• Wlaad
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  • Registered: 2018-08-23
  • Posts: 9

Topic: DAC as Audio Interface ?

I want to build a dedicated PC for electronic music production. It will be 100% digital affair "in the box", so no mics, no analog inputs, no external instruments or FXs - just VST plugins within a DAW (Ableton 10).
Also, I want to have ADI-2 Pro as an "endpoint" to monitors.

So here is my quandary: Should I put some kind of Audio Interface between the DAC and PC, or I can use ADI-2 Pro as de facto (USB) Audio Interface ?
I don't have many experience in all this, and none with RME gear, so I wonder if I'm missing something here (if using ADI-2 Pro standalone), like TotalMix software - is it crucial to effectively using a DAW...? And ADI's ASIO - is it "friendly" enough for a DAW duties...?

I'm sorry for newbie questions, but I tried to google this already, and found very few answers, all very vague and ambiguous.
Thanks.

2 Reply by MC

  • MC
  • MC
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  • From: Germany/Thailand
  • Registered: 2007-04-06
  • Posts: 25,586

Re: DAC as Audio Interface ?

For your application the ADI-2 Pro is 100% qualified. No TotalMix needed.

Regards
Matthias Carstens
RME

MC's Website

  • Wlaad
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  • Registered: 2018-08-23
  • Posts: 9

Re: DAC as Audio Interface ?

Thank you sir !

  • Registered: 2014-11-25
  • Posts: 15

Re: DAC as Audio Interface ?

You will either need active monitors or a power amplifier. You should not need a pre-amp because the ADI-2 has a volume control and very configurable output range.