1 Topic by jeanpierrelouis (edited by jeanpierrelouis Yesterday 10:52:50)

  • Registered: 2023-07-31
  • Posts: 17

Topic: Adi-2 Room EQ with fireface 800

I own the ff800 considering that software updates won’t be there for much longer I was thinking to either upgrade to the ufx 3 or take the aid-2 black edition and used it in connection with ff800 so to connect my 5.1 set up. I was also hoping to make use of the room eq feature which came with latest total mix fx on the other channels. My thought process is, have the adi-2 connected to my MacBook Pro as my main interface, connect the ff800 using optical cable to extend the I/O’s. But I am not sure if I would be able to use room eq on those extended outputs. From my understanding it should work as up 20 output channels can be used simultaneously and the total mix fx would be working over the adi-2. Anyone insights from the more seasoned community members here?

  • Registered: 2023-06-30
  • Posts: 204

Re: Adi-2 Room EQ with fireface 800

There is no room EQ for Fireface 800 and no TotalMix in ADI-2 series. And you can't extend the ADI-2 Pro's I/O with an optical cable.

I think for your use case it's better to get the UFX II/UFX III (if you need MADI).

Fireface UCX II + ARC USB > ADI-2 Pro FS R BE > Neumann KH 750 DSP + MA 1 > KH 120 A
  • Kubrak
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  • Registered: 2023-08-03
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Re: Adi-2 Room EQ with fireface 800

Or FF 802 FS (older FF 802 does not have Room EQ). And if 6 output channels + phones will do - also FF UCX II has Room EQ.

FF UCX II, Digiface USB, Babyface Pro FS
  • Registered: 2023-07-31
  • Posts: 17

Re: Adi-2 Room EQ with fireface 800

Appreciate the advise and It’s clear that I had a misunderstanding which devices come with certain software. But on the connection side I was certain that the adi-2 had optical connectivity. After rechecking on Google I found actually this video https://youtu.be/QiFsll_5qIM?feature=shared
And a picture on the web clearly showing the optical in and out on the back of the adi-2 black edition.

But this still does not change that i won’t be able to use it as I hoped.

  • KaiS
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Re: Adi-2 Room EQ with fireface 800

ADI-2 Pro FS and ADI-2/4 Pro SE both have optical outs and their analog output channel count can be extended by external DA-converters.

Have a look at ADI-2/4 Pro SE’s manual page 43 to see what’s possible.

The limitation is the DSP:
4 channels of room EQ is the maximum, not enough for a 5.1 sound system.
Furthermore the handling of such a hybrid system would be quite inconvenient.

Use a current production interface with enough analog outs and TotalMixFX support like UCX or UFX series.
Keep in mind, once in a while you might like to add more channels.

There are never enough channels in a contemporary surround system, we’re up to 21.1.10 channels on Dolby Atmos these days.
Not that this is realistic for domestic use, but some more than 5.1 …

KaiS's Website

  • Registered: 2023-06-30
  • Posts: 204

Re: Adi-2 Room EQ with fireface 800

KaiS wrote:

ADI-2 Pro FS and ADI-2/4 Pro SE both have optical outs and their analog output channel count can be extended by external DA-converters.

Only for USB input and only in multichannel mode. Any other input configuration will get you maximum two stereo outputs (1/2 and 3/4) with independent selection of inputs.

I don't think the ADI-2 series is a good choice for multichannel speaker setups. Yet with a recording interface all it would take is to route the inputs and software playback channels to corresponding hardware outputs and to set a fader group. Plus you get room EQ as a bonus for each pair of outputs and snapshots for various mixing scenarios.

Fireface UCX II + ARC USB > ADI-2 Pro FS R BE > Neumann KH 750 DSP + MA 1 > KH 120 A

7 Reply by KaiS (edited by KaiS Yesterday 14:42:51)

  • KaiS
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Re: Adi-2 Room EQ with fireface 800

unpluggged wrote:

Only for USB input. …

From MacBook Pro it’s USB input anyway, and TotalMixFX won’t work any other way.

This has to be kept in mind: no TotalMixFX without Mac or Windows or iPad involved.

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