1 Topic by Tun (edited by Tun 2021-09-16 11:44:06)

  • Tun
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Topic: HDSPE MADI and RayDAT in same system simultaneously

Hi all

I currently use the HDSPe MADI card with Mytek 8x192 ADDA, Win 10.

Looking to add the HDSPe RayDAT card so I can use Expert Sleepers ES3 to send CV signals from the DAW to a eurorack system. From my initial research it looks like it's possible to run both cards simultaneously from the DAW as they both use the same driver, but before I shell out lots of $$$ on the RayDAT and ES3 I'd like to iron out a few questions.

I know using 2 cards would mean 2 instances of TotalMix, one for each card and that's not a problem, but what about sync between the 2 cards? The Mytek 8x192 has several BNC wordclock outs and is ideal as a master clock, so would both cards run synced to it via bnc? Or would I need to use internal sync between the 2 cards, and if so, would it work syncing internally if one of the cards is receiving wordclock from the Mytek? Am I missing something or overcomplicating it?

Thanks in advance for any insight/advice.

2 Reply by ramses (edited by ramses 2021-09-17 06:30:07)

  • ramses
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Re: HDSPE MADI and RayDAT in same system simultaneously

Tun wrote:

Hi all

I currently use the HDSPe MADI card with Mytek 8x192 ADDA, Win 10.

Looking to add the HDSPe RayDAT card so I can use Expert Sleepers ES3 to send CV signals from the DAW to a eurorack system. From my initial research it looks like it's possible to run both cards simultaneously from the DAW as they both use the same driver, but before I shell out lots of $$$ on the RayDAT and ES3 I'd like to iron out a few questions.

I know using 2 cards would mean 2 instances of TotalMix, one for each card and that's not a problem, but what about sync between the 2 cards? The Mytek 8x192 has several BNC wordclock outs and is ideal as a master clock, so would both cards run synced to it via bnc? Or would I need to use internal sync between the 2 cards, and if so, would it work syncing internally if one of the cards is receiving wordclock from the Mytek? Am I missing something or overcomplicating it?

Thanks in advance for any insight/advice.

Yes

  • HDSPe MADI and RayDAT use the same ASIO driver, so you can access both cards directly from DAW

  • you need to clock synch all cards

  • you need to work with two TM FX instances and can't route audio between these two TM FX instances/cards (in near-real time), but you could e.g. route in the DAW (with the usual RTL-round trip latency)

and

  • in addition to clock synchronization you need to take care, that both RME cards use the same ASIO buffer size, see RME driver settings

Inexpensive internal WC connection between HDSPe MADI and RayDAT

Check HDSPe MADI and RayDAT manuals for: X400 Sync In, X401 Sync Out (3-pol)
https://www.rme-audio.de/downloads/hdspemadi_d.pdf
https://www.rme-audio.de/downloads/hdspemadi_e.pdf
https://www.rme-audio.de/downloads/raydat_d.pdf
https://www.rme-audio.de/downloads/raydat_e.pdf

This is a internal WC connection available for both RME cards. Card with X401 Sync Out in use is WC master, card with X400 Sync In in use is slave. See also https://forum.rme-audio.de/viewtopic.ph … 88#p151988.

Not sure whether this cable is part of your delivery, but you can get this cable from some shows for around $8.
I would ask Synthax audio, but I also saw it on Amazon.

Side note to TCO card

The mentioned TCO card has also WC, but is only being used if you really need it for video, as it costs for the additional video part a lot (€349), compared to the usual RME WCM module for cards like the RayDAT (€109).
An you wouldn't need two of those cards anyway, as the HDSP MADI has already WC.
It's in any case cheaper to synch both cards by using an internal 3-pol cable for only about $8.

Final setup

Make e.g. Mytec to WC master and use WC between Mytec and HDSPe MADI as this card has already WC I/O.
This has also the advantage, that on the RME side Steadyclock can refresh the clock signal and remove any clock jitter.
Then between the two RME cards it should be possible to get this internal synch cable otherwise use WCM for RayDAT.

Mytec (clock master) ---- WC ----- HDSPe MADI --- internal WC ---- RayDAT

https://www.thomann.de/de/rme_wcm_hdsp_9632.htm €109 (only if you prefer this solution)
https://www.da-x.de/de/rme-hdsp-tco-modul.html €349 (not needed, only if you need video synch)

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub14
  • Tun
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Re: HDSPE MADI and RayDAT in same system simultaneously

waedi wrote:

I never heard of internal sync connection between RME-PCI cards.
Both cards can connect internal to a TCO card (Time code option board).
You should have two of them, one for each PCI card.
Those TCO have word clock connectors then you can connect them to the Mytek unit for having proper sync clock.
Hopefully the computer housing has enough space for this installation.

Hi waedi

Thanks for your input. However only one TCO can be used with multiple HDSPe cards. I don’t need the TCO however as I already have the HDSPe daughter card with BNC wordclock in and out. Luckily I have plenty of free PCIe slots!

  • Tun
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Re: HDSPE MADI and RayDAT in same system simultaneously

ramses wrote:
Tun wrote:

Hi all

I currently use the HDSPe MADI card with Mytek 8x192 ADDA, Win 10.

Looking to add the HDSPe RayDAT card so I can use Expert Sleepers ES3 to send CV signals from the DAW to a eurorack system. From my initial research it looks like it's possible to run both cards simultaneously from the DAW as they both use the same driver, but before I shell out lots of $$$ on the RayDAT and ES3 I'd like to iron out a few questions.

I know using 2 cards would mean 2 instances of TotalMix, one for each card and that's not a problem, but what about sync between the 2 cards? The Mytek 8x192 has several BNC wordclock outs and is ideal as a master clock, so would both cards run synced to it via bnc? Or would I need to use internal sync between the 2 cards, and if so, would it work syncing internally if one of the cards is receiving wordclock from the Mytek? Am I missing something or overcomplicating it?

Thanks in advance for any insight/advice.

Yes

  • HDSPe MADI and RayDAT use the same ASIO driver, so you can access both cards directly from DAW

  • you need to clock synch all cards

  • you need to work with two TM FX instances and can't route audio between these two TM FX instances/cards (in near-real time), but you could e.g. route in the DAW (with the usual RTL-round trip latency)

and

  • in addition to clock synchronization you need to take care, that both RME cards use the same ASIO buffer size, see RME driver settings

Inexpensive internal WC connection between HDSPe MADI and RayDAT

Check HDSPe MADI and RayDAT manuals for: X400 Sync In, X401 Sync Out (3-pol)
https://www.rme-audio.de/downloads/hdspemadi_d.pdf
https://www.rme-audio.de/downloads/hdspemadi_e.pdf
https://www.rme-audio.de/downloads/raydat_d.pdf
https://www.rme-audio.de/downloads/raydat_e.pdf

This is a internal WC connection available for both RME cards. Card with X401 Sync Out in use is WC master, card with X400 Sync In in use is slave. See also https://forum.rme-audio.de/viewtopic.ph … 88#p151988.

Not sure whether this cable is part of your delivery, but you can get this cable from some shows for around $8.
I would ask Synthax audio, but I also saw it on Amazon.

Side note to TCO card

The mentioned TCO card has also WC, but is only being used if you really need it for video, as it costs for the additional video part a lot (€349), compared to the usual RME WCM module for cards like the RayDAT (€109).
An you wouldn't need two of those cards anyway, as the HDSP MADI has already WC.
It's in any case cheaper to synch both cards by using an internal 3-pol cable for only about $8.

Final setup

Make e.g. Mytec to WC master and use WC between Mytec and HDSPe MADI as this card has already WC I/O.
This has also the advantage, that on the RME side Steadyclock can refresh the clock signal and remove any clock jitter.
Then between the two RME cards it should be possible to get this internal synch cable otherwise use WCM for RayDAT.

Mytec (clock master) ---- WC ----- HDSPe MADI --- internal WC ---- RayDAT

https://www.thomann.de/de/rme_wcm_hdsp_9632.htm €109 (only if you prefer this solution)
https://www.da-x.de/de/rme-hdsp-tco-modul.html €349 (not needed, only if you need video synch)

Hi Ramses and thank you for the detailed explanation. So, with the Mytek as clock master all I need to do is ‘forward’ the sync from the MADI card via the X401 internal 3 pin connector to the X400 3 pin connector on the RayDAT card? Might be a silly question but do I need a special cable from RME for this?

5 Reply by ramses (edited by ramses 2021-09-17 23:05:45)

  • ramses
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Re: HDSPE MADI and RayDAT in same system simultaneously

Tun wrote:

Hi Ramses and thank you for the detailed explanation. So, with the Mytek as clock master all I need to do is ‘forward’ the sync from the MADI card via the X401 internal 3 pin connector to the X400 3 pin connector on the RayDAT card? Might be a silly question but do I need a special cable from RME for this?

You need an internal WC cable like this:
https://www.synthax.co.uk/rme/rme-spare … ble-3-pin/

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub14