• Registered: 2021-01-16
  • Posts: 1

Topic: RME Digiface USB and focusrite

hello all

i'm a new user of RME products having just purchased the Digiface USB for PC. I must say it is great!
I had been using my Focusrite 18i20 and attached Octapre ADAT. The performance was not good. Using Cubase 9 I was unable to get below 512 samples, with poor latency as a result.

Using the RME, 256 works well at 48k 24bit. I have put the RME on it's own USB internal hub.

I wanted to ask a question about the new interface and how it works with the Focusrite 18i20

Currently I have the focus rite control mixer software installed and the focus rite attached with USB.
But do I really need this? as the Octapre seems to work and its not directly connected to the PC.
I don't require and specialist routing or sub mixes, just IN and OUTS.
Even if I do need some sub mixes etc, can I just do this with the RME total mix?

I am just getting a bit confused with the two sets of software and connections

any help appreciated

regards

2 Reply by ramses (edited by ramses 2021-01-16 14:39:06)

  • ramses
  • DAW Mastermind
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  • Registered: 2012-10-14
  • Posts: 12,869

Re: RME Digiface USB and focusrite

Make RME Digiface to your primary interface and clock master.
A DAW can only load one ASIO driver .. as you experienced already, RME has the better driver with less latency.

Digiface USB
+-------------- ADAT1 OUT ---------> ADAT IN ---- 18i20 (configure to get clock from ADAT)
+-------------- ADAT1 IN   <---------  ADAT OUT -- 18i20------------------------+
+                                                                                                             Word Clock Cabling                                     
+-------------- ADAT2 IN  <----------  ADAT OUT -- OctoPre---------------------+

Unfortunately you didn't mention exactly what Focusrite devices you have.
Do you have the Old OctoPre or the Scarlett Octopre ? https://www.thomann.de/de/focusrite_sca … ctopre.htm

With the new Scarlett Octopre, which has Coaxial SPDIF IN/OUT, you could check whether its maybe possible
to get rid of the WC cabling by getting the clock via coaxial SPDIF IN.
Prerequisite is the existance of this port and whether the Scarlett OctoPre would be able to learn clock via SPDIF IN.

Then you would only need to look for a converter for SPDIF optical to SPDIF coaxial and use one of the remaining free ADAT outputs of the Digiface USB, to configure it for optical SPDIF protocol (2 channels) and then use the converter to convert to coaxial SPDIF and connect to SPDIF IN on the Scarlett OctoPre.

You keep the 18i20 connected by USB, so that you can still control the routing and Mic settings on the 18i20.

A better solution might have been to invest into UC, UCX - and if you want to record in double speed (88.2/96 kHz) -
802 or UFX II and to connect the OctoPre as preamps and to get rid of the 18i20. This makes operation only harder if you need a 2nd software which is completely different to TM FX.

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub13