Setting up my Zed-14 for OTB mixing

[quarkhead]

OK, just got my A&H ZED-14, and I want to use it to mix OTB. But I don't have a clue how to connect it all. Here's my set-up and more details about the problem:

 

To record, my chain is this: Mic>Apogee Ensemble>Mac G5>Logic Pro 8. Pretty simple.

 

I'd like to be able to then send my mix from Logic to the ZED to mix, summing it back into Logic, obviously, to create a final stereo file.

 

When I plugged in the USB from the ZED to the G5, it would let me select it as the audio interface, but here's where I get confused. My powered monitors are connected to my Ensemble. Do I need to connect them instead to the ZED, and then switch audio interfaces when I want to switch from tracking to mixing? How does Logic send each channel's information to the ZED? I feel a little technically lost here.

[Wizozland]

OK, just got my A&H ZED-14, and I want to use it to mix OTB. But I don't have a clue how to connect it all. Here's my set-up and more details about the problem:

 

To record, my chain is this: Mic>Apogee Ensemble>Mac G5>Logic Pro 8. Pretty simple.

 

I'd like to be able to then send my mix from Logic to the ZED to mix, summing it back into Logic, obviously, to create a final stereo file.

 

When I plugged in the USB from the ZED to the G5, it would let me select it as the audio interface, but here's where I get confused. My powered monitors are connected to my Ensemble. Do I need to connect them instead to the ZED, and then switch audio interfaces when I want to switch from tracking to mixing? How does Logic send each channel's information to the ZED? I feel a little technically lost here.

'

 

If I understand you correctly...you might be out of luck.

 

You can return 2 tracks back to the zed at a time...not all 14 ...

 

 

Are you imagining, sending back more than 2 tracks, and using the ZED as a summing mixer?

 

its a 14 X 2 fw interface.

 

The ZED R16 allows you to bring back tracks from logic and using the mixer as a summer mixer.

 

Wiz

[quarkhead]

OK, just got my A&H ZED-14, and I want to use it to mix OTB. But I don't have a clue how to connect it all. Here's my set-up and more details about the problem:

 

To record, my chain is this: Mic>Apogee Ensemble>Mac G5>Logic Pro 8. Pretty simple.

 

I'd like to be able to then send my mix from Logic to the ZED to mix, summing it back into Logic, obviously, to create a final stereo file.

 

When I plugged in the USB from the ZED to the G5, it would let me select it as the audio interface, but here's where I get confused. My powered monitors are connected to my Ensemble. Do I need to connect them instead to the ZED, and then switch audio interfaces when I want to switch from tracking to mixing? How does Logic send each channel's information to the ZED? I feel a little technically lost here.

'

 

If I understand you correctly...you might be out of luck.

 

You can return 2 tracks back to the zed at a time...not all 14 ...

 

 

Are you imagining, sending back more than 2 tracks, and using the ZED as a summing mixer?

 

its a 14 X 2 fw interface.

 

The ZED R16 allows you to bring back tracks from logic and using the mixer as a summer mixer.

 

Wiz

 

Oh, snap. That's exactly what I had hoped to do. Now, most of my songs are primarily acoustic - I usually have a max of 8 tracks. I know the Ensemble has 8 input channels. Is there no way to get more than two tracks from Logic to the Zed? Damn! I was pretty sure I had seen some posts over at GS and various places where people were summing with the Zed 14... maybe I was sorely mistaken? Ouch.

[Wizozland]

OK, just got my A&H ZED-14, and I want to use it to mix OTB. But I don't have a clue how to connect it all. Here's my set-up and more details about the problem:

 

To record, my chain is this: Mic>Apogee Ensemble>Mac G5>Logic Pro 8. Pretty simple.

 

I'd like to be able to then send my mix from Logic to the ZED to mix, summing it back into Logic, obviously, to create a final stereo file.

 

When I plugged in the USB from the ZED to the G5, it would let me select it as the audio interface, but here's where I get confused. My powered monitors are connected to my Ensemble. Do I need to connect them instead to the ZED, and then switch audio interfaces when I want to switch from tracking to mixing? How does Logic send each channel's information to the ZED? I feel a little technically lost here.

'

 

If I understand you correctly...you might be out of luck.

 

You can return 2 tracks back to the zed at a time...not all 14 ...

 

 

Are you imagining, sending back more than 2 tracks, and using the ZED as a summing mixer?

 

its a 14 X 2 fw interface.

 

The ZED R16 allows you to bring back tracks from logic and using the mixer as a summer mixer.

 

Wiz

 

Oh, snap. That's exactly what I had hoped to do. Now, most of my songs are primarily acoustic - I usually have a max of 8 tracks. I know the Ensemble has 8 input channels. Is there no way to get more than two tracks from Logic to the Zed? Damn! I was pretty sure I had seen some posts over at GS and various places where people were summing with the Zed 14... maybe I was sorely mistaken? Ouch.

 

 

I really hope for you that its possible....as I have been looking at doing something similar.....I too, only use max 8-16 tracks and mainly do acoustic.

 

I am looking at ways of incorporating outboard EQ and Compression and the best way to go about it. I would like, if possible to have ADAT I/O as well.

 

I am fairly sure, you will only be able to do two tracks at a time. Which probably isnt going to be a big deal. Do two, then do the next two etc .

 

I only have the Duet, and I reamp the tracks at the moment one at a time, by panning the track left, and then recording the track on the Duets right input. I set my Mackie big knob to mono.

 

It works. But its not as flexible.

 

I am considering getting the Ensemble, and connecting my hardware gear up to it, and then reamping that way. At least then I could monitor the reamping track against the mix.

 

I like the idea of something like the Allen and Heath R16, but there has been some real reliability issues with it...firewire chipset incompatabilities etc etc .

 

Where as the Duet and Ensemble, just seem to work flawlessly.

 

Good luck and let me know how you get on.

 

cheers

 

Wiz

[fader8]

OK, just got my A&H ZED-14, and I want to use it to mix OTB. But I don't have a clue how to connect it all.

This is much easier than you think.

 

1. Cable the 8 line outputs of the Ensemble to 8 of the line inputs on the A&H.

 

2. Cable the stereo mix output of the A&H to 2 line inputs on your Ensemble.

 

3. Connect your monitors to whatever monitor outs are available on that A&H thing.

 

You shouldn't need the A&H USB connection for anything, so you can just unplug it.

 

4. In Logic, create your first audio track channel strip and insert the I/O plug-in. In the plug-in, set the output to your first Ensemble out. Leave the Input blank.

 

5. Repeat step 4 for all 8 tracks (or 4 if they're all stereo) incrementing the output selection in the I/O plug-in for each one as you go.

 

6. Create a stereo audio track and set its input to the Ensemble inputs that are getting the stereo mix from the A&H. You can record the summed channels from the A&H on this track.

[Wizozland]

OK, just got my A&H ZED-14, and I want to use it to mix OTB. But I don't have a clue how to connect it all.

This is much easier than you think.

 

1. Cable the 8 line outputs of the Ensemble to 8 of the line inputs on the A&H.

 

2. Cable the stereo mix output of the A&H to 2 line inputs on your Ensemble.

 

3. Connect your monitors to whatever monitor outs are available on that A&H thing.

 

You shouldn't need the A&H USB connection for anything, so you can just unplug it.

 

4. In Logic, create your first audio track channel strip and insert the I/O plug-in. In the plug-in, set the output to your first Ensemble out. Leave the Input blank.

 

5. Repeat step 4 for all 8 tracks (or 4 if they're all stereo) incrementing the output selection in the I/O plug-in for each one as you go.

 

6. Create a stereo audio track and set its input to the Ensemble inputs that are getting the stereo mix from the A&H. You can record the summed channels from the A&H on this track.

 

 

Genius!!!

 

 

cheers

 

Wiz

[quarkhead]

OK, just got my A&H ZED-14, and I want to use it to mix OTB. But I don't have a clue how to connect it all.

This is much easier than you think.

 

1. Cable the 8 line outputs of the Ensemble to 8 of the line inputs on the A&H.

 

2. Cable the stereo mix output of the A&H to 2 line inputs on your Ensemble.

 

3. Connect your monitors to whatever monitor outs are available on that A&H thing.

 

You shouldn't need the A&H USB connection for anything, so you can just unplug it.

 

4. In Logic, create your first audio track channel strip and insert the I/O plug-in. In the plug-in, set the output to your first Ensemble out. Leave the Input blank.

 

5. Repeat step 4 for all 8 tracks (or 4 if they're all stereo) incrementing the output selection in the I/O plug-in for each one as you go.

 

6. Create a stereo audio track and set its input to the Ensemble inputs that are getting the stereo mix from the A&H. You can record the summed channels from the A&H on this track.

 

Wow, thanks! Now, though I've had my studio for awhile now, I'm still a newbie to outboard gear. Should I use balanced cables to run from the Ensemble to the inserts, or unbalanced? Same question for the stereo out back to the Ensemble.

 

The rest of it I get. I can go out and do some cable shopping tomorrow once I know what I am looking for.

[fader8]

[should I use balanced cables to run from the Ensemble to the inserts,

 

You may as well, since it would appear that all the i/O you're dealing with is balanced. Sometimes "monitor" line outs from the board will be unbalanced, so you might check that. But you could still use a balanced cable there and it wouldn't matter.