Spirit Folio 16/4 as a summing mixer???

[pa28]

As the subject says, is there any point in patching this up to my Focusrite Pro 40 from Cubase 5 then back into the box and hoping this is what analogue summing is??? Or do I need to spend a sqillion on an antique analogue desk,(Not a chance) or use plug-ins ala Waves NLS? I'm not a pro just serious hobbyist. And is this all fairy gold anyway?

PS: Am think about going to Cubase 7 but having looked at the dv247 website video from Steinberg , not sure about that fancy looking mixer or whether I need to move on.

[Richie Royale]

It will colour the sound. Whether this is desirable or not will be up to your ears.

[Hugh Robjohns]

No harm in trying it and seeing how it feels and sounds. Just don't push the analogue signal levels too hot!

H

[muzines]

As the subject says, is there any point in patching this up to my Focusrite Pro 40 from Cubase 5 then back into the box and hoping this is what analogue summing is???

A) Try it and see.

B) Not really.

[Goddard]

As for "fairy dust" there are those who would consider it as such (unless perhaps you are running through a nice transformer-coupled mixer).

But if you already have the Folio 4 (or can pick one up for cheap) it's certainly worth trying. Very versatile, and the eq sounds good but can be defeated (bypassed) if desired (handy for A-B'ing). Very versatile monitoring also, so you can hear what's going on at various points.

Also very useful for tracking through in the first place (although lacking the direct outputs of the similar Folio Rac).

With an 8ch AD-DA like the Behringer ADA-8000 connected to the Pro 40 via ADAT (and making use of the stereo channels and perhaps also aux sends on the Folio) you could run more tracks in and out if desired.

Go for it!

[pa28]

Thanks for the answers chaps, My Folio has been my means of monitoring for a long time now, as I said I am not a pro at this, so do I send just the stereo mix to the Folio and route back into Cubase to two other tracks or do I need somehow to get individual tracks routed out and back?

[James Perrett]

The general consensus is that sending a stereo track has much the same effect as sending individual tracks. The magic (if any) isn't in the summing as such but more in the colouration introduced before/after the summing stage.

[Hugh Robjohns]

so do I send just the stereo mix to the Folio and route back into Cubase to two other tracks or do I need somehow to get individual tracks routed out and back?

If you want the mystical benefits of 'analogue summing' then you'll have to send individual tracks or stems. However, if you simply want to add some 'analogue sheen' then processing a stereo track may well be enough, although I'm not sure the Folio is really the best kind of tool for that. We've had good success in the past using analogue outboard with transformers and old-school class-A circuitry -- something that imparts some subtle but musical sonic colouration. Just running the DAW mix through a line-level preamp or compressor set up to do nothing is often enough!

H

[Martin Walker]

if you simply want to add some 'analogue sheen' then processing a stereo track may well be enough, although I'm not sure the Folio is really the best kind of tool for that.

I had a little Spirit Folio desk years ago and it was a handy tool, but I wouldn't want to put my mixes through it to add any 'mojo' I think you need something more high end for that purpose, although only you can judge what sounds good and what doesn't

Martin

[Exalted Wombat]

As the subject says, is there any point in patching this up to my Focusrite Pro 40 from Cubase 5 then back into the box and hoping this is what analogue summing is??? Or do I need to spend a sqillion on an antique analogue desk,(Not a chance) or use plug-ins ala Waves NLS? I'm not a pro just serious hobbyist. And is this all fairy gold anyway?

PS: Am think about going to Cubase 7 but having looked at the dv247 website video from Steinberg , not sure about that fancy looking mixer or whether I need to move on.

This is worth doing if, and only if it will impress a client.

You never know, it might. There's an old Akai 4000 on a shelf here. A youngster is eying it covetously, and might be revving up to offer silly money for the analogue magic it would add to his recordings.