• Registered: 2011-06-01
  • Posts: 45

Topic: Extra tracks with 2 UFX

Gentlemen:

For some months I have been, somewhat successfully, recording 22 tracks of 24/96 for a two hour session with an intermission. I use a master UFX into a MacBook Pro, running ProTools 10, and a slave UFX for 4 Mic preamps and 6 of it's line inputs to "fill up" the Master UFX' track count. I am very happy with the results of the high quality and reliability of the UFX (indeed I have produced a live 17 piece Swing album)? However, I would like a few more tracks while maintaining a 96Khz sample rate.

I have been reluctant to commit my entire session to front panel recording because that's a lot of data and I have something that't working well now. Now it occurs to me that I have two more, unused, line inputs & converters on the slave that I could, selectively, record off the front panel (even thought there is no path thru the UFX master)?  I could then strip these "Bonus" tracks into my pro tools session at my leisure.

Also, since the ADAT inputs of the UFX slave are, similiarily unused:  Could I then input another 4 tracks into the slave (thru an external quad pack mic pre/converter with ADAT outs) and select these four tracks for front panel UFX slave recording?  Comments please!

  • From: D.C. Area
  • Registered: 2011-05-18
  • Posts: 22

Re: Extra tracks with 2 UFX

Yep, the DUREC features work fine recording off of ADAT with my old Focusrite OctoPre.  I'd recommend that when selecting the ADAT/mic pre box that you intend to use, make sure it has a word-clock input, otherwise you'll be forced to slave the UFX to converter/preamp - this can bog things down if you rearrange your setup much at all.     

Dave

  • Registered: 2011-06-01
  • Posts: 45

Re: Extra tracks with 2 UFX

Thank you! So would a RME multiface II match or exceed the quality of the UFX for use as a quad converter with an ADAT output (I am using the direct outputs of a A&H MixWizard for mic pres)? Or is there a better/cheaper expedient?

  • Registered: 2011-06-01
  • Posts: 45

Re: Extra tracks with 2 UFX

OK, now I have some experience recording two DUrec "Bonus Tracks" onto a garden variety 4 Gb CF.  Easy! Just pre-arm the desired inputs and then punch in and out of record with no drama at all-unlike Pro Tools 10 (drama covered in my Pro Tools 10 "Tips" elsewhere). 

There's a time counter and error tally (no errors for my 2 tracks in over 100' of recording). The front panel is intelligently laid out.  When you first plug in your CF to the front panel USB the display comes up with the recording screen.  There's also a small flashing red "recording confidence" box visible even when the display is otherwise toggled to monitor record levels, etc.  FYI a 4Gb card has enough memory for two tracks of 24/96 for two hours.