Path: menudo.uh.edu!menudo.uh.edu!usenet From: bc2y+@andrew.cmu.edu (Brian T Cheek) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.reviews Subject: MINI-REVIEW: AD1012 12-bit direct-to-hard-disk audio board Followup-To: comp.sys.amiga.audio Date: 22 Dec 1992 19:56:29 GMT Organization: The Amiga Online Review Column - ed. Daniel Barrett Lines: 125 Sender: amiga-reviews@math.uh.edu (comp.sys.amiga.reviews moderator) Distribution: world Message-ID: <1h7rtdINNms0@menudo.uh.edu> Reply-To: bc2y+@andrew.cmu.edu (Brian T Cheek) NNTP-Posting-Host: karazm.math.uh.edu Keywords: hardware, audio, sampling, hard disk recording, commercial PRODUCT NAME AD1012 12-bit direct-to-hard-disk audio board BRIEF DESCRIPTION The AD1012 is a 12-bit sampler that provides direct-to-hard-disk recording capability. AUTHOR/COMPANY INFORMATION Name: Sunrize Industries Address: 2959 S. Winchester Blvd., Suite 204 Campbell, CA 95008 USA Telephone: (408) 374-4962 FAX: (408) 374-4963 LIST PRICE $595 (US). 16-bit version (AD516) is $1595 (US). MINI-REVIEW For convenience, I'll use the term "D2HD" to mean "Direct to Hard Disk." Also, please read up on D2HD terminology before trying to decipher my mini-review. This board is capable of producing 4 channels of audio consisting of information recorded D2HD. Its selling points would be for anyone who wants to (but, of course, not limited to) do audio editing for video, song mastering, remixing, etc. It is unlike a sampler or sample playback device: you cannot pitch shift with it (for example, you can't record a middle C on piano, then play back a scale.) The main competition is from the Macintosh (nothing else on the amiga can do what this card can do). The Mac program I'll compare it to is Sound Tools, a 2nd or 3rd generation program which does the same thing. Note that the AD1012 lists for $595, the AD516 for $1595, and the Mac version that does the equivalent (hardware only, anyway) is around $6000. Do you need 12 or 16 bit? Ears, my friends, you must use your ears. The AD1012 sound is wonderful, and most people (myself included) could easily confuse it for a 16 bit board. It is a mono device with sampling rates from 8,000 sps (samples per second) to 90,000 sps. Because of the design, it is ideal to pick one rate and stick with it. I picked 44,646 sps (@CD rate). Storing samples takes lots of hard drive space. It takes 5 megabytes per sample minute per channel at CD-rate. (For all you with your calculators, the discrepancy comes from the fact it stores samples in 16 bit format to be completely compatible with the 16 bit card, which I think they may have a trade in policy for). So if you're doing 4 tracks on the AD1012, that's 20 meg/minute. I'd recommend a minimum of 200 megs devoted to this card, and devote the entire partition too, because fragmentation can lead to jumps and skips on playback. BTW, the AD516 supports 8 tracks and is in stereo. No single card for any computer can do that. (That's why the Mac equivalent is $6000, you need multiple cards). At CD-Rate, this translates into 40 megabytes/sample minute. You may need (and it supports) multiple SCSI chains (not drives) to accommodate. BTW (and I'm not sure if this is possible) if the program supports multiple 516's, that means 16 track D2HD production. Yes, you will put professional studios out of business. The interface is clean, intuitive, and easy to use. It supports drag-and-drop for operations like cue-list making, and in 640x400, you can see (assuming your monitor won't make you go blind) all you need to see. The interface is a little unlike Amiga standard, but that seems to be a benefit (It looks pro). Operation is simple and straightforward, and once you learn it (excellent manual). It is as easy to drop new samples in as it is to use a tape deck. When you have a list of samples, you make a SMPTE triggered cue-list. This plays your samples in any order you choose, according to incoming SMPTE (it has it's own SMPTE in port, as well as it's own audio in/out). Editing is sparse. Current software (and to fix the problem would only require software) only includes cut & paste, echo, FFT, normalize, reverse, invert (phase shift? I'm not sure). This is rudimentary, and the board is well suited only if your source material is processed in the way you want the output to sound. The mac software is miles ahead. (with things like real-time EQ, reverb, non-real-time; compression, expansion). Both Amiga and Mac's software are natural feeling, no kludges, and don't crash (Studio 16 is up to at least 2.0). Oh yeah, how's this for multi-tasking... While playing a sample back, I went to Workbench, booted Deluxe Paint IV, loaded a 640x400 16 color anim, played it, quit and returned. The audio file never hiccuped. It played flawlessly straight through. This is VERY important for videographers, as your machine can run video stuff at the same time. This is also a tribute to the Sunrize programmers. Good Job. (I doubt multifinder will allow this...). This test occurred on a 2000 with a 68030 accelerator. This board was used in a 60 minute self-help production (talking with music under it). The project went without a hitch, and proved a success for the board. The client felt comfortable saying "Oh, move that line back before this time." With tape, you'd be getting out the razor blades now. This program also works with Bars&Pipes Professional. From B&P, you can trigger samples, and even open the edit screens from B&P. Nice. (And with B&P2.0's virtual screen, drool!) One note about the sound. When you listen REALLY closely, there is a noise floor. The board isn't totally noise free (but then neither is my professional sampler, which costs a lot more!) This board works fine now, and also has great potential. If they add more editing tools, I will buy the 16 bit card, (if I can afford the hard-drive to accompany). This requires user feedback... Hope this info was of help. -Brian :) --- Daniel Barrett, Moderator, comp.sys.amiga.reviews Send reviews to: amiga-reviews-submissions@math.uh.edu Request information: amiga-reviews-requests@math.uh.edu General discussion: amiga-reviews@math.uh.edu