I am in the market to buy a TC Electronics Finalizer for my studio. Currently, I am running my outboard gear to an analogue mixer and then into my G4 tower via RME 98/6 soundcard. If I want to use my computer as a sequencer for playback as well as be able to record the audio through the finializer and back into the MAC at the same time is this possible or will I need to buy a DAT or another recording device?? Any advice is appreciated . . . .thanks

I wouldn't get one of those. Go for a software solution or a combination of rack gear that you might already have.

i agree with baghun, try the software solutions, t-racks sounds like the answer, otherwise, master x or c4 if you're really careful. definitely forget the dat .

well you don't need a DAT. you can route the audio signal "externally" (use BUS 8 for example) and use the finalizer as an inserteffect, recording the finalized file... iv' read it somewhere how to manage this, i'll let you know...

As the name implied, finalizer is here to finalize your mix, not for recording, IIRC... But you do what you want to do, anyway ;-)

I'm not sure i got the point, but you can "insert" the finalizer between your group output on the mixer and the RME inputs? But you can't "finalize" the output of the RME board at the same time (just the monitored tracks, eventually).

Sorry if misunderstood your original post.
Bye.

a finalizer is only a three band frequency concious compressor, a limiter, and a parametric eq.
these are all available seperately as plugins that you can slap over your stereo output from your sequencer!
for the money you want to spend on a finalizer you could get loads of groovy new plugins.
please check out T-racks, it's a virtual mastering studio, does everything the finalizer does, looks sexy, sounds sexy, much less ars!^g about!
good luck

Sorry Damann, but i can't agree with you on this.
The Finalizer is much more powerfull than T-Racks, although T-Racks is pretty good IMHO for pre-mastering.

Just have a look to the spec sheet of the 96K model:
http://www.tcelectronic.com/products.asp?p...id=1&category=1

Lot of things T-Racks just CAN'T do, as any other plugins i've heard of (even in TDM). Anyone?

Bye.

hmm… consciousness in compressors… rather methaphysical… huh…

(sorry couldn't resist

sorry guys, but i can't agree with YOU here.
you're 'gonna have to be specific about what the finalizer does, including your "implied" better "fidelity"...
all good!
i checked out the link.
it only inforced my opinions.
compression and eq!!!
96k is no big deal!!!
it, of course, has to be dithered down anyway...

Speaking as a man, Damann is absolutely right!

His description of TC's finalizer is exactly what it is. 3 different units rolled into one, packaged and sold as a rack mount finalizer...by TC (good company.)

Metaphysical? I thought you were going to say something about Metasynth for a second there...!



But why a finalizer? I would first take ALL of Damann's advice, and on top of that check out the new Waves Masters plug-ins...they blow the TC Finalizer out of the water, and you can simply insert them across your stereo output, in software, and bounce to disk. Of course, you're not limited to one method of mastering when using plug-ins...know what I mean?


Why make life more difficult with an external mastering unit? I insert my mastering plugs, then when I save my song (I'm using Logic) EVERYTHING is saved, including all plug-in settings, which means if you have to later remix the same track, you won't be fiddling about with an external piece of mastering rack gear recalling patches scribbled down on a bit of paper or a computer stickie somewhere (bits of paper can get lost, and stickies can get deleted !)

My advice is get 'plugged in' for mastering...follow the path of least resistance, and sound all the better for it!



PS: I use my Sony A8 dat machine as a doorstop now...

PPS: T-Racks sounds WAY better when you can actually hear what you're doing with it ie: I occasionally use it via an Apogee AD-8000...a whole different ball game...otherwise, you are not getting the sonic picture via the apple's sound manager...!