Have you tried any of the compressor plugins in Unison mode? They can be there just for monitoring or you can record through them.

[James Perrett]

I'd agree with others. Good room acoustics are probably the next priority. It is interesting to hear how much difference they make.

[sonics]

I heard many studios emphasize on a dedicated AD/DA converter other than the one-in-the-audio-interface for better sound quality.

Stop believing random internet posts. Those studios may well be trying to sell themselves by listing their "fantastic" equipment and telling you how much better it sounds than your "cheap" Apollo. If you have a really cheap, old audio interface then maybe, but the converters in almost all modern interfaces will be of excellent quality.

I suspect (no offense intended) that this question has a degree of GAS attached? What's undoubtedly the case is that a new AD/DA system would be the very worst sound return for your money. The Apollo is good. Spend your money where it makes a difference.

I understand the desire for a hardware compressor, but the software you already have sounds better than a KT-76 (IMO of course). If you want something good you'd need to spend a bit more. The Distressor mentioned was a good call.

I will confess to being biased, so do feel free to ignore my post! I've use a lot of very expensive gear in my long career, and work 100% ITB now, so I am a little biased in favour of software when it comes to the price/performance ratio. (I do love hardware, but just don't own much of it any more!)

[Matt Houghton]

As others have said, your converters are fine. It can be nice to track through a compressor but it needs to be decent enough to make it worthwhile over the UA plug-ins Eg. I've yet to hear any hardware that's less expensive than the GA Comp-2A that sounds as good — and the UA modelling plug-ins run it pretty darned close. So in your shoes, I'd probably stick with the Twin and the plug-ins, and focus on other things.

[RichardT]

I agree with all the above. To get better significantly better converters you would have to spend a very large amount of money and even then the difference is only likely to be worth having if the rest of your monitoring chain is of an equally high standard (including the room).

Like some of the posters above I’d recommend skipping the hardware compressor and using plugins instead.

If you haven’t got room treatment already, then that is by far the best way to get value for money out of your spending. If you have, upgrading monitors or phones (unless you already have really top quality gear) is likely to be better value than a new convertor.

If you do have top quality gear and a good room, then converters might make a difference, but listen first if you can before buying.

[Sam Spoons]

Yup, tell us about your room/room treatment and monitors. If you already have extensive room treatment then well done but if not, remember that room treatment isn't glamorous but money spent on it is by far the most effective way to improve the sound of your studio and recordings.