The Best Digital Converters for your Recording Setup
AD/DA Converters for your Studio
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If you’re looking to take your audio setup beyond the bedroom and invest in gear that won’t become obsolete within 2 years, digital converters are a great place to start. We’ve selected some of the best digital converters in different price ranges, and we’ll look at how they can be used in your studio.
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We’ve discussed converters briefly, and while we’ve also covered multichannel interfaces, there is a limit to the number of inputs and overall value offered. What’s more, in the upper end of the market, you can often end up paying for features you don’t use.
Choosing the Best Digital Converters
A good quality multichannel AD/DA conversion system is an essential tool for incorporating hardware into your DAW workflow. There are various ways of doing this, using rack gear, 500-series modules, guitar pedals, or even your Eurorack modular synth rig.
Typically, digital converter modules connect to your PC via a PCIe digital interface card, which can run both internally and externally. This dedicated module transfers digital audio via formats such as ADAT, AES/EBU, S/PDIF, MADI, and Dante.
Digital Converters vs Audio Interfaces
What’s the difference between a converter and an audio interface? Although they both get signals in and out of your computer, there is a fundamental difference between these two types of studio devices. While an audio interface is a central hub in your music setup, a digital converter is a specialized tool designed for a single purpose.
Audio interfaces don’t only deal with AD/DA conversion, they have integrated mic preamps, headphone amps, MIDI I/O, and sometimes even DSP acceleration chips. Digital converters, on the other hand, come from an era where your front end was already taken care of by a mixing console.
This means that a converter’s only task is to ensure sample-accurate conversion and stable clocking. While high-end converters are not going to help a bedroom producer increase their creative output, they will certainly help a mix or mastering engineer ensure that every job is delivered at a quality standard that is competitive in the industry.
The Best Digital Converters: Burl B2 Bomber ADC
When you’re looking to mix or master audio for clients who care, it’s time to look at a conversion stage that puts you in league with some of the most respected studios around. For decades, Burl converters have been regarded as the closest thing to a high-end multitrack tape machine, but today those in the know believe them to be among the best ever designed.
Also available in a DAC version, the B2 Bomber provides two ultra-stable, low-jitter clocking outputs, as well as dual wire AES outputs for high sample rates (176.4 and 192 kHz). Besides S/PDIF and TOS connectivity, a simple installation provides Dante support, making the B2 Bomber ready for any modern workflow in today’s pro audio landscape.
The ability to clock internally or externally makes the B2 Bomber versatile. This enables you to use this converter in the process of bouncing out your final mixes or masters, as well as for high-quality two-track recording in live sound environments. Naturally, quality like this comes at a price. So if mastering-grade conversion has value in your workflow, look no further. Get it at Thomann.*
The Best Digital Converters: Dangerous Music
If you’ve been inside a professional mastering studio before, chances are that you’ve come across Dangerous Music’s incredible range of high-end audio production tools. There are options like the CONVERT-8 for analogue summing, the CONVERT-2 for stereo monitoring, and the CONVERT AD+ for returning your analogue mix to digital at the highest possible quality.
Besides the digital standards such as AES, ADAT, and S/PDIF, these converters also have USB connectivity. This saves you from needing an additional digital interface to connect the converter, which is often the case. For precise operation, these Dangerous converter boxes all have dBFS calibration, so you can optimize your system for the task.
In addition, the AD+ has some unique analogue features that allow you to introduce harmonic distortion or transformer saturation if you want to add warmth and character to your signal. Otherwise, the Dangerous converters are likely to be some of the cleanest you have ever heard.
The Best Digital Converters: Avid Pro Tools MTRX II
When you need top-of-the-line multichannel conversion with the option to upgrade your channel count, the MTRX II is the ultimate solution for Pro Tools users. With MADI, Dante, and DigiLink compatibility, the MTRX II is ideal for immersive mixing, with SPQ speaker processing and sample rates up to 384 kHz.
The MTRX II has eight slots that you can fill with a range of I/O cards, ranging from Thunderbolt connectivity for your DAW, Mic/Line AD, Line AD/DA, AES I/O, and DigiLink I/O. This means you can configure your studio for stereo mixing or summing, and then upgrade your system for immersive audio at a later stage.
While the MTRX II is one of the most expensive options available, its modular design also makes it one of the most flexible. It’s a considerable investment, but you aren’t paying for any connectivity features or I/O that isn’t an absolute necessity. Also, the ability to reconfigure and swap out modules is an attractive prospect for larger studio complexes with multiple Pro Tools rigs.
The Best Digital Converters: Ferrofish Pulse16
The Pulse16 is a 16 in /16 out 24-bit 96 kHz converter that provides plenty of value for the price. It’s a fanless unit, which means it’s suitable as a desktop unit in your home studio, and the active jitter reduction circuit maintains stable clocking during recording/playback.
The input and output gain levels on each individual channel can be precisely controlled in 1 dB increments from -8dBu to +20dBu. In addition to the ADAT I/O, the Pulse16 is equipped with MIDI, Wordclock, headphones out, and a pair of TFT displays that provide a metering overview.
*Also available in MADI and Dante-equipped models.
- More from Ferrofish
The Best Digital Converters: Tascam ML-16D
If you’re looking for Dante connectivity, the Tascam ML-16D provides 16 channels of AD/DA conversion with up to 24-bit 96 kHz recording. All routing configuration happens via the Dante controller software, and you have 5 different levels to set your I/O gain (+24 dBu, +22 dBu, +20 dBu, +18 dBu, +15 dBu).
As far as connectivity goes, there are two RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet ports, and the ML-16D also supports AES67 format. In addition, all analogue I/O runs via D-Sub connectors as per professional standards. All in all, the ML-16D provides a decent bank of channels for the price, and it’s relatively easy to set up.
- More from Tascam
The Best Digital Converters: RME M-1610 Pro
You’re probably familiar with the amazing reputation RME has for consistently producing top-quality converters and interfaces, and the M-1610 Pro is certainly one of those. It provides 24-bit 192 kHz conversion via 16 analog ins with 8 analogue outs with up to +24 dBu gain sensitivity on each channel and SteadyClock FS technology.
You can also use it as a traditional interface via USB, but the M-1610 Pro supports a range of formats, including wordclock, ADAT, MADI, and there are two Gigabit Ethernet ports. In addition, the M-1610 can also be expanded with the optional MADI SFP module. This certainly is one of the best professional options when it comes to all-round value.
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The Best Digital Converters: Focusrite RedNet A16R MKII
Often used in live sound situations, the Focusrite Rednet series provides solutions for a wide range of setups, including digital mixers and professional DAW systems. The RedNet A16R MKII provides high-end 24-bit 192 kHz conversion over a total of 16 channels of I/O with a dynamic range of 119 dB.
Apart from the redundant power supplies, it’s also equipped with 2 Ethernet ports for network redundancy, and all signal indicators are clearly visible on the front panel. Overall, the A16R MKII is a pro-grade Dante interface with remote controllable audio-over-IP functionality.
- More from Focusrite
The Best Digital Converters: Lynx Studio Aurora(n) 24 TB3
Lynx converters are renowned for their transparent sonic character and are used in professional recording studios all over the world. They are completely modular in design, which means you can spec and upgrade your system according to your needs.
The Aurora(n) series is available in 8, 16, 24, and 32 channel configurations with a choice of USB, Thunderbolt 3, Pro Tools HD, or Dante connectivity. Having 24-bit 192 kHz mastering-grade conversion in a multichannel interface is a considerable expense, but the reputation of Lynx and the results possible with these converters speak for themselves.
- More from Lynx
More about Digital Converters:
- Why is AD/DA conversion so important?
- All about converters
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