Gabe S. wrote:I also have a 2882+DSP (that was upgraded to a 2d) and an ULN-8. Question for you: do you use Aggregate Devices to make both show up in DP?
And if so, do you have problems importing mp3 into DP?
I have an mp3 importing issue that's followed me around for years, and I'm starting to think it has something to do with Aggregate Devices. For me, trying to drag mp3s into a DP session crashes DP......no one else seems to have this issue. And it's followed me across computers with completely fresh installs, three versions of DP and multiple OSes.....
Gabe,
Why do you use Aggregate Devices with DP? Seems to me that one of DP's great strengths is its ability to access multiple interfaces through its own hardware driver. I have the impression (from reading posts on a few forums, usually in the context of Logic) that Aggregate Devices has issues (not sure what they are - maybe latency and/or clocking?). In any case, I don't see a reason to use Aggregates in DP. Somebody please correct me if I'm mistaken.
If you don't know about this in DP:
Go to Setup->Configure Hardware Driver
You should see all attached interfaces in the window; shift-click to select both. In the drop-down menus, select a Master Device (probably the ULN-8), and set clock modes, etc. Host buffer multiplier should be set to 2 if you have two interfaces connected. Check the user guide for details, and also make sure your MIOs are properly connected for clocking.
Gabe S. wrote: I love the sound of the MH Labs ULN-8. It's not cheap, but wow, it sounds great. I had (still have) a Mobile IO 2882+dsp which was really really nice. But this was definitely a step up. 8 super clean mic pres, and a crystal clear output.
Cheers.
-gabe
The 2882 is quite good sounding too. Last year, I think it was pcm who posted an audio interface shootout he did using some MOTU interfaces (Traveler, 828 (mk2?), and maybe a PCI interface) and a Digi 192 I/O. He took an excerpt from a commercial CD, played it back in DP, sent it out each interface's analog outs and back in its analog ins (after doing calibration), and recorded back in DP. This gave a rough comparison of round-trip latency and sound quality degradation through D/A and A/D conversion.)
I added the 2882 to the shootout. It had the lowest latency of any of the tested boxes, as well as the best sound (at least to my ears, and those of several others who checked it out) - it sounded closest to the original recording.
The ULN-8 is a step up. In some informal A/B playback tests I can hear a difference between the 2882 and ULN-8, even with AAC files played from iTunes. It's not a jump-out-of-your-seat difference, at least in my un-treated room with my Mackie HR824s, but the ULN-8 has, to my ears, clearer imaging, more three-dimensionality, more 'space' between elements in the soundstage. I haven't put the pres through rigorous testing, but it's nice to plug in a mic and not have to worry about having enough gain, like you do in some cases with the 2882.
The price was a bit of a jolt, even with the great discount they offered to existing customers at the release. I've never bought a piece of high-end audio gear, and am generally skeptical that 'boutique' gear is worth the money. I justified this purchase because I'd been considering getting a ULN-2 or other box with higher-gain, high-definition mic pres - this was one area where I wanted to test the high-end waters. By selling one of my 2882s and adding on the cost of a ULN-2, I got reasonably close to the cost of the ULN-8. Of course, if you compare the cost of this box to the cost of high-end separates (pres, A/D, D/A, DSP, headphone amp, etc), it's a great deal, and amazing that it fits into a single rack space.
