Apogee Symphony ??

[The Tasmanian]

I know a few of you guys have the Apogee.
I'm soon to update my home setup and I am looking at a SSL Madi AX which will give me 24 ins and out plus lightpipe for about 3k.
I want to use my Mytek 192 as the 8 main ins and outs with PT9 (not HD) -there is no need to go to HD as I won't have latency problems using a console for monitoring - plus I don't want to give Avid any more of my hard earned $ after owning 2 new HD systems,2 x 002's and a MBox (forgetting the previous 888 HD systems that Ive had)

The SSL has a 24 ins and outs plus lightpipe so I can just add my Mytek to the SSL to get my 32 ins and outs.

The other choice would be a Apogee Symphony - but I cant really find out anywhere if I can add my Mytek to this setup without being forced to buy other cards.

I don't really need 32 ins - even 16 inputs would be fine (plus the 8 Mytek ins giving me 24 inputs).
But I definitely do want 32 outs for mixing.

Is this possible with the Symphony without breaking the bank?
there seems to be little info out there about this type of setup

[Ben M]

Hey Chris
How's things?
I've got 2 of the new Apogee Symphony's. They are very noice
I'm running them as 24 analog in and out. I'm not using the digital options on the cards as yet but the option is there to expand through AES and or optical if I want in the future. My top Symphony has 16 analog in/out and 16 optical in/out and the bottom box has 8 analog in/out and 8 in/out AES.
To get the 32 outs you want you'd need the 16 in/out analog cards and then utilise the digital options on the cards, however your mytek (8 in/out) will stop it short at 24.
So no probs with the amount of inputs but you'll be short 8 outputs (to get 32 outs) unless you have somewhere else to stick the last 8 optical or AES outputs.

Damn shame your Mytek isn't 16 in/out, you'd be sorted.

Ben

[The Tasmanian]

Thanks Ben
I noticed they are $1600 in the US - then they must be about $5000 in AU???
Is this why you had that nice holiday in NY?

I may be able to get a card for the Mytek so that it talks to Protools - so I could get the same setup you have and add the mytek from another card

What sort of $ am I looking at in AU?

[Ender]

Hmm Ben can probably double confirm, but you might be able to use a Symphony with:

* 16 Analog OUT + 16 Optical IN
* 8 Analog I/O + 8 AES I/O
* Mytek through the 8 i/o AES/EBU card

I'd have to check to make sure, but think that could give you 24 outs on the Symphony direct and run the last 8 on the Mytek through AES/EBU? Would give you 8+8 ins also of course, and the option of adding another 16 ins from another unit if you needed down the track via optical.

The RRP in US$ seems to be 3690 for base unit plus one I/O card, with 1995 being the RRP for each additional card, so I assume the US1600 you saw is only for the base unit (no I/O). I'm not sure of total cost, but must be ballpark $AUD6k for the base unit plus two I/O cards?

This would require the Apogee Symphony 64 card (~1k) though if you're not going the HD route for the HD native card (3.5k). Again, not sure of current prices, those are just ballpark numbers. I'm sure Ben has a better idea in this regard since he scored the package deal

[The Tasmanian]

Yes it was the base unit for $1600
Still very pricey compared with the SSL for 3k
Bummer!

[NathS101]

How about 2 Lynx Aurora 16s? I believe they have the MADI option card now...
You could set up the 32 I/O as 24 analogue and 8 AES
While it would be cheaper than a symphony system, it would still be at least $6k

[The Tasmanian]

Thanks for that
I'll look into this - need to suss out the SSL's compatibility with PT9
$3k is a much better price - and apparently the convertors sound really good
Cheers gentleman

[Ender]

I agree, for the price the SSL system is hard to beat. Pretty sure as long as it can be seen as a standard sound card by your system, PT9 will play happy with the SSL.

[Ben M]

Is this why you had that nice holiday in NY?

Chris... this thing you talk about called hol-i-day? Sarah tells me that’s something we did in NY/Hawaii. Interesting... I must try it again sometime.
But no… everything was bought from Turramurra music. Give Ron and Dan a call for technical confirmation. Probably the more they sell the cheaper it will get. I reckon you would have no troubles plugging your mytek into the back end of this setup and have a very big smile on your face.

Dan (ender) is on the money though. He's been researching…I know. It works out around 2K AUS for each component… chassis or card. There’s many different cards so it’s hard to work the brain on the combination that you need. Well … for my brain atm. But… that would be the combo for Chris.
I’m able to get an education price on the package because we’re an RTO (registered training org) and a commercial studio space. This does ultimately make a difference in the end for the package $.

I looked at the SSL's (you can't beat the price on those) but the Apogee's kept calling me back..take me...take me! Part of a much needed digital upgrade. I Don't regret it for a moment. They've been sensational. I'm hearing more space around the recorded sound. I feel like I've gained a 3rd dimension in the digital relm.
Endorsement over and out.
Oh...and I miss them when I go home at night...

[NathS101]

Also are you going to be using the Mytek converters for the 2 buss or something else?

[The Tasmanian]

I'll do some more homework Ben - I may have to start a training facilty!
Look out Mr Misner! I'm gonna buy the other half of Byron's real estate - and SSL the company!
Then I can get the SSL for free!

Nathan - I use the Mytek main 8 outs for Kik Snr Gtrs Vocals Bass OHeads (all the juicy main stuff)
And always the main inputs back into tools.
I'm a huge fan - they still sound amazing.
I do believe these new Apogees are really good too (from ears I trust) - but never been a fan of any previous Apogees Ive tried compared to the Myteks.
Regards

[Ben M]

I'll do some more homework Ben - I may have to start a training facilty!
Look out Mr Misner! I'm gonna buy the other half of Byron's real estate - and SSL the company!
Then I can get the SSL for free!

ah Chris, thats a lot to do just to get an interface.
Oh well, may as well put in a theme park with water slides, roller coasters and haunted house. Byron may as well go all the way.

[NathS101]

I use the Mytek main 8 outs for Kik Snr Gtrs Vocals Bass OHeads (all the juicy main stuff)
And always the main inputs back into tools.
I'm a huge fan - they still sound amazing.
I do believe these new Apogees are really good too (from ears I trust) - but never been a fan of any previous Apogees Ive tried compared to the Myteks.
Regards

good good
I remember seeing on gearslutz recently that a few people don't like the SSL MADI converters for printing the 2 buss but prefer something like the HEDD, UA 2192, Lavry, Mytek etc as it sounds more open in the top end... YMMV