1 Topic by MArioDelicious (edited by MArioDelicious 2023-04-13 17:19:25)

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Topic: How to connect Both UFX III & FF 800

Hey Guys


I've just got my new UFX III and wanted to ask how can i connect my FF800 as a slave ,

until the UFX i was using also 2 behringer ultragain ADA8200 ( both connected to the 2 Adat )
so it means that now my spdif on the FF800 is free

i was thinking maybe to connect both Behringer ultragain ADA8200 to the new UFXIII and maybe somehow to connect the FF800 to the UFX III with the SPDIF or am i wrong ?
is there any other way ?

using Windows 10 btw

Many Thanks !

2 Reply by ramses (edited by ramses 2023-04-13 17:33:24)

  • ramses
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Re: How to connect Both UFX III & FF 800

Since when does FF800 support MADI?

Proposed setup

UFX III as clock master (RME driver settings -> clock source: "internal")
+--- ADAT1 --- clock slave1 (Either ADA8200 or FF800, as you prefer)
+--- ADAT2 --- clock slave2 (Either ADA8200 or FF800, as you prefer)
[+----MADI------only MADI equipment, isn't that clear?]

If your external devices have an ADAT input (ADA8200: yes, FF800: yes),
then they will get the clock from the master (UFX III) via their ADAT input, then WC (word clock) is not needed.

Best to provide a FW400 connection to the FF800 to keep it manageable.
Best to use a supported card with good TI FW400 chipset.
https://forum.rme-audio.de/viewtopic.ph … 85#p193885
https://forum.rme-audio.de/viewtopic.ph … 85#p191885

On the other hand, once you have the routing done and settings settled (no changes anymore)
you can also use the FF800 fully in stand-alone mode and disconnect FW entirely.

We have many threads in the forum about connecting external components.
Extended search and then search for e.g., clock AND synch AND ADAT in all sub-forums.

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub14
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Re: How to connect Both UFX III & FF 800

ramses wrote:

Errrm ... since when does FF800 support MADI?

what i meant is - if there's an option to connect the FF800 ( from the spdif ) to the UFXIII SPDIF ...

obviously i am aware the ff800 doesn't have MAdi ...

4 Reply by ramses (edited by ramses 2023-04-13 17:36:27)

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Re: How to connect Both UFX III & FF 800

You corrected your posting, I am pretty sure you wrote MADI. But anyway.

SPDIF gives you only 2ch (at every sample rate). Usually, that isn't enough.
Better use 2x ADAT as proposed in my posting above.
Does that help, or is SPDIF for any reason a must for you?

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

5 Reply by MArioDelicious (edited by MArioDelicious 2023-04-13 17:39:27)

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Re: How to connect Both UFX III & FF 800

ramses wrote:

You corrected your posting, I am pretty sure you wrote MADI. But anyway.

SPDIF gives you only 2ch (at every sample rate). Usually, that isn't enough.
Better use 2x ADAT as proposed in my posting above.
Does that help, or is SPDIF for any reason a must for you?

I corrected what I wrote because the explanation was not accurate i meant the spdif

6 Reply by MArioDelicious (edited by MArioDelicious 2023-04-13 17:49:26)

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Re: How to connect Both UFX III & FF 800

thanks for your answer and the help ,

If i am connecting the ff800 to the ADAT1 Clock Slave1 ( on the UFXIII )
does it mean i will have both ADAT available on my ff800 in addition ?

or am i wrong here

7 Reply by ramses (edited by ramses 2023-04-13 19:05:53)

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Re: How to connect Both UFX III & FF 800

Look at the back of UFX III and FF800. You see
- ADAT1 IN, ADAT1 OUT
- ADAT2 IN, ADAT2 OUT
What do you conclude from that?
One TOSLINK cable, one transfer direction for the 8channel at single speed (44.1/48 kHz).
Otherwise, you would see only one plug labeled "ADAT1" or "ADAT1 IN+OUT".

If you want to connect the FF800 to the UFX III and if you would like to use the FF800 for AD and DA as well.
Well, then you need to connect the FF800 with two cables, one for 8ch in sending, one for 8ch in receiving direction.
On both devices, you need to configure the routing of channels from/to ADAT1.

clock master                                                                                   clock slave
UFX III ADAT1 OUT-----------------TOSLINK CABLE 1 ------------------------->ADAT1 IN------FF800
        \                                                                                                                             /
         + ADAT1  IN<-----------------TOSLINK CABLE 2---------------------------ADAT1 OUT---+

Now you have port ADAT1 completely used.
ADA8200 .. well connect it with two cables to ADAT2 to use the device for AD and DA.

clock master                                                                                   clock slave
UFX III ADAT2 OUT-----------------TOSLINK CABLE 3 ------------------------->ADAT IN------ADA8200
        \                                                                                                                             /
         + ADAT2  IN<-----------------TOSLINK CABLE 4---------------------------ADAT OUT---+


If you only need AD or DA, well then only 1 cable on the proper direction.
Then you can use the other free port maybe for a 3rd device, if the remaining transfer direction fits.

Please keep in mind, the ADA8200 has DIP switches on the back to configure sample rate and from what port to get the clock.

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

8 Reply by oli77sch (edited by oli77sch 2023-04-14 09:03:47)

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Re: How to connect Both UFX III & FF 800

Reading thru all this I can see some misunderstandings.
The UFX III has two ADAT input ports. Using TWO Behringer ADA8200, of course both these ports are in use already. And no, the Fireface800 can not figure as a 'splitter' on one of the UFX III ADAT ports. ADAT has a fixed amount of channels per connection (per optical cable): 8 @ 44.1 or 48 kHz, 4 @ 88.2 or 96 kHz, 2 @ 176.4 or 192 kHz.
Answering the initial question is: yes, the FF800 can be used as standalone 2-channel converter, but over the AES/EBU input on the UFX III. The coaxial SPDIF output on the FF800 can be configured as AES/EBU. There would be cables needed with an RCA connector on one side and XLR on the other (there are informations about that in the FF800 manual). Of course it would be sort of waste to use only two channels of the FF800.

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