Converters

[askya]

How important are converters when using outboard gear? Is an RME UCX/UFX good enough?

[BertKoor]

How important are converters when using outboard gear?

The whole chain is as strong as its weakest link. When that happens to be (quality of) the converters, it very seldom is an AD/DA converter in a pro-level audio interface, which is core business for RME.

Is an RME UCX/UFX good enough?

Look at the specs:
https://www.rme-audio.de/fireface-ucx.html
https://www.rme-audio.de/fireface-ufx.html
and compare to the rest of your gear.

If you need some help eg with explanations or importance of certain figures, don't hesitate to ask that here.

[askya]

Thanks for the info, it can be difficult to know the real world translation of specs to audible differences. There is audible difference between a real 1073 preamp and a plugin. Is there a real audible difference between using RME UCX converters through outboard gear and LYNX converters for example? It's hard to tell unless you can hear in actual raw recordings.

[lfm]

Here is a listing of some audio intefaces and which chips they are based on
https://gearspace.com/board/geekzone/54 ... isted.html

There were a shootout among 4 brands like 10 years ago here at KVR, and they all sound different.

I agree with BertKoor that don't worry about it to a degree to get one before the other of RME or Lynx at least, regarding converters as such.

I would look more over what preamps I get feeding the AD converters. Depending on how many tracks in a mix that are external source use the more it will make a difference since all these very small differences can make a difference to the full mix. A little better quality of each of maybe 20-30 or more tracks cumulate and make big difference in the end. This is why multimillion dollar studios spend so much for just a little better preamps.

So if soundcard has microphone preamps, look more at that quality than AD converters as such IMO.

But still it's mostly about your own skills arranging and mixing in the end.

My experience is mostly with DAC's that I used for all digital hifi gear since early 90's like CD/DVD/BD players and such.
- yes, there is differences compared to standard stuff in hifi gear
- and I also had a project where I upgraded capacitors alone everywhere to very expensive ones, so same chip just upgrading other components.
- it made real difference and I use my modified DAC still for everything critical listening
- way better than what manufacturers put in there by default
- but this is for enjoyment of listening part

But how much will it affect just mixing with gear that will be played on other devices will not matter so much. Even legendary mixing monitors like Yamaha NS10 has been stated not sounding "good" in the sense, but being very well translated to other gear. Sounding as good as it can on what you have and translate well is the most important thing. Technical terms are linear in frequency domain as well as in time domain.

So note that components around chips are as important. In the linked thread I think there were modifications made to some RME stuff too. All gear is about "good enough" for the price.

But for pure listening for enjoyment there is more reason to look at quality of every link in the chain.

I mix and monitor with this modified DAC as well, but don't think that matter to end result any more than my lack of skill mixing and arranging.

Here is a link to the project I used to modify my DAC.
http://lampizator.eu/LAMPIZATOR/LAMPUCE ... zator.html

Very interesting what he did, buying 5 standard DAC boards and modifying with various brands capacitors. I did the same but combined some from what he did, with both OS-Cons and Tantal for a very crisp and clear hi end and sturdy low end.

All based of Crystal Semiconductors chips which all my DAC's since 90's are based on.

[BertKoor]

A preamp like the Neve 1073 is supposed to have colouration. It's main features are the EQ controls. You say "a plugin", then my question is which one. Some are better than others. And if you put several real 1073's of different vintage next to each other, you probably can also spot some minute differences.

An AD/DA converter is supposed to be transparent. The ideal converter has an infinite signal-noise ratio, complete flat frequency response, no harmonic distortion and no cross-talk. But these do not exist. So what figures are good enough? I think that depends on whether you say "good enough for Rock'nRoll" (even a SoundBlaster might work) or whether you are an audiophile that thinks he can tell the difference because on paper it should be better/worse. Placebo effect is strong.

Lynx quotes a frequency response of ±0.010dB, 20–20kHz
RME quote a frequency response @ 96 kHz, -0.5 dB: 6 Hz - 45.3 kHz

You need to see the whole curve. It's possible RME is just as flat up to 20kHz and Lynx doesn't report the +/-0.8dB ripple at 21kHz.

As said, there are many other things in the recording + playback chain that have a far bigger influence. Monitors, room acoustics.

[romichjordan]

rme is the best for its price imo