• From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2011-04-15
  • Posts: 67

Topic: Ethercon MADI to Optical/BNC MADI

Like the topic says, is RME looking into a small babyface sized unit to allow these two protocols to talk?

I'd like to pickup a UFX+ but MADI has made a drastic move towards ethernet based transmission as ethernet is just everywhere.

Our consoles MADI options are almost all Ethernet now.

It would have been amazing if RME added ethernet to the UFX+ but that's obviously not going to happen as it's out to market now.

A small 64 I/O conversion unit would be ideal, Just 2 ethernet to 2 optical and 2 BNC.  Buying large 19" racks that do huge channel counts is overkill for a UFX+

  • Registered: 2016-05-08
  • Posts: 46

Re: Ethercon MADI to Optical/BNC MADI

ianhind wrote:

MADI has made a drastic move towards ethernet based transmission as ethernet is just everywhere.

Our consoles MADI options are almost all Ethernet now.

Hm, haven't noticed that trend yet - out of curiosity, what consoles are you talking about?

Best regards,
dabbler

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2011-04-15
  • Posts: 67

Re: Ethercon MADI to Optical/BNC MADI

The newer Digico consoles and boxes are pushing towards Ethercon as standard (D-Rack is Ethercon only, D2-Rack comes as Ethercon or BNC).

Our Soundcraft stage racks are all dual Ethercon MADI with no option for any other connection.

Since pretty much everything is going ethernet due to wide availability and low cost, I can see it taking over fiber/bnc not long into the future.

  • Registered: 2016-05-08
  • Posts: 46

Re: Ethercon MADI to Optical/BNC MADI

Interesting. I do about a dozend shows per year on SD9 + D-Rack but wasn't aware that they are doing MADI over the CAT5 (they don't mention that really, at least where I cursory looked). But I use SD9's MADI Coax interface for tracking/VSC.

Found something related:  http://www.optocore.com/index.php/news- … 5-proposal

Have to look further into that wether there is a real standard today or wether DiGiCo/Soundcraft are rolling their own.

Anyway, you talked about "MADI over Ethernet", which isn't what they are doing. They are using CAT5 cables with EtherCon connectors, but that's not Ethernet or even Ethernet compatible. It's "MADI over twisted pair cable" which are also used for Ethernet. See also http://www.digico.org/TechNotes/TN227%2 … cables.pdf

I'm not aware of anyone doing MADI over Ethernet (nor any such standard). The predominant "over Ethernet" stuff is Dante and to a lesser extend AVB I think.

Thanks!

  • Registered: 2016-05-08
  • Posts: 46

Re: Ethercon MADI to Optical/BNC MADI

BTW, found this one which is compatible to DiGiCo's non-standardized variant of MADI-TP on D-Rack: http://www.sonible.com/en/products/mlmio/

According to Appsys in june, MADI-TP standard (AES10 update via AES-X-213) ain't there yet. Whatever DiGiCo, Soundcraft etc. are doing is proprietary today.

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2011-04-15
  • Posts: 67

Re: Ethercon MADI to Optical/BNC MADI

dabbler wrote:

Anyway, you talked about "MADI over Ethernet", which isn't what they are doing. They are using CAT5 cables with EtherCon connectors, but that's not Ethernet or even Ethernet compatible. It's "MADI over twisted pair cable" which are also used for Ethernet. See also http://www.digico.org/TechNotes/TN227%2 … cables.pdf

Yes, I should have been more specific. Just using CAT5 as a means of connection.

Problem is, getting a CAT5 into BNC/Optical on an RME UFX+ seems like it might be impossible right now which is unfortunate as I'd LOVE to use the UFX+ DURec as a multitrack unit for a S21.

Hopefully the CAT5 is just a basic genre change, but I have a feeling it is following a different spec than BNC but one can hope.

  • Registered: 2016-05-08
  • Posts: 46

Re: Ethercon MADI to Optical/BNC MADI

For the S21 this would indeed need an DMI-MADI-B expansion module to get MADI on Coax. Otherwise you'd need a Sonible ml:mio. If you can mirror the stagebox to the second MADI-TP connector of the SD21 - no clue about that. Only ever used the built-in MADI on Coax ports of the SD9.

  • ckl
  • ADAT user
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2016-04-06
  • Posts: 8

Re: Ethercon MADI to Optical/BNC MADI

Maybe this is what you are looking for...
http://www.sonible.com/mlmio/

"Ever since MADI took over professional sound technology, sound engineers have faced the same problem: different kinds of MADI devices need to be connected, but their connectors aren’t compatible. The ml:mio provides the missing link that enables you to create a stage setup with any MADI you need. The converter, about as big as a pocket book, is 100% bit-transparent, which allows it to operate completely independently from any protocol or brand. In this way, the ml:mio compensates for the missing standard in the conversion of MADI data – flawlessly."

Seems like this is a very smart little helper

Fireface UCX
MADIface USB
Babyface Pro