EDIT1 - give it more shape / overview
There are two possibilities
a) get a Mic preamp (which has analog outputs which you can connect to the ADI-2 Pro's analog inputs)
b) get a recording interface with TotalMix FX and integrate the ADI-2 Pro into this setup.
I think that you have most advantages with b) if you add a recording interface to your setup which is designed to be the heart of a recording solution with TotalMix FX support and certain capabilities / features, like i.e.:
- ability to store and recall routing and all settings digitally
- any to any routing
- loopback recording (supported by most RME interfaces except some older PCI cards)
- support of ARC USB for every interface that supports TotalMix FX
- AUTOSET, DUREC, FX effects (depends on the device)
Don't get me wrong, the ADI-2 Pro FS is a fantastic device, which has certain prefedined routing capabilities, to give it a certain flexibility for predefined use cases. But it's designed to be an advanced DAC / converter not to be a recording interface.
Here some blog articles that might help you to get an overview, whats possible. After that you know a "bigger picture" whats possible, on this you can base and select whats also useful for you and align with your budget plans.
A) Integration of the ADI-2 Pro into a RME based recording solution
In this blog you can see, how you can integrate an ADI-2 Pro into a setup with recording interfaces. This is also the way how I use the ADI-2 Pro FS R BE together with an UFX+:
https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/ind … our-Setup/
B) Overview FW/USB/TB based RME recording interfaces
This supports you in the selection of a recording interface. See my comparison excel sheet in this article:
https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/ind … B-MADIfac/
The Excel sheed therein contains an overview of recording interfaces in English and German with technical data and additional useful information from manual and forum: Excel: https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/index.ph … 0-08-xlsx/
Features I would look for
The flagship interfaces have latest converters and all very interesting RME features included and are the best in terms of standalone features and expandability. Features I would look for include:
- flexibility in the connection to the PC (USB and Thunderbolt): UFX+
- up to date connection methods to PC like USB and Thunderbolt: UFX+, UFX II, UCX, UC
- damping of the switch-on crackling on all channels: UFX+, UFX II
- support for loopback recording: all but i.e. older PCI cards
- last recent converter technology: UFX+ / UFX II
- DURec, Direct USB recording to external Harddisk or SSD or Stick (as backup or standalone recording): UFX+ / UFX II
- AUTOSET, prevents clipping on MIC/INSTR inputs: UFX+, UFX II, UCX
- Latest USB drivers (MADIface driver) with ASIO buffer size down to 32 samples: UFX+, UFX II
- FX effects on board: UFX+, UFX II, UCX
I think UCX, UFX II and UFX+ could be a very good choice to you. If you look for a long term investment and think your setup might grow in the future, then UFX+ could be an alternative to allow for MADI (additional 64ch via OM3/4 fiber cable).
Although a RME UFX II or UFX+ might look like "overkill" on the 1st glimpse, I can show you here how useful it is even for me as guitarist. 1 man, 1 instrument I can make very good use of these very cool features:
- reamping
- implementing a parallel effect loop for my marshall for better / tighter sound
- using UFX+ standalone without DAW as tape deck (DURec) for a lot of use cases (overdub records, recording ideas) and to copy them over later in one sweep to the DAW
- enough digital ports (2x ADAT) to connect to the ADI-2 Pro and to the "outside" -> HiFi ! By this I can use the PC perfectly as lossless player for audio.
The UFX+ shines with the flexibility of Thunderbolt and USB3 and the possibility to add more devices on the long run via MADI which makes it also possible to use higher sample rates without loosing too many channes. MADI has 64 channel, and even at double speed (88.2/96 kHz) you still have 32 channels left via MADI. In contrast to that with ADAT at double speed to loose very rapidly channels. At double speed you need already two ADAT channels to connect a 8ch preamp...
Therefore my recommendation, do not plan to "small".
Another example how to make very good use of an UFX+ (or UFX II)
See this blog article, which shows my current setup and use cases: https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/ind … Rec-EN-DE/
Another example how to connect to the "outside" ... to your HiFi using UFX+ or UFX II
UFX+ and UFX II have two ADAT channels and its very practical to have two ADAT channels !
You can use i.e.
- one to connect to the ADI-2 Pro at your recording place
- the other to connect to your HiFi
By this you can
- configure TotalMix FX to use your HiFi as 2nd Monitor pair
- use the PC as audio player for your HiFi
Here my setup in brief:
PC (DAW / Lossless Music Player) --USB<--ARC USB
|
USB3
|
+UFX+ --MADI-->Octamic XTC
|
+-- ADAT1-short TOSLINK cable-> ADI-2 Pro * #1 +--> Monitors
| +--> Phones
+-- ADAT2------------15m TOSLINK cable---------+
BluRay+
TV+--Optosel 4:1--> ADI-2 Pro or DAC * #2 --> HiFi
Reserve+
UFX+ (or II) as heart of the recording solution
Two ADI-2 Pro (one for the recording place, one for D/A conversion in front of the High-End HiFi solution).
In front of the 2nd ADI-2 Pro / DAC a TOSLINK switcher, where I can select up to 4 optical sources for the HiFi (PC/UFX*, TV, BluRay). An ADI-2 DAC is sufficient in front of the HiFi, but get the Pro if you need A/D for recording from the HiFi (to digitalize Vinyl or to record from Radio and what not).
Other interfaces to consider for a smaller setup or mobility
The new BBF Pro FS which has the latest and fastes converter and FS clock. Has two Mic Preamps and you can also integrate (only one) ADI-2 Pro FS to act as excellent D/A converter for monitor and phones. From mobility aspects the best interface available. But you couldn't integrate i.e. a HiFi digitally or you would need to change plugs or to check with TOSLINK switcher which allow for two destinations.
Interfaces that I didn't consider
- Speacial MADI interface.
- Interfaces like the 802, where you can not store gain settings digitally.
- Interfaces that have no Mic inputs (Digiface USB).
- PCIe bus based interfaces.
-UC which could be used as cheaper alternative to an UCX, but there are some nice features of the UCX missing
- no FX chip
- no AUTOSET
- slower converter
- different Mic inputs
Later in a bigger setup / MADI
In terms of UFX+ and MADI ... outlook .....
With such a setup you can use the advanced RME features like
- MIDI over MADI
- AUXDEVICE
to remote control additional preamps and to integrate them like a channel strip into TotalMix FX
and to store / restore all relevant settings, also of the external RME preamps via TM FX snapshots and workspaces.
BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub13