1 Topic by mort_subite (edited by mort_subite 2017-03-08 20:09:36)

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Topic: Considering buying a RayDAT, have some questions.

I currently own a Steinberg UR824, which is unfortunately experiencing some nasty DPC issues stemming from a driver conflict with some hardware configurations that they can't quite seem to nail down.

Regardless, dropouts are unacceptable and I desperately need to switch interfaces. Im currently considering either a Clarett and TB PCIe card or a RayDat, and I'm curious about some connectivity and playback issues with the RayDAT.

Would it at all be possible to slave the UR824 through the RayDAT and retain functionality of the monitor knob (the knob turns down the output stage). This is a fairly crucial function that I'd like to retain, and constitutes a pretty big tick in the "pro" side of the RayDAT purchase for me. Addtionally, what becomes of the headphone outputs of the UR824 when slaved to the RayDAT? A bit less crucial functionality, but still something that might end up being a dealbreaker.

Additionally, the RayDAT manual is a little unclear about playback of windows software (say, playback from non-ASIO enabled programs like Chrome, media players, video games, etc.) The manual seems to suggest that keeping these streams separate is crucial for low latency function, but kind of also suggests there's some sort of "interleaved" operation that Im assuming folds windows audio into the output of the RME driver as well, but again, the manual is a bit unclear (or perhaps, more accurately, my understanding of it us unclear) about this operation, and any real world experience would help greatly in informing my decision.

Thanks in advance for any help on the matter.

Cheers!

  • vinark
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Re: Considering buying a RayDAT, have some questions.

I think you are asking the wrong people, unless someone has a UR824 here. It all depends how the UR works in stand alone/no DAW mode and how you can configure it. What can you send to the adat out and what can you do with the adat in of the UR. The raydat is completely flexible. I have the predecessor a HDSP9652, which has 3 instead of 4 adat ports but works 100% the same. I am happy to answer all questions, but you know what your UR can do. The best way to look at that is when cubase is not running. What can you do with it then?

Vincent, Amsterdam
https://soundcloud.com/thesecretworld
BFpro fs, 2X HDSP9652 ADI-8AE, 2X HDSP9632
  • vinark
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Re: Considering buying a RayDAT, have some questions.

I think you are asking the wrong people, unless someone has a UR824 here. It all depends how the UR works in stand alone/no DAW mode and how you can configure it. What can you send to the adat out and what can you do with the adat in of the UR. The raydat is completely flexible. I have the predecessor a HDSP9652, which has 3 instead of 4 adat ports but works 100% the same. I am happy to answer all questions, but you know what your UR can do. The best way to look at that is when cubase is not running. What can you do with it then?

Vincent, Amsterdam
https://soundcloud.com/thesecretworld
BFpro fs, 2X HDSP9652 ADI-8AE, 2X HDSP9632

4 Reply by mort_subite (edited by mort_subite 2017-03-08 20:43:26)

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Re: Considering buying a RayDAT, have some questions.

I should have perhaps specified that the questions regarding the UR824 wer specifically targeting users who have experience with using a UR824 and a RayDAT in combination. As a point of fact, the UR824 I currently use features Reaper as the DAW, and it can do all kinds of things. Its not a proprietary unit. Certain features are proprietary, and I imagine some of them are locked out of ADAT operation like many specialised interfaces are. These specific questions have been crossposted at the Steinberg forums so I can attempt to target the maximum potential amount of users, but again, these questions were specifically geared toward people with experience of operation of both units.


The question about playback seems within the scope of the average RayDAT user, I would imagine.

  • vinark
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Re: Considering buying a RayDAT, have some questions.

If the knob turn down the output stage and you use those outputs and can route adat in to that output it will work. The reason I answer you,is that I have 3 different devices on my adat ports, same like your UR (for example a FW1804, which has working volume knobs), all with their own possibilities. Internally you can make any routing you want in the raydat, but it is still a simple 4 adat in 4 adat out device. The one big selling point is the phenomenal drivers!

Vincent, Amsterdam
https://soundcloud.com/thesecretworld
BFpro fs, 2X HDSP9652 ADI-8AE, 2X HDSP9632

6 Reply by vinark (edited by vinark 2017-03-08 20:47:38)

  • vinark
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Re: Considering buying a RayDAT, have some questions.

https://www.steinberg.net/forums/viewto … mp;t=87351

So yes it is all very possible!

Vincent, Amsterdam
https://soundcloud.com/thesecretworld
BFpro fs, 2X HDSP9652 ADI-8AE, 2X HDSP9632

7 Reply by mort_subite (edited by mort_subite 2017-03-08 20:47:39)

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Re: Considering buying a RayDAT, have some questions.

vinark wrote:

the one big selling point is the phenomenal drivers!

That's definitely one of the reasons I'm really excited about the possibility of getting a RayDAT! It would be triple exciting if I get to keep the functionality I mentioned as well, so hopefully between here and the Steinberg forum I can find some confirmation there. I love the preamps on the Steinberg unit, and I think rock solid drivers, conversion, and low latency PCIe will add up to quite a serious kick in the pants to my workflow. I also own an Audient ASP800 that Im looking forward to connecting to it too.

Cheers!

  • vinark
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Re: Considering buying a RayDAT, have some questions.

Did you see the link and answer above your post?

Vincent, Amsterdam
https://soundcloud.com/thesecretworld
BFpro fs, 2X HDSP9652 ADI-8AE, 2X HDSP9632

9 Reply by mort_subite (edited by mort_subite 2017-03-08 20:55:04)

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Re: Considering buying a RayDAT, have some questions.

vinark wrote:

https://www.steinberg.net/forums/viewto … mp;t=87351

So yes it is all very possible!


Oh wow, that's crazy! That one guy was saying he's got it connected via USB and ADAT and he can change mixer settings on the fly. That's crazy useful!

Well, it looks like I have a lot to think about. Thanks for your help!

  • vinark
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Re: Considering buying a RayDAT, have some questions.

Cheers! And if you still have a PCI slot a second hand hdsp9652 is a cheap option (if you can find one)

Vincent, Amsterdam
https://soundcloud.com/thesecretworld
BFpro fs, 2X HDSP9652 ADI-8AE, 2X HDSP9632
  • ramses
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Re: Considering buying a RayDAT, have some questions.

mort_subite wrote:
vinark wrote:

https://www.steinberg.net/forums/viewto … mp;t=87351

So yes it is all very possible!


Oh wow, that's crazy! That one guy was saying he's got it connected via USB and ADAT and he can change mixer settings on the fly. That's crazy useful!

Well, it looks like I have a lot to think about. Thanks for your help!

Potentially similar to my former setup, having an UFX as preamps for RayDAT.

http://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/inde … ME-RayDAT/

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub14
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Re: Considering buying a RayDAT, have some questions.

vinark wrote:

Cheers! And if you still have a PCI slot a second hand hdsp9652 is a cheap option (if you can find one)

Awesome. Thank you!

13 Reply by mort_subite (edited by mort_subite 2017-03-08 21:43:03)

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Re: Considering buying a RayDAT, have some questions.

ramses wrote:

Potentially similar to my former setup, having an UFX as preamps for RayDAT.

http://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/inde … ME-RayDAT/

Excellent! One of the things that occurred to me was that by running the RayDAT and the UR824 together in this manner,  I would have more flexibility over routing my WDM audio. I may even be able to circumvent difficult routing by specifically using the Steinberg's USB driver for Windows audio output, but we'll see how that goes if and when I get things up and running. May be some unforeseen hiccups there.

By and large, this is looking really promising for my purchase of a RayDAT, especially since the the Clarett has some issues with Windows and Thunderblot (and I'd likely have to buy a PCIe Thunderbolt 2 card, as Focusrite doesn't officially support the Clarett and TB3 on Windows yet).

Oi, the hoops we jump through to get the gagdets we love to work together, eh?

Thanks again for being so helpful. This place is immediately one of the better audio hardware support communities I've spent time in, and that, too goes a long way toward purchase consideration.

Still would love to hear from people here with experience with this specific setup, so keep the replies coming! Thanks again, everyone!

14 Reply by ramses (edited by ramses 2017-03-09 07:12:00)

  • ramses
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Re: Considering buying a RayDAT, have some questions.

In the future I recommend expansion with RME components, so that you can control this with 2 TotalMix instances.
Thats more comfortably, as TotalMix FX can store the location of both TM windows, one for each TM instance
1- RayDAT
2- RME rec interface / preamp
You can then store for each interface individually snapshots.
Thats for certain more easy, comforatably and straight forward than having to deal with another software that won't have the luxuries of TM FX ...

You could expand i.e. to Octamic XTC which later gives you the opportunity to connect it to MADI ...

See other article of mine here:

http://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/inde … Cber-MADI/

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub14
  • vinark
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Re: Considering buying a RayDAT, have some questions.

Hi Ramses I agree up to a point. I use 3 adat devices with my HDSP9652 and only the ADI8 is rme. That one is used for synth inputs, main out and a pair of phones. A 1212m is used for FX while tracking vocals, an external computer input and phones on a different location. My FW1804 are the mic inputs plus one more synth and a guitar in and my main phones. Oh and also on the spdif I have a Ultralight from the guitar corner, bringing in all guitar related inputs and delivering phones there. All is now set and forget. The big advantage of this is money. the 1212m FX were €10. The motu was a gift from a friend who I helped build his RME based computer. And the FW1804 was on sale (I bought that one before going rme, would not buy it again, now I would buy some nice mic/AD combo). The 1212m, FW1804 and motu are not connected to the daw computer, but a slave and a guitar based PC. There is some satisfaction in getting this all to work, just as in buying a great matched setup if you have the budget.
One thing that makes this all easy is totalmix. All ins and outs are labelled and routed and visible in one window. Love RME!

Vincent, Amsterdam
https://soundcloud.com/thesecretworld
BFpro fs, 2X HDSP9652 ADI-8AE, 2X HDSP9632
  • Registered: 2011-03-31
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Re: Considering buying a RayDAT, have some questions.

ramses wrote:

In the future I recommend expansion with RME components, so that you can control this with 2 TotalMix instances.
Thats more comfortably, as TotalMix FX can store the location of both TM windows, one for each TM instance
1- RayDAT
2- RME rec interface / preamp
You can then store for each interface individually snapshots.
Thats for certain more easy, comforatably and straight forward than having to deal with another software that won't have the luxuries of TM FX ...

You could expand i.e. to Octamic XTC which later gives you the opportunity to connect it to MADI ...

See other article of mine here:

http://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/inde … Cber-MADI/


Im definitely going to be looking for some more hardware in order to incorporate some hardware, so another RME interface is certainly a possibility, especially if it will enable much more flexibility with RME's excellent software.

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Re: Considering buying a RayDAT, have some questions.

vinark wrote:

Hi Ramses I agree up to a point. I use 3 adat devices with my HDSP9652 and only the ADI8 is rme. That one is used for synth inputs, main out and a pair of phones. A 1212m is used for FX while tracking vocals, an external computer input and phones on a different location. My FW1804 are the mic inputs plus one more synth and a guitar in and my main phones. Oh and also on the spdif I have a Ultralight from the guitar corner, bringing in all guitar related inputs and delivering phones there. All is now set and forget. The big advantage of this is money. the 1212m FX were €10. The motu was a gift from a friend who I helped build his RME based computer. And the FW1804 was on sale (I bought that one before going rme, would not buy it again, now I would buy some nice mic/AD combo). The 1212m, FW1804 and motu are not connected to the daw computer, but a slave and a guitar based PC. There is some satisfaction in getting this all to work, just as in buying a great matched setup if you have the budget.
One thing that makes this all easy is totalmix. All ins and outs are labelled and routed and visible in one window. Love RME!

I'm pretty much ready to drop the money on the RayDAT, but I'm wondering if Im going to need the wordclock expansion module? My UR824 has wordclock in and out, as does my Audient ASP800. I'm a little confused as to whether or not I'd need to clock them all together from the RME side of things or not... Excited to move forward with all of this!

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Re: Considering buying a RayDAT, have some questions.

No!, no wordclock please! Adat is better for sync and spdif just as good! The old myth that wordclock is needed is hard to kill. WC is only useful if there is no other way to sync (and that is what it is meant for) So for example a mic preamp with spdif out only, that has a wordclock in, that is the situation that you might use it. But only if it can't be master. Once you get it clocking is very easy!

In this situation, you only have to decide which one will be master. I would choose the one you use the most, the audient or the UR?

Vincent, Amsterdam
https://soundcloud.com/thesecretworld
BFpro fs, 2X HDSP9652 ADI-8AE, 2X HDSP9632
  • vinark
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Re: Considering buying a RayDAT, have some questions.

Ah the audient has adat out only so it must be the master!

Vincent, Amsterdam
https://soundcloud.com/thesecretworld
BFpro fs, 2X HDSP9652 ADI-8AE, 2X HDSP9632
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Re: Considering buying a RayDAT, have some questions.

vinark wrote:

Ah the audient has adat out only so it must be the master!

Awesome! thanks again for all your help. Awaiting some answers about latency on another forum and then I'll either be buying a RayDAT or a UFX some times in the next few days.

Cheers!

  • ramses
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Re: Considering buying a RayDAT, have some questions.

vinark wrote:

Hi Ramses I agree up to a point. I use 3 adat devices with my HDSP9652 and only the ADI8 is rme. That one is used for synth inputs, main out and a pair of phones. A 1212m is used for FX while tracking vocals, an external computer input and phones on a different location. My FW1804 are the mic inputs plus one more synth and a guitar in and my main phones. Oh and also on the spdif I have a Ultralight from the guitar corner, bringing in all guitar related inputs and delivering phones there. All is now set and forget. The big advantage of this is money. the 1212m FX were €10. The motu was a gift from a friend who I helped build his RME based computer. And the FW1804 was on sale (I bought that one before going rme, would not buy it again, now I would buy some nice mic/AD combo). The 1212m, FW1804 and motu are not connected to the daw computer, but a slave and a guitar based PC. There is some satisfaction in getting this all to work, just as in buying a great matched setup if you have the budget.
One thing that makes this all easy is totalmix. All ins and outs are labelled and routed and visible in one window. Love RME!

I only wanted to point out that its nice having to deal then only with one application -> TotalMix wink
As many other mixer / management applications for audio interfaces are not so ... sexy wink

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub14
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Re: Considering buying a RayDAT, have some questions.

Yeah it is so ....that it is difficult to work when her eh I mean its window is open ;-)

And if you have the budget go for it.
And as far as sexy goes. My Tascam is spartan (at best). Motu is/looks complicated and misses critical software out routing and Emu is a challenge to set up but very versatile (but no RME)

Vincent, Amsterdam
https://soundcloud.com/thesecretworld
BFpro fs, 2X HDSP9652 ADI-8AE, 2X HDSP9632