Topic: How to expand my UFX III

Hi.
I will be expanding my ufx3 with UA 410d preamp with total of 8 channels via ADAT.
The expansion is due to drum recording, 15 mics in total are going thru preamps, UA and 4 directly into the UFX, and finally into my PC.
Now, in this instance do I need the UA and UFX to also be connected via word clock as well?
Thanks

2 (edited by waedi 2023-08-15 17:16:43)

Re: How to expand my UFX III

For 1UFX together with 1 UA 410D :
No, Wordclock is not needed.
In the UFX settings select adat optical as clock source.
At the UA unit : (Sample Rate knob is NOT set to “W/C”)it uses internal clock then.

But if you use more units then it is different and you may use Wordclock between the UA units.
You can connect 2 units UA410D to the UFX.
For 11 microphones this will not work.

Consider an 8 channel device something like this :
https://www.thomann.de/de/behringer_ada … ragain.htm

M1-Sequoia, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue

Re: How to expand my UFX III

If you want to keep your UFX III as clock master, then you can use word clock.
To use the UFX III as clock master has one advantage, then you can control the sample rate via the DAW/application.
And then the other connected devices would follow the sample rate (whether you use 44.1 or 48 kHz).

For the UAD preamp it could be an advantage to use the own internal clock for A/D conversion,
in this case the UFX III could learn the clock through ADAT and by design Steadyclock FS would guarantee a jitter free clock signal for the conversion of the UFX III.

If you want to record in double speed, then the two ADAT channels of the UFX III would be full.

You could consider using an 12Mic and to connect it via MADI, this would give you more headroom in terms of preamps and number of channels.

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

4 (edited by vdamir78 2023-08-15 18:40:02)

Re: How to expand my UFX III

Apart from UA Twin Finity's 4 preamps, I also have additional of 11 external preamps (Chandler ltd, SSL, Capi, WA...). Since 4-710d can accept 4 more line ins, that is a total of 8 channels that can go out thru ADATs towards the UFX. UFX has 8 line inputs plus 4 xlrs, which is total of 20 possible inputs in my case. So, I don't need to expand. I might add another mic or two into the rig, but I won't reach 20 in any case.
So, the issue was not the expansion per se, just the best way to utilize UA and UFX.
I'd like to record in 96khz, so I will need both adat in outs on my UA and UFX to run 4+4 lines through them.

Re: How to expand my UFX III

You are right!

Vincent, Amsterdam
https://soundcloud.com/thesecretworld
BFpro fs, 2X HDSP9652 ADI-8AE, 2X HDSP9632

6 (edited by vdamir78 2023-08-15 18:56:36)

Re: How to expand my UFX III

vinark wrote:

You are right!

Yeah but, which of them is better off being a master clock? UFX or UA? In my case scenario ofc...

Re: How to expand my UFX III

vdamir78 wrote:
vinark wrote:

You are right!

Yeah but, which of them is better off being a master clock? UFX or UA? In my case scenario ofc...

I think in real-world applications you won't recognize any difference or when comparing A/B properly (at the same level, blind, fully excluding personal expectations and bias).

However, there might be an advantage to use the UAD as clock master so that he can uses its internal clock for the AD conversion.

RME devices are designed to be excellent clock slaves by Steadyclock technology. So you could use the UFX as clock slave without any worry because it will eliminate any potential clock jitter from the clock signal arriving on its ADAT inputs.

If you need further information about SteadyClock, see this video:
https://www.rme-audio.de/steadyclock-fs.html
https://www.rme-audio.de/de_steadyclock-fs.html

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