Thanks for mentioning the ADI-648 - So now I'm aware of a madi / adat solution

When was the Digiface USB released? - do you think this will be a product that gets dis-continued without a similar replacement?

It would be great to have an 8 version, cascadable, USB-3 -

I was going to get a Z-Sys toslink patchbay as this will help at some point in the future but now I've found the Digiface USB which could be great to take 8 channels via toslink into another computer (either way)-as a secondary interface / patchbay or just used as an interface on its own.

I've ordered one as I can see the benefits - thanks for the feedback!

The 648 does not support SPDIF.

You could connect your main monitors unbalanced to the phones outputs, but then
- this connection is unbalanced and
- you are missing phones outputs

What you could do is i.e. to connect an ADI-2 PRO FS via ADAT, then you have perfect D/A conversion for near field monitor and phones. See here how you can integrate the ADI-2 PRO FS into your setup: https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/ind … tup-EN-DE/

If you need Mic Pres, get an Octamic XTC or OctaMic II and connect them via ADAT.

Hello Ramses,!

I did see the ADI-2 - and was thinking, are they ASIO compatible? - eg an output in DAW software for the output. or does it just receive the signal from the Digiface USB?

So,by using one of these units I can see where the master outs come from - but as this is 2 channel -(not 8) there would be a 6 channel loss from the output of the Digiface USB (or other similar product like RAYDAT) ??? - (query)

There are 2-3-or 4 of the AD-2 units, would they all work in the same way? (query pending further reading)-thanks

ADI-2 Pro / AE .. same unit, AE has different case, more "hifi" look with plexi glass on top to see whats inside and HiFi stands

ADI-2 Pro FS .. same unit, got new circuit to support Femto clock like the ADI-2 DAC.

ADI-2 DAC  .. same unit as Pro in terms of D/A conversion quality but
- introduced new FS clock
- with remote control
- instead of 2nd phones output an IEM optimized output
- no digital outputs
- no analog inputs
- no AES

A very nice feature of the ADI-2 Pro / AE / Pro FS is, that you can i.e.
- compare 2 phones side by side and making EQ adjustments to one or both
- you can record with best A/D conversion quality
- you have ADAT or SPDIF I/O optical and  AES/EBU and SPDIF coaxial

So .. the ADI-2 FS is better for the studio as it offers you more flexibility there.

The ADI-2 DAC is more for HiFi, stripped down a bit in terms of connections, to be able to sell at a more attractive price point for Home / HiFi users. And of course the remote control for HiFi use (makes perfect sense to be able to make use of dynamic loudness).

See here like I integrated both into my setup: https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/ind … her-EN-DE/

Hi, this must be my bad explanation!!!

By ADAT I/O box I mean something with 16 analog inputs as well as 16 analog inputs - with 2 ADAT x optical inputs & 2 x ADAT optical outputs = ADAT I/O box.

If you really need 16 analog channels in and out, then it could be an advantage to you,
to get a better recording interface which already has 8 analog channels IN and OUT
and on top of that offers to you more features compared to the Digiface USB,
like i.e. autoset, Durec and you would have on top of that 4 cool Mic Pres.
This would save you to take 2x ADI-8 DS, then you would need only one !

https://www.thomann.de/gb/rme_fireface_ufx_ii.htm
https://www.thomann.de/gb/rme_adi_2_pro_fs.htm
https://www.thomann.de/gb/rme_adi8_ds.h … arch_prv_4
optional
https://www.thomann.de/gb/rme_arc_usb.htm

With this setup you have 8x Analog IN and OUT already in the UFX II ..
Then you need only one ADI-8 DS MK3 to expand this to additional 8 analog INs and OUTs
And on top the ADI-2 Pro FS for best AD/DA conversion for near field monitors and phones.

Alternatively I could recommend you this setup for even more flexibility in terms of MADI.
Then you could add up to 8 devices via MADI.
You build up a ring with Multimode fiber cables
where every device can have a distance of up to 2km.
and you would be able to scale your solution in the future:
https://www.thomann.de/gb/rme_fireface_ufx_2.htm
https://www.thomann.de/gb/rme_adi_8_qs.htm
https://www.thomann.de/gb/rme_adi_2_pro_fs.htm
And such a cable to connect the UFX+ to the ADI-8 QS via fibre and back from there to the UFX+
https://www.reichelt.de/LWL-Kabel/O0318 … EARCH=OM4. Such a cable can be up to 2km long.
optional:
https://www.thomann.de/gb/rme_arc_usb.htm

Additionally the UFX+ would have the advantage to support USB3 and thunderbolt towards the PC.
And for PCs only offering an USB2 port you could even operate it with USB2,
then all channels but the MADI channels would work.
Then you could still connect the ADI-8 QS via ADAT.

MADI has the additional advantage to allow you remote controlling the devices.
Then you have this only one fibre cable and you can use MIDI over MADI to remote control them.
If you want to record with 96 kHz, easy, then MADI supports up to 32 channels still ...
And you still need only one fibre cable which can become very long.

With ADAT you are running out of channels with higher sample rates more quickly and the TOSLINK cables are limited to 15-20m.

I am running this setup as I wanted to have more Mic Pres: https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/ind … Cber-MADI/