• Registered: 2023-06-23
  • Posts: 2

Topic: Expanding a BF

I own a BF Pro and need to add 7 more mic inputs.  I want to keep TotalMix functionality for all inputs after expansion.

How can I do this?

MIDI? ADAT?

I’m running Windows 11

  • Registered: 2016-06-14
  • Posts: 1,142

Re: Expanding a BF

Hi
You simply buy one of the several 8-channel mic preamps with ADAT output available on the market (RME Octamic, Audient ASP800 or 880 or EvoSP8, Behringer ADA8200, Tascam Dyna…).
The ADAT inputs are always appearing in Totalmix because the physical port is there, regardless if something is connected or not (so far it’s the same as with the analog inputs). Mic preamp gain, +48V on/off, phase, pad and such things are controlled over the hardware, it’s not possible to send control data over the optical ADAT connection.
Be aware only with 44.1 or 48 kHz all eight channels are available. With higher sample rates you only would have four or even only two.
Also important is a proper clocking. Either the external preamp is master and sends the clock over ADAT, or BF is master and sends its clock over a word clock cable (or second ADAT cable in the other direction) to the preamp.

UCX - FF 400 - Babyface pro - Digiface USB - ADI-2 (original)
Mac mini M1 - Macbook pro - iPad Air2
  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2007-04-10
  • Posts: 9,776

Re: Expanding a BF

This preamp/converter would work:
https://rme-audio.de/octamic-ii.html




oli77sch wrote:

.
Also important is a proper clocking. Either the external preamp is master and sends the clock over ADAT, or BF is master and sends its clock over a word clock cable (or second ADAT cable in the other direction) to the preamp.

There's no Word Clock on the BF.

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

RME Support's Website

4 Reply by oli77sch (edited by oli77sch 2023-06-23 14:17:57)

  • Registered: 2016-06-14
  • Posts: 1,142

Re: Expanding a BF

RME Support wrote:

This preamp/converter would work:
https://rme-audio.de/octamic-ii.html




oli77sch wrote:

.
Also important is a proper clocking. Either the external preamp is master and sends the clock over ADAT, or BF is master and sends its clock over a word clock cable (or second ADAT cable in the other direction) to the preamp.

There's no Word Clock on the BF.

Sorry, my bad, I was accidentally thinking 'in general'. I of course know it, having a BF pro myself…

UCX - FF 400 - Babyface pro - Digiface USB - ADI-2 (original)
Mac mini M1 - Macbook pro - iPad Air2
  • Registered: 2023-06-23
  • Posts: 2

Re: Expanding a BF

Thank you