#511213 - 03/25/04 08:55 PM
Digital boutique: Metric Halo I/O is a contender
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X-Facta
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Recommended to check out this FW audio interface:
http://www.mhlabs.com/index2.html
The big news is they have just updated their firmware / software (avail. as a download) which delivers the joy big time.
Now enjoy rock solid behavior & no latency (auto compensation) in OS X .
I have been using the 2882 box for a year & was frustrated by bugginess but did love the sound and idea of the unit.
I can now highly recommend this unit to those of you dealing with DAW land out there - its a decent alternative to some of the big names in the field & sounds great. Good value for the $ IMO.
Best prices are at http://www.warhog.com
And 8thstreet (I think)
Support 'boutique' digital & the small guys!
BTW - I bought my unit & am in no shape or form affiliated with the manufacturer or any resellers.
Just trying to spread news of a box possessing digital funk - in a good way!
Cheers,
RM
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#511214 - 03/28/04 04:08 PM
Re: Digital boutique: Metric Halo I/O is a contender
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X-Facta
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BTW - as of this date, full DAW implentation does not yet exists of the DSP plugin function on DSP models.
It currently only works upon the incoming signal- not as a plugin in your DAW of choice (unless you physically route the signals out of the DAW & back into the MH unit).
Assumedly this is temporary.
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#511215 - 03/30/04 09:35 AM
Re: Digital boutique: Metric Halo I/O is a contender
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Fletcher
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We have a client who had one... he said he was having problems with one side lagging a sample or two behind the other side... said he discovered the problem with "Spectr-Foo" which I find rather ironic.
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Fletcher Mercenary Audio Roscoe Ambel once said: Pro-Tools is to audio what fluorescent is to light
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#511216 - 03/30/04 03:41 PM
Re: Digital boutique: Metric Halo I/O is a contender
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Duardo
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For some reason, the thought of "boutique" digital kind of scares me...if something goes wrong and the company goes out of business, getting service may be near impossible...where with analog gear, it's typically not the same issue...
I've heard of quite a few issues with the MH boxes over the years...although if Brad at Transamerica is willing to stand behind them maybe they've got it together...
-Duardo
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#511217 - 03/30/04 09:07 PM
Re: Digital boutique: Metric Halo I/O is a contender
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X-Facta
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Yes - its basically 2 brothers running it I do believe - one doing hardware & one software. If they would stop trading, couldn't expect too much in the way of after market product support I am sure - although I wouldn;t be surprised if they;d keep on with software updates and so on from a private website, seeing how much they've put into the product.
On the other side of it tho' - there's so much blood, sweat and tears invested in those things that I think you get more value for your $ as compared to other boxes in the same range.
Cheers,
RM
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#511218 - 03/30/04 10:27 PM
Re: Digital boutique: Metric Halo I/O is a contender
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henryrobinett
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Registered: 11/06/01
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I think the boxes are a phenomenal value. I've been using them for just over two years. I, like you, am breathing a big sigh of relief after this latest firmware.software update. It has finally put them firmly on the map. A very innovative product.
As for the plug-in department, yeah it's a workaround, but I've mixed several projects using just those plugs and a couple of UAD LA2A. I bring them back in via adat and record them back into DP like I do my effects with my Lexicon boxes. I tweak until I'm ready to burn.
I've been taking them out to my gigs and recording 18 tracks of pristine audio with no problems. If I need to give the guys separate headphone mixes I do it all from the MIO Console Matrix busses. It's tres cool.
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Henry Robinett
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#511219 - 04/01/04 03:31 AM
Re: Digital boutique: Metric Halo I/O is a contender
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PookyNMR
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Registered: 01/01/04
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I own some of the MH stuff. I must say that I am very impressed with the quality of the converters and the pre-amps. Lots of bang for the buck.
Sound quality is very high. That is my main reason for using them.
I have been blessed not to experience almost all of the bugs that other users reported - mostly I think because I don't use DP or Logic. The performance has been very solid.
The quality of the DSP plugs is also impressive. Apparently Bob Katz gave their compressor the big thumbs up.
Nathan
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Nathan Rousu
HV Studio
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#511220 - 04/01/04 08:58 AM
Re: Digital boutique: Metric Halo I/O is a contender
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gm
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Originally posted by Duardo:
For some reason, the thought of "boutique" digital kind of scares me...if something goes wrong and the company goes out of business, getting service may be near impossible...where with analog gear, it's typically not the same issue...
Give me cheap, crappy "boutique" digital any day.
I've heard of quite a few issues with the MH boxes over the years...although if Brad at Transamerica is willing to stand behind them maybe they've got it together...
George
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#511221 - 04/01/04 12:46 PM
Re: Digital boutique: Metric Halo I/O is a contender
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henryrobinett
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Yes GM. And I've found that it's the boutique companies, small though they are, that most often build the better mouse traps. I think Metric Halo is a case in point. From their awesome software like Spectrafoo to the outstanding convertor/interfaces like the 2882+dsp and ULN-2 (now that too has the dsp!). This thing rocks.
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All the best,
Henry Robinett
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#511222 - 04/01/04 06:40 PM
Re: Digital boutique: Metric Halo I/O is a contender
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ToddP
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Metric Halo is indeed a family run company and we have no trouble standing behind them. The latest drivers that were mentioned earlier were released last week and fix the latency issues they were having with some DAWs (notably Logic).
Cheers
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Todd Peterson
Marketing Manager
Transamerica Audio Group
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#511223 - 04/01/04 08:17 PM
Re: Digital boutique: Metric Halo I/O is a contender
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X-Facta
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Indeed - I am sitting here right now with an MM1200 headstack and motor drive amp which I am going to pkg up & FEDEX to the USA for service because apparently no qualified repair persons exist anymore on the continent for these decks. ..Permanently 'gone fishing'.
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#511224 - 04/01/04 08:22 PM
Re: Digital boutique: Metric Halo I/O is a contender
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X-Facta
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El Snip:
(The latest drivers that were mentioned earlier were released last week and fix the latency issues they were having with some DAWs (notably Logic).)
Its a big relief..
I synced up Logic with an analogue deck, copied the drum tracks - ran 'em together with MH playback and lo and behold:
no drift, no 'flams', no wierd phasing..
Joy!
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#511225 - 04/05/04 12:10 PM
Re: Digital boutique: Metric Halo I/O is a contender
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edmann
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A generic word of caution to anyone considering investing in boutique audio - especially digital: In order to protect your investment I strongly recommend investigating to see if the manufacturer has created (i.e. delegated) the ability to provide service for existing units to any parties outside of their tiny circle, for the obvious reasons (if they go down or discontinue and they are the only service and knowledge base- so does your investment). There are happy and unhappy MH owners. When considering the MH investment myself - I could never get enough consistant straight answers in order to inspire the confidence required to make in the investment, especially regarding service and functionality, including unanswered requests for same from MH and finally Transamerica.
Do not rely on retailers to get this kind of information - get it from the manufacturer or their designated reps.
Perhaps the MH situation has completely changed since then (Q3-4 2003) - I do not know - so (again) this as a generic word of caution, FWIIW: If you are going to purchase boutique audio - make sure that someone - somewhere - besides the 1 or 2 people who design and manufacture the device(s) - have schematics and repair docs and can provide service.
Everyone seems to agree that the MH boxes sound great w/re to AD/DA conversion.
peace
Ed
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Ed Mann
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