Topic: Setting Up For Outboard Gear/External Preamp

Received the ADI 2/4 Pro SE and am experiencing some troubles setting it up.  Hoping someone can assist!

I have my headphones plugged into PH 3/4 on the front.  Then, XLR outputs 1/2 running to my outboard gear/preamp and back into XLR 1/2 inputs.

I can’t get sound to actually come out of the unit to feed my outboard gear.  The headphone jack is producing sound though (and, sounds great!)

I downloaded the driver and am using USB.

Is there something in configuration that I am missing?

2 (edited by waedi 2023-03-28 22:24:16)

Re: Setting Up For Outboard Gear/External Preamp

Page 54 of the user manual :
The menu includes an option to turn off the rear outputs as soon as a connector is plugged into the PH 3/4 jack. Default is Mute On when plugged.

Or page 12 :
And there is more. The headphone sockets of the ADI-2/4 Pro SE have sensor contacts. The unit always knows when a headphone jack is inserted or removed. The DSP uses this information for several superior, partly never-seen before features. For example when inserting the headphone jack into Ph 3/4, the ADI-2/4 Pro SE activates the mute relay after half a second, then the DSP ramps up the volume slowly from lower level to the last used state. Comfortable? Luxurious? Yes !

M1-Sonoma, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue

Re: Setting Up For Outboard Gear/External Preamp

Thank you, waedi!
That did allow signal to flow out into my outboard gear!

One last question, now it sounds like PH 3/4 (where my headphones are plugged in), are trying to monitor both the outgoing signal and the incoming signal (like a feedback loop).

Do you know what settings or where in the manual to adjust to fix this?

Thank you again!

4 (edited by waedi 2023-03-29 15:07:38)

Re: Setting Up For Outboard Gear/External Preamp

vpj wrote:

XLR outputs 1/2 running to my outboard gear/preamp and back into XLR 1/2 inputs.

your outboard gear creates a delay.

Page 27 :
Source
Default: Auto. The source of the output Phones Out 3/4 can be chosen manually anytime. Available options are: Auto, AES, SPDIF, Analog, USB 1/2, USB 3/4. Auto here not only means current or available signal, but also channels 1/2.
Change from Auto to USB1/2.

M1-Sonoma, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue

Re: Setting Up For Outboard Gear/External Preamp

I changed the source to USB 1/2 from Auto and am still experiencing this.  I use Studio One with Pipeline XT.

Any more ideas, or better method for setting this up?  I’m open to changing outputs, etc. if it will allow this to function with the outboard gear

Thank you, waedi!!

6 (edited by waedi 2023-03-29 15:35:54)

Re: Setting Up For Outboard Gear/External Preamp

In StudioOne is Monitoring ON on the return-track ?
How about switching it Off ?
And what exactly do you want to listen on the headphones ?
The return signal from the outboard gear  or the mainout from StudioOne ?

M1-Sonoma, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue

Re: Setting Up For Outboard Gear/External Preamp

Confirming that monitoring is turned off.

The most important thing for me is to hear the processed signal coming from the outboard gear. 

But, ideally the processed signal from the outboard gear.  As well as any unprocessed tracks (excluding the one routes to outboard) that are within the project, for mix context. 

For example, if the guitar is being routed to outboard gear, then I want to hear the guitar signal coming from the outboard gear.  But, also hear the unprocessed drums and bass within the studio project.

Re: Setting Up For Outboard Gear/External Preamp

It seems like the track being routed to the outboard gear would need to go out of output 3/4, since main is 1/2.  But, I’m struggling to figure out how to achieve that lol

Re: Setting Up For Outboard Gear/External Preamp

vpj wrote:

It seems like the track being routed to the outboard gear would need to go out of output 3/4, since main is 1/2.  But, I’m struggling to figure out how to achieve that lol

Check one signal at a time, until you figured out the routing.

10 (edited by vpj 2023-03-29 17:28:59)

Re: Setting Up For Outboard Gear/External Preamp

For some reason only output 1 and 2 are available in the the daw. 
Is there supposed to be an output option 3/4 available in the daw? (since this is a 4 output unit)

11 (edited by Jeff 2023-03-29 17:47:08)

Re: Setting Up For Outboard Gear/External Preamp

Is there supposed to be an output option 3/4 available in the daw?

Yes, if you switch the unit to 'Multichannel mode', see pages 42 & 43 here:
https://www.rme-audio.de/downloads/adi24pro_e.pdf

You will also need to set the 'Rear TRS Source' to Phones 3/4, that is in the I/O menu > Phones Out 3/4 > Settings

Regards,
Jeff Petersen
Synthax Inc.

12 (edited by vpj 2023-04-04 05:56:19)

Re: Setting Up For Outboard Gear/External Preamp

I have my input in Studio One set for Analog 1 and Analog 2.

And, created a secondary output channel called "To Outboard" that comprises Analog 3 and Analog 4.

When I use Pipeline XT as an insert on my drum track, I see signal when using Main Output (1 & 2) and Input L&R(1&2).

In that situation, I also see signal registering on the I/O display.

But, that is when I receive a "feedback loop"/hum/delay.

When I attempt to use the "To Outboard" channel that I created using Output 3 & 4, I only see a signal register to for the output in Pipeline XT, but no incoming signal on Input L&R (1&2).

Also, when doing that, no signal appears on the I/O display.

13 (edited by KaiS 2023-04-04 12:11:46)

Re: Setting Up For Outboard Gear/External Preamp

This is all Studio One routing-related.
ADI-2 itself can’t produce a feedback loop, e.g.


I’d suggest to go through it again, one step after the other.

• First, and most important, select and set a fitting “Mode” inside ADI-2.
USB- / Class Compliant Multi-channel mode gives separated access to all inputs and outputs, so I suggest to use it, see manual page 42, 43.

The block diagram page 43 is valuable to understand the routing inside ADI-2.


Unplug USB, then set:
SETUP / Options / Device Mode/ DSD / Basic Mode: USB
SETUP / Options / Device Mode/ DSD / CC-Mode: Multichannel
Replug USB.


• Next, decide if you want to use the Rear TRS outputs with Channel 1/2 or 3/4.
Depends on your analog connections.
Set: I/O / Phones Out 3/4 / Rear TRS Source: Line1/2 (=default) or PH 3/4.


• Everything else is Studio One routing.
Configure the Studio One’s Ins and Outs.
Then check one signal path after the other, starting with the main monitoring.
For the analog processing chain, make a direct cable connection first, ADI-2 out to in, bypassing all analog stuff to be sure this path works.

14

Re: Setting Up For Outboard Gear/External Preamp

Doesn’t sending outboard gear signal out on output 1/2 and back in on input 1/2 inherently cause a feedback loop?
That’s why I would like to use output 3/4.

15 (edited by KaiS 2023-04-04 14:23:11)

Re: Setting Up For Outboard Gear/External Preamp

vpj wrote:

Doesn’t sending outboard gear signal out on output 1/2 and back in on input 1/2 inherently cause a feedback loop?
That’s why I would like to use output 3/4.

Yes of course, one path is for monitoring, the other for the analog FX loop.

So first you have to decide if you want to do your monitoring through 1/2 or 3/4.
Basically 1/2 is intended for moitoring, specially if you often switch between speakers and headphones.

16

Re: Setting Up For Outboard Gear/External Preamp

Unplugged USB
Set Basic Mode to USB
Confirmed multichannel is selected
Replugged USB
Using rear TRS with 3/4
Phones out 3/4 rear TRS Source is set to Ph.3/4
TRS cables are plugged into rear 3/4
Opened Studio One
Set the track for external processing to 3/4
No signal appears on the ADI 2/4 monitoring panel

17 (edited by KaiS 2023-04-04 15:52:15)

Re: Setting Up For Outboard Gear/External Preamp

Refer to the block diagram on manual page 43: there’s an input selector for 3/4 available.
Set the source for PH3/4 to USB (3/4):

I/O / Phones Out 3/4 Settings / Source: USB

Unplug headphones from 1/2.
There’s a function/option that can mute back Line Outs when headphones are plugged, I’m not sure how the setting defaults:
Or set:
SETUP / Options / Phones / Toggle Ph/Line: OFF
SETUP / Options / Phones / Mute v. Ph. 1/2: OFF
SETUP / Options / Phones / Mute v. Ph. 3/4: OFF

I still cannot agree with MC about the logic of this functionality, for the moment switch all off.

Later you might use:
SETUP / Options / Phones / Mute v. Ph. 1/2: ON

18

Re: Setting Up For Outboard Gear/External Preamp

I honestly can’t tell you how grateful I am for your help!  You fixed it!!  Thank you, KaiS!!