TC PowerCore Compact VS. Waves APA32

[006]

Anybody run one of these? I have done a lot of research but can't find exactly what I'm looking for to convince me to spring for one....and along with that I don't really know exactly what it is that I'm looking for that would convince me

I need something portable to handle plug-ins for my PowerBook. I've looked at the PowerCore FireWire (rackmounted one) and I don't think I need the two extra plugs it comes with and the $400 extra they want for it. Mainly I need to run compression and EQ from it, and verb. I was looking into the Focusrite Liquid Mix but it only has Comp and Reverb...The PowerCore Compact looks to be the best bet if I go with TCE.

The Waves APA32 looks really cool as well, using an ethernet connection would save me some firewire bandwidth since I'll be running an RME interface and a hard drive on it. The fact that it can handle 6 IR-L Reverbs kind of ease's my worry about it being able to handle the compression and EQ I'll be using (haha).

I've been trying to do more and more mixing on the laptop for location recordings and it's becoming a pain to run everything I need on it. There's only so much I can do with 1.33gHz CPU and 768MB of RAM, even if it is a Mac.

When I get everything to track bands on location, on the list is two 8 channel comp/lim/gates, so a lot of the drum stuff will be taken care of before it even hits the interface (compression mainly), so that will be a big load off the PB...but I still need to run EQ's and 16-20 tracks of Q6/Q8 starts to bog things down. Not to mention drum bus verbs (snare, toms, oh's) and then vocal stuff (DeEsser, Comp, EQ, verb).

The PowerCore seems like a pretty good deal since the VoiceStrip plug incorporates everything in one (compression, eq, and level independent de-essing - which is really great). However I've heard mixed things about the reverbs on the unit.

Thoughts/experiences?

~e.a

 

[carl@laruso.com]

I was looking into the Focusrite Liquid Mix but it only has Comp and Reverb

dude.... i'm waiting on that too but it 100% is comp and EQ, NOT reverb.

also if your not fussed about reverb the new ssl duende looks awesome also

hope that helps mate,

C

 

[Psych05]

Well, I've seen both of these running, but I'm really not an expert on these things. You should keep in mind that with the Waves APA32 & APA44, you can only run a certain collection of especially CPU-hungry plugins. These are:

L3 Multimaximizer, L3 Ultramaximizer, IR-360 Surround Parametric Convolution Reverb (Mac), IR-1 Parametric Convolution Reverb V2, IR-L Light Convolution Reverb, Linear Phase Equalizer, Linear Phase Multiband, C4 Multiband Parametric Processor, Renaissance Reverb, Renaissance Channel (no external side-chain), SoundShifter, Morphoder, TransX (Multi), Q-Clone

See, no "simple" EQ or Compressor in there. I use waves plugins extensively, but often times my CPU usage comes from using many instances of "simpler" plugins which are not on this list. I don't know how you work, but if you want a simple compressor for example, your only choice there would be the renaissance channel. And then there's the thing you get only two plugins with buying the hardware. There is quite a collection of plugins already included with the Powercore.
So personally, I would probably go with the Powercore because of the available plugins and that for some reason, the powercores always seemed more stable and more mature to me. But I can't explain that, it's probably just that they've been around for much longer.

But you really so have a valid point there with your firewire connection. Audio Interface & Harddrive & Powercore is probably too much.

 

[sorceron]

Keep in mind you rent waves plugins you dont own them. that would defenitely weigh heavy on my decision between the two. As soon as i can afford it im getting a powercore card and the sony oxford plugs.

 

[006]

What do you mean "rent" Waves plugs?

Also, sorry about the Liquid Mix thing...I could have sworn it was just comp and verb. That's a cool thing though...it's now back in the battle between the other things. I need to check out the Duende and see what is up with that.

~e.a

 

[sorceron]

well for instance, you have to pay upkeep on the plugins every year in order to keep using them, if you want to sell them its not the normal $25 ilok fee, its $150 no matter what.

 

[006]

What the hell...I've never heard of this. The iLok thing yeah...but what is this about paying to upkeep the plugs every year to keep using them? Are you talking about upgrading/updating? I'm perfectly content with version 4 (or 4.5 I forget) that I have of the Platinum Bundle...I really don't see a reason to upgrade/update mine...unless you mean something else.

~e.a

 

[sorceron]

for instance, i dont know what daw you use, but if you wanted to upgrade to pt 7 you would have to have the wup plan for that. i dunno its something im defenitely taking into consideration for now on because those things can add up after a while.

 

[006]

I use Digital Performer 4.6 and Cubase SX1 for Mac. Unless something amazing happens in an update I won't bother getting it. Like I have 5.0 for DP...but I really don't need to upgrade...it doesn't do that much more for me so I just left it at 4.6. I only use Cubase for programming MIDI with DFHS...so...yeah.

I can see what you are saying, but since I have a tendency to stick with what works until it's absolutely something I need to update/upgrade to, I don't think I'll have any worries.

~e.a

 

[black sugar]

If you go Powercore and Sony Oxford, get the Firewire, not the Compact. The Oxford plugs are really DSP hungry and the Compact only has two chips vs. four on the Firewire.

I have PCI mkii (four chip) and it's barely adequate for exclusively running the Oxford plugs. Trust me, you'll be pissed if you get the Compact to run Oxford.

Take a look at Duende. That might really be the way to go.


http://www.tcelectronic.com/PowerCoreComparison

 

[006]

Yeah I've been looking at everything as much as possible, and that includes lurking around the forums for the different units. I think the PowerCore is really what I need. The SSL Duende doesn't seem to be very useful unless all I want to ever run is EQ and dynamics. I need something that will handle 3 reverbs at once (snare, tom bus, vocal bus). The Focusrite Liquid Mix is a cool idea...but again I need reverb as well. I really don't think I'll need the Oxford plugs, I've used them before and wasn't really impressed. Combined with the built-in MasterWorks EQ in Digital Performer, and a few other plugs I normally run I'm sure the PowerCore would handle my needs.

On a side note, I was planning on getting a dual 2.66 Intel MacPro, but since a lot of things aren't compatible with it yet I think I'll just stick with the regular 'ol dual 2.0 G5. I stupidly sold my dual 2.3 recently in anticipation to order the dual 2.66 Intel...oh well. Luckily I got enough to cover a brand new dual 2.0 from the sale of my 2.3 so I'm not too pissed about it. From everything I have on my list, I won't be up and running 100% until December next year if I would have gotten the Intel due to the wait on the Intel drivers from everyone (including the PowerCore), and that sucks. I'm not really worried about the plug-ins I'll be using on the G5...it's moreso the PowerBook that needs some extra power in that department. I don't think I'll be doing *too* much mixing and stuff on it though, so it's not a big deal really.

The Waves APA doesn't seem very useful...to me anyway, for my needs. I need to run the more basic plug-ins...just a lot of them and apparently it only works with the more intense single plugs so nevermind with that thing. The Duende does look cool and is definitely something I'll be looking at in the future, but for right now the PowerCore should cover the bases.

Thanks a lot for the tips guys, really helped me out here.

~e.a

 

[006]

And just to add while I'm on the subject of my shopping list....how come SweetWater doesn't carry a 1.5' TRS->2xTRS insert/y-cable!?!?!? Do they not realize some people are running stuff closer than 6ft apart in a rack? The shortest I can find is 3'...I guess I'll be wrapping 16 insert cables up in bundles to get rid of the excess length...Ugh!

~e.a

 

[Brett - K A L I S I A]

Yeah I agree with Blackie, get the Firewire not the Compact. I already talked about it in another thread but I'll probably sell mine soon

 

[006]

Brett, PM me about it please!

~e.a