You can connect any Audio Preamp via ADAT.
In regards to your questions, see also BBF manual: https://archiv.rme-audio.de/download/bface_e.pdf
ADAT (and also the BBF) supports
- 8 channels @44.1/48 kHz
- 4 channels @88.2/96 kHz (S/MUX)
- 2 channels @176.4/192 (S/MUX4)
see also manual chapter 10.2.
Connected devices like Mic Preamps, Converter, etc should be able to be set to clock slaves and to read the clock from ADAT.
In this case (preamp) you need 2 TOSLINK cables:
- one from external device to BBF
- one from BBF to external device to deliver the clock (and maybe a few audio channels IF the external device support to route some audio channels from ADAT IN to analog outputs. Note: some devices have analog outputs but only to be used as cue out channels which do not allow audio to be routed from ADAT IN to analog outs, you need to consult the manual of such a device).
Required settings on the BBF:
- the ADAT input of the BBF automatically recognizes ADAT format, nothing to be done here
- for the ADAT output you need to set Optical to "ADAT" in the settings dialog: see manual chapter 9.8
Clocking:
On the BBF: set clock source to "internal" (acts then as "clock master")
On the external device: set as "clock slave" by configuring to read the clock from it's "ADAT IN" port
In regards to the two preamps:
As the BBF doesn't support Word Clock you need a preamp with a digital input to be able to read the clock from the BBF.
It looks that only the Arturia AudioFuse has a matching ADAT IN port.
The Audient seems to have coaxial S/PDIF via breakout cable, but the BBF Pro is missing such a port.
So go for the Arturia or compareable.
From RME you could use the Octamic XTC - http://www.rme-audio.de/en/products/octamic_xtc.php
It has some very cool and unique features and integrates very well as channel strip into TotalMix FX,
but has also a higher price for that reason. I only want to mention this so that you can take the decision
whether the add-on price is worth for you:
The advantages:
- can be integrated as channel strip into TM FX (so called "AUX Device"), then you can digitally save the most important settings of each channels in TotalMix FX snapshots of your BBF (this needs MIDI cabling for remote controlling the device)
- can be fully remote controlled by RME MIDI Remote (use either TM FX AUX device or MIDI remote)
- audio format conversion features
- has an USB 2 port and supports class compliant mode, by this ist can directly be connected to Windows and Apple, it can even be directly connected to an Apple iPAD, this is the best "recording interface" for the Apple iPAD.
- offers to you 2 additional phones outputs
- 8 Mic Inputs can also be used as line inputs, 4 Ports support PAD, 4 Ports support INST
- additional 4 AES inputs and outputs
- MADI support if you should have such an environment later
- easily to be configured stand-alone by the Display and to configure internal routing options for phones, etc ..
- ...
Its a very versatile unit with excellent Mic Preamps and can be integrated later into any other larger setup by MADI.
BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub13