Outboard DAC with recording interface?

[DreamTheaterRules]

Is it possible to run an affordable recording device into a DAC for better performance? I have an SSL2+ and after reading for years how great the affordable recording devices were, I'm not completely satisfied with the sound quality. If I purchase even a budget ($200 or less) DAC, can you run the device into that for better performance, or are you just stuck with it as it is?

I intend to buy an outboard DAC for the stereo anyway, so I though I'd see if this can work.

 

[MirrorProfiles]

Is it possible to run an affordable recording device into a DAC for better performance? I have an SSL2+ and after reading for years how great the affordable recording devices were, I'm not completely satisfied with the sound quality. If I purchase even a budget ($200 or less) DAC, can you run the device into that for better performance, or are you just stuck with it as it is?

I intend to buy an outboard DAC for the stereo anyway, so I thought I'd see if this can work.

You absolutely can. How you configure it depends on what I/O you have available, I don’t think the SSL 2+ has any digital I/O though. Sometimes you can make an aggregate device so you use 2 seperate interfaces for your I/O (the trade off’s aren’t always worth it).

 

[DreamTheaterRules]

You absolutely can. How you configure it depends on what I/O you have available, I don’t think the SSL 2+ has any digital I/O though. Sometimes you can make an aggregate device so you use 2 seperate interfaces for your I/O (the trade off’s aren’t always worth it).

Thank you for the reply. I'll have to think that through and see about possible implementation.

So far... I plug a digital modeler into even a cheap mixer (Sound Craft Notepad into my studio monitors and dial a tone and it sounds good!

I plug the same modeler into my SSL2+ and out to the same monitors, it doesn't sound as good!

My thought was that if I could use a $200 or so DAC, it should be an improvement over the one built into a $200ish recording device... Just not sure I can bypass the one in it.

Heck... maybe I can plug the Modeler straight into the DAC to record... but it would have to go to computer somehow... dang it.

 

[MirrorProfiles]

Thank you for the reply. I'll have to think that through and see about possible implementation.

So far... I plug a digital modeler into even a cheap mixer (Sound Craft Notepad into my studio monitors and dial a tone and it sounds good!

I plug the same modeler into my SSL2+ and out to the same monitors, it doesn't sound as good!

My thought was that if I could use a $200 or so DAC, it should be an improvement over the one built into a $200ish recording device... Just not sure I can bypass the one in it.

Heck... maybe I can plug the Modeler straight into the DAC to record... but it would have to go to computer somehow... dang it.

The DAC is probably not what you need here. Tbh I would not invest in a decent DAC before improving other parts of the signal chain first - the gains are usually fairly marginal. Adding a DAC to your rig will add more complexity and won’t really help anything.

There’s no reason why your SSL shouldn’t sound at least as good as your mixer. I would check your routing and work out why. It’s also worth checking if the mixer is actually performing right - it could be inadvertently colouring the sound. It’s hard to tell remotely though so you just have to isolate the variables.

 

[0XI0]

mixer is squeezing sound with pixie pressure, interface is hotdog-down-a-hallway, no squeeze. fwiw