• Registered: 2026-08-17
  • Posts: 7

Topic: ADAPTER Optical MADI to BNC MADI for RME HDSPe MADI FX

Good morning, everyone and thank you for admitting me to the forum.
This is the first time I've written on a forum, so please bear with me...

To set the scene: I have an RME HDSPe MADI FX audio card installed on a Windows PC. I have connected an Antelope Orion 32+ and a Ferrofish A32 to the two optical MADI ports (inputs/outputs) respectively, giving me a total of 64 I/O channels.

My question is: I would like to connect the RME card's third MADI port—which is coaxial—to another Orion 32+ unit that uses optical MADI. I spent a whole day searching Google for an alternative to the SSL X-Logic DeltaLink MADI OptiCoax adapter, so I would like to ask if you know of any commercially available adapter that costs less than the SSL model.
I hope I have made myself clear.

Thank you for your help.
Sorry for my English...

Gian Marco

2 Reply by waedi (edited by waedi 2026-08-17 16:12:34)

  • waedi
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Re: ADAPTER Optical MADI to BNC MADI for RME HDSPe MADI FX

RME Madiface USB 749 Euro I don't know the cost of the SSL (you did not provide the product name)

https://www.thomann.de/de/rme_madiface_usb.htm

User manual page 32 :

19.2 Digital Format Converter
Both modes can be used for format conversion. With only one input connected the outputs carry
the same signal, the unit can be used as either coaxial to optical or optical to coaxial format
converter, with the added function to send the signal to two different devices simultaneously. With
two inputs connected the unit works bi-directional, converting coaxial to optical and vice versa
simultaneously. This is even possible when the connected device uses sample rate converters
for independent clocking - the sample rate can be different in both paths. Thanks to a completely
newly generated signal, jitter suppression by SteadyClock, and reclocking of the MADI output,
the MADIface USB provides not simple but sophisticated format conversion.

M1-Tahoe, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue
  • Registered: 2026-08-17
  • Posts: 7

Re: ADAPTER Optical MADI to BNC MADI for RME HDSPe MADI FX

Okay, thanks for your reply.
I had looked at the RME Madiface USB and was hoping there was something available on the market that cost less.
Thanks again.
Have a nice day.
Gian Marco

  • Jeff
  • Jeff
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Re: ADAPTER Optical MADI to BNC MADI for RME HDSPe MADI FX

You can purchase the HDSPe MADI FX OPTO-X replacement expansion board for the MADI FX card, this will replace the BNC I/O on MADI 3 with an optical I/O.

https://rme-audio.de/expansion-boards.html

Regards,
Jeff Petersen
Synthax Inc.

Jeff's Website

  • Registered: 2026-08-17
  • Posts: 7

Re: ADAPTER Optical MADI to BNC MADI for RME HDSPe MADI FX

That's true, I hadn't thought about the expansion card and it costs less, too.
Thanks.
Have a nice day.
Gian Marco

  • bubo
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Re: ADAPTER Optical MADI to BNC MADI for RME HDSPe MADI FX

Cheers,
do you need to stick with optical madi for a reason?
Did you yet consider connecting the A32 via BNC and the 2 Orions via optical?

  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2007-04-10
  • Posts: 11,142

Re: ADAPTER Optical MADI to BNC MADI for RME HDSPe MADI FX

Jeff was faster, I just thought about the expansion as well... Definitely an option...

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

RME Support's Website

  • ramses
  • ramses
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Re: ADAPTER Optical MADI to BNC MADI for RME HDSPe MADI FX

RME Support wrote:

Jeff was faster, I just thought about the expansion as well... Definitely an option...

Also my 1st idea.

BR Ramses - HDSPe MADI FX, M-1620 Pro D, 12Mic, UFX III, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, Nuendo 15, Win10 IoT Ent
  • Registered: 2026-08-17
  • Posts: 7

Re: ADAPTER Optical MADI to BNC MADI for RME HDSPe MADI FX

bubo wrote:

Cheers,
do you need to stick with optical madi for a reason?
Did you yet consider connecting the A32 via BNC and the 2 Orions via optical?

That's right, I hadn't remembered that the Ferrofish A32 is equipped with both an optical and a coaxial MADI port.
I’ve just checked the manual, and I’m really happy about this because it means I can connect the RME HDSPe MADI FX to the Ferrofish via coaxial MADI, leaving the optical MADI port free.
Thanks for this important information. it saves me money.
Have a nice day.
Gian Marco

10 Reply by ramses (edited by ramses 2026-08-18 14:59:29)

  • ramses
  • ramses
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Re: ADAPTER Optical MADI to BNC MADI for RME HDSPe MADI FX

Why coaxial? With optical you have galvanic isolation, which is IMHO preferable, as galvanic isolation protects you against noise/hum, which could come from electrical potential differences.

https://www.thomann.de/de/rme_hdspe_opto_x.htm 359 € (-10%).

BR Ramses - HDSPe MADI FX, M-1620 Pro D, 12Mic, UFX III, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, Nuendo 15, Win10 IoT Ent
  • Registered: 2026-08-17
  • Posts: 7

Re: ADAPTER Optical MADI to BNC MADI for RME HDSPe MADI FX

ramses wrote:

Why coaxial? With optical you have galvanic isolation, which is IMHO preferable, as galvanic isolation protects you against noise/hum, which could come from electrical potential differences.

https://www.thomann.de/de/rme_hdspe_opto_x.htm 359 € (-10%).

Please bear with me, my job is designing houses, while music has been a hobby and passion of mine for many years. If I understood Ramses' reply correctly, could connecting the Ferrofish A32 to the RME HDSPe MADI FX via a coaxial MADI cable lead to hum or noise issues? If that’s the case I’ll have to abandon this connection method.
That’s a shame.
Thanks for all this information; I am very grateful.
Gian Marco

  • Kubrak
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Re: ADAPTER Optical MADI to BNC MADI for RME HDSPe MADI FX

Just try, and you will see. Most probably it will be OK, but it is not 100%, only 99,9... %. If that does not work for you (in your setup), you may buy that expansion card later...

FF UCX II, Digiface USB, Babyface Pro FS
  • Registered: 2026-08-17
  • Posts: 7

Re: ADAPTER Optical MADI to BNC MADI for RME HDSPe MADI FX

Kubrak wrote:

Just try, and you will see. Most probably it will be OK, but it is not 100%, only 99,9... %. If that does not work for you (in your setup), you may buy that expansion card later...

Okay.
Thanks everyone for all this information.
Gian Marco

  • ramses
  • ramses
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Re: ADAPTER Optical MADI to BNC MADI for RME HDSPe MADI FX

giamma66 wrote:
Kubrak wrote:

Just try, and you will see. Most probably it will be OK, but it is not 100%, only 99,9... %. If that does not work for you (in your setup), you may buy that expansion card later...

Okay.
Thanks everyone for all this information.
Gian Marco

Relax, it should work and you will hear if there is hum.
But .. if there is a better option which entirely gets rid of such possible issues, then I choose the better option.

BR Ramses - HDSPe MADI FX, M-1620 Pro D, 12Mic, UFX III, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, Nuendo 15, Win10 IoT Ent
  • Registered: 2026-08-17
  • Posts: 7

Re: ADAPTER Optical MADI to BNC MADI for RME HDSPe MADI FX

ramses wrote:
giamma66 wrote:
Kubrak wrote:

Just try, and you will see. Most probably it will be OK, but it is not 100%, only 99,9... %. If that does not work for you (in your setup), you may buy that expansion card later...

Okay.
Thanks everyone for all this information.
Gian Marco

Relax, it should work and you will hear if there is hum.
But .. if there is a better option which entirely gets rid of such possible issues, then I choose the better option.

Ok.
Thanks again, everyone.
Gian Marco