• mavck
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  • Registered: 2022-03-01
  • Posts: 22

Topic: ADI-2 PRO FS R+ ADI-2 FS setup question

Hi.
I recently got my ADI-2 PRO FS R and love the thing.
Its only weakness seems to be channel count.

I was thinking about expanding it via ADAT, but I read that it sadly only monitors 2 channels even if can take all 8.
Now, because of that limitation, I was thinking about buying the "cheap" ADI
https://www.rme-audio.de/ADI-2-FS.html
Connect them both via Toslink both ways and use the "cheap" one as a second pair of analog inputs and extra monitoring, since I just love the conversion and sound quality of the ADI. I only want the high frequency rates of the FS R for listening, and do not plan to record at more than 96k or perhaps 192.

Would that setup work? Basically controlling everything from my FS R, and letting the 2 FS just send its analog inputs to the ADAT output and being able to monitor everything from the FS R with the option of monitoring from the 2 FS if needed/wanted.

Other possible setups I thought were buying a Babyface Pro FS, which would eliminate the need for a third piece of gear (preamp) or just buy an interface from another maker like the MOTU ultralite mk5, but I am not sure how the ADAT would work there (due to the 2 channel limitation for both sending and monitoring of the FS R).

What do you think/recommend to expand the amount of channels and still use the FS R as the main unit for both monitoring and recording (USB/DAW)?

Thanks!!

  • From: Norway
  • Registered: 2021-06-21
  • Posts: 398

Re: ADI-2 PRO FS R+ ADI-2 FS setup question

Check out UCXII. With your needs you will have an abundance of I/O. Routing is better from TMfx, monitoring any channel from ADI-2 pro is easy. Mic and instrument input, 2 + 2. + 4 more analog channels. UCXII is swiss knife product! You can route your ADI- pro analog channels via UCXII to PC. UCXII is also a recorder on its own with DUrec functionality.

ADI-2 DAC, ADI-2 PRO, DigifaceUSB, UCXII, ARC, HEGEL.h80, KEF.ls50, HD650, ie400pro _,.\''/.,_

3 Reply by KaiS (edited by KaiS 2022-03-07 06:48:32)

  • KaiS
  • DAW Mastermind
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  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2020-02-05
  • Posts: 3,132

Re: ADI-2 PRO FS R+ ADI-2 FS setup question

mavck wrote:

I recently got my ADI-2 PRO FS R and love the thing.
Its only weakness seems to be channel count.

I was thinking about expanding it via ADAT, but I read that it sadly only monitors 2 channels even if can take all 8.
Now, because of that limitation, I was thinking about buying the "cheap" ADI
https://www.rme-audio.de/ADI-2-FS.html
Connect them both via Toslink both ways and use the "cheap" one as a second pair of analog inputs and extra monitoring, since I just love the conversion and sound quality of the ADI.

If I get you right, you want to connect more than one analog source to your ADI-2 Pro.

If you don’t need all sources simultaneously, an audio switcher would be the perfect solution and provides the best quality.
These come in various channel counts and with different connectors, here are just some examples:

https://smile.amazon.de/Nobsound-Balanc … amp;sr=8-6

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/719yGZOPdgL._AC_SX679_.jpg

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41UAj1uG0xL._AC_.jpg


https://smile.amazon.de/Nobsound-Balanc … amp;sr=8-3

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/619h+2rW0gL._AC_SX679_.jpg

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61ZVXapI7AL._AC_SX679_.jpg


https://smile.amazon.de/Nobsound-Balanc … 3&th=1

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61jbV-qCZ4L._AC_SX679_.jpg

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/719KRP3zmdL._AC_SX679_.jpg

https://smile.amazon.de/Dynavox-206410- … amp;sr=8-8

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71wtqOD3ncL._AC_SX679_.jpg

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71ypIEiYvJL._AC_SX679_.jpg

KaiS's Website

  • mavck
  • ADAT user
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  • Registered: 2022-03-01
  • Posts: 22

Re: ADI-2 PRO FS R+ ADI-2 FS setup question

Happy_amateur wrote:

Check out UCXII. With your needs you will have an abundance of I/O. Routing is better from TMfx, monitoring any channel from ADI-2 pro is easy. Mic and instrument input, 2 + 2. + 4 more analog channels. UCXII is swiss knife product! You can route your ADI- pro analog channels via UCXII to PC. UCXII is also a recorder on its own with DUrec functionality.

Thank you.
I originally considered it, but in my country recently all prices went up, so I picked up the last FS R I could find with the old price.
The UCXII is now almost the same price of my FS R, and it is something I don't want to pay for at the moment.
However, I know that in theory it is the best option for my needs! Which really pains me. If it was the original price, I would buy it right away.

  • mavck
  • ADAT user
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  • Registered: 2022-03-01
  • Posts: 22

Re: ADI-2 PRO FS R+ ADI-2 FS setup question

KaiS wrote:
mavck wrote:

I recently got my ADI-2 PRO FS R and love the thing.
Its only weakness seems to be channel count.

I was thinking about expanding it via ADAT, but I read that it sadly only monitors 2 channels even if can take all 8.
Now, because of that limitation, I was thinking about buying the "cheap" ADI
https://www.rme-audio.de/ADI-2-FS.html
Connect them both via Toslink both ways and use the "cheap" one as a second pair of analog inputs and extra monitoring, since I just love the conversion and sound quality of the ADI.

If I get you right, you want to connect more than one analog source to your ADI-2 Pro.

If you don’t need all sources simultaneously, an audio switcher would be the perfect solution and provides the best quality.
These come in various channel counts and with different connectors, here are just some examples:


This is actually something I had not considered and seems to actually be a great solution! (Minus a specific monitoring scenario I was thinking about).

Would these add any signal degradation before they hit the FS R?

6 Reply by KaiS (edited by KaiS 2022-03-02 14:30:26)

  • KaiS
  • DAW Mastermind
  • Offline
  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2020-02-05
  • Posts: 3,132

Re: ADI-2 PRO FS R+ ADI-2 FS setup question

mavck wrote:
KaiS wrote:
mavck wrote:

I recently got my ADI-2 PRO FS R and love the thing.
Its only weakness seems to be channel count.

I was thinking about expanding it via ADAT, but I read that it sadly only monitors 2 channels even if can take all 8.
Now, because of that limitation, I was thinking about buying the "cheap" ADI
https://www.rme-audio.de/ADI-2-FS.html
Connect them both via Toslink both ways and use the "cheap" one as a second pair of analog inputs and extra monitoring, since I just love the conversion and sound quality of the ADI.

If I get you right, you want to connect more than one analog source to your ADI-2 Pro.

If you don’t need all sources simultaneously, an audio switcher would be the perfect solution and provides the best quality.
These come in various channel counts and with different connectors, here are just some examples:


This is actually something I had not considered and seems to actually be a great solution! (Minus a specific monitoring scenario I was thinking about).

Would these add any signal degradation before they hit the FS R?

No signal degradation, as it’s only hardwire switching, like plugging cables.
No electronics involved.

ADI-2 Pro should offer enough connectivity to do any monitoring you want:
Line out, and two independent headphones outputs that can be used as line outputs too, makes 3 options to feed one pair of ears.

If you need distribution to various speakers you could use another audio switchbox of the same kind.

KaiS's Website

  • mavck
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  • Registered: 2022-03-01
  • Posts: 22

Re: ADI-2 PRO FS R+ ADI-2 FS setup question

Thank you.
I will keep considering this along with my original plan and a few other interfaces smile!

  • Registered: 2021-11-22
  • Posts: 34

Re: ADI-2 PRO FS R+ ADI-2 FS setup question

mavck wrote:

This is actually something I had not considered and seems to actually be a great solution! (Minus a specific monitoring scenario I was thinking about).

Would these add any signal degradation before they hit the FS R?

If properly built, no, should be pretty transparent. If you want a top-notch (albeit at top-notch prices too) switcher, this German company makes any combination imaginable, even your own custom solution:

https://dodocus.de/

I've had a great experience with one of their German distributors (I have no affiliation with either the manufacturer or this distributor):
https://audio-hifi-shop.de/

  • mavck
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  • Registered: 2022-03-01
  • Posts: 22

Re: ADI-2 PRO FS R+ ADI-2 FS setup question

mwilson wrote:
mavck wrote:

This is actually something I had not considered and seems to actually be a great solution! (Minus a specific monitoring scenario I was thinking about).

Would these add any signal degradation before they hit the FS R?

If properly built, no, should be pretty transparent. If you want a top-notch (albeit at top-notch prices too) switcher, this German company makes any combination imaginable, even your own custom solution:

https://dodocus.de/

I've had a great experience with one of their German distributors (I have no affiliation with either the manufacturer or this distributor):
https://audio-hifi-shop.de/

Thank you.
I have had some bad experiences with similar hardware, so I had to ask!
Those look great - but after reading this post and checking my options, I actually just got a second interface that I have hooked up via Toslink and I am completely happy with the results!

Thanks for all the help.