Central Station, Big Knob, or direct?

taggart · Post by **taggart** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 7:06 am

How long is the CSR-1 remote's cable, and could you get an extension if you needed it? I'm building a "machine room" about 30 feet away from the "control room" and I'd like to make sure it'll reach!

YouTube · Post by **James Steele** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 7:19 am

taggart wrote:How long is the CSR-1 remote's cable, and could you get an extension if you needed it? I'm building a "machine room" about 30 feet away from the "control room" and I'd like to make sure it'll reach!

I'd be careful about doing this. I found a review here:

http://www.presonus.com/CSRecording05.html

It it the reviewer writes:

One oddity of the CSR-1 is that it disables the front panel volume control when activated. This isn••™t too big of a deal, since you are probably either using the remote or the front panel. However, it did get me thinking, and it turns out that••”when the CSR-1 is in use••”the audio signal must travel all the way to the remote and back. I guess if you are planning to maintain a purely passive signal path, this is an alternative; however, it also provides an argument against using the remote.

taggart · Post by **taggart** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 7:28 am

Hmmm...I'm not quite clear on the downside. Do you think, James, there might be too much of a delay of the signal if I tried to hook up a 30 foot cable? I guess I'm not clear on what the author's "argument against using the remote" is.

YouTube · Post by **James Steele** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 7:35 am

taggart wrote:Hmmm...I'm not quite clear on the downside. Do you think, James, there might be too much of a delay of the signal if I tried to hook up a 30 foot cable? I guess I'm not clear on what the author's "argument against using the remote" is.

I think his argument is that it's a lot more length of cable to run though so some signal degradation might occur. The remote isn't simple a controlling a volume control back in the unit, but rather the audio is rerouted downt the length of the cable to the remote, through the volume pot, and back to the unit again. So in essence, if you had a 30 foot cable on your remote, that's a 60 foot run. I don't know if that would make a difference audibly or not... depends I guess on how well the remote cable is shielded, etc.?

taggart · Post by **taggart** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 8:11 am

I see what you mean. I guess, worst case scenario, I would just use the main unit itself on my desktop or somewhere in the control room. Over the years, I've become a master of cable bundling so I don't think my workspace would be TOO cluttered. But it sure would be nice to have that remote with the one thick cable. Sweet. I'll probably give the remote/extension thingy a try. If it doesn't work...oh well!

I mean, how bad could it sound, right?

grimepoch · Post by **grimepoch** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 8:28 am

I'll give you a vote for the central station as well.

I am using a behringer DEQ2496 to convert from AES/EBU to spdif to use the digital in on the central station. I compared the analog outs from my 896 to the central station and then the digital in this manner and can say, I am VERY happy with the digital path. It VERY MUCH sounds better. I AB'd it with other people as well to make sure I wasn't biased.

I looked at both the big knob and the central station for quite some time, because as others have mentioned, I thought it was pricey as well. However, no, I just love it. No questions. It does what it needs to do and I run multiple outs to headphone amps in other places in the studio AND into my focusrite which uses it for no-latency headphone monitoring with vocal effects that just go to the singer, not the DAW.

BradLyons · Post by **BradLyons** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 10:34 am

Psssssst soooooo hey Rick, anything new you're going to be plugging into the back of that there Central Station thingy?

grimepoch · Post by **grimepoch** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 10:51 am

Haha, you mean those ADAM A7's that should be getting here on friday that you sold me on

Why yes...and I have a bunch of stuff to test out on them I've been working on.

BradLyons · Post by **BradLyons** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 11:44 am

Oh, you wanted them shipped to YOU and not to my own studio? oops!

jon · Post by **jon** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 4:44 pm

How bout a Crane Song Avocet?

taggart · Post by **taggart** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 5:58 am

The Crane Song looks pretty cool. They seem to make high quality stuff. A bit pricey for THIS guy.

YouTube · Post by **James Steele** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 11:53 pm

Just wanted to follow up. I ended up receiving my Central Station today. I couldn't resist as I had to buy it before the rebate expired to get the free remote.

Any way, Brad, if you're reading this... much as I HATE to say you were right... well you were right. That cheapo Behringer mixer I was using as a volume control for my ASP8 power monitors was really affecting the sound. Playback from my HD102 main outs, through the Central Station to my monitors sounded noticeably clearer. Yeah, I know $500 box beats the $30 Behringer mixer... who would've thunk it. It was very much like "lifting the veil" off the sound.

Did I say I hate it when you're right Brad? ;-P

grimepoch · Post by **grimepoch** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 11:47 am

Also consider playing with the digital ins on the central station. I switched and the difference was noticable immediately, compared to the analog outs on my 896.

Just something to consider since you now own it

YouTube · Post by **James Steele** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 11:55 am

grimepoch wrote:Also consider playing with the digital ins on the central station. I switched and the difference was noticable immediately, compared to the analog outs on my 896.

Just something to consider since you now own it

Hey thanks for the suggestion. Two factors at issue:

1) I'm using an HD192. Analog outputs are probably pretty decent although I don't have the BLA mod.

2) Central Station has S/PDIF and Toslink only. HD192 is AES/EBU. So I'd need an adapter.

I guess the bottom line here is whether the D>A in Central Station is superior to D>A in a stock HD192. I imagine it'd be pretty close? Also, again, there's the issue of converting from AES/EBU to S/PDIF.

grimepoch · Post by **grimepoch** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 11:58 am

Very true. Well, if you ever get a chance to try it. Converting to SPDIF from AES/EBU is pretty straight forward. Same data package just different voltage format. Converter should be cheap, BUT:

That is a good question about the 192. The 896 is a lot older so definely older parts.