Topic: UFX III SC/UPC or SC/APC fiber cable for MADI ?

Hello friends,

I have a UFX III audio interface and want to connect the optical MADI to a Ferrofish Pulse 16 MX.

I understand that the UFX uses Standard Connector (SC) type and the Pulse 16 MX uses Lucent Connector (LC) type.

What I do not know, and looking for an answer is, Ultra Physical Contact (UPC) or Angled Physical Contact (APC) connector ? I read that they are not interchangeable ie: should never connect UPC into APC and vice versa as it will damage the connector. So I need to be sure exactly which type is on the RME UFX III and on the Pulse 16, UPC or APC ?

Also, any preferences between OM3, OM4 and OM5 ? given that my cable length will be less than 20 feet, probably not ?


Thanking you in advance :-)

UFX-III, 12Mic, FerroFish Pulse 16

2 (edited by ramses 2024-01-20 11:10:48)

Re: UFX III SC/UPC or SC/APC fiber cable for MADI ?

The difference between UPC and APC is for your application not relevant, especially not for such short distances.
Simply get an SC to LC multimode duplex cable, end of the story.

If you don't have a structured in-house cabling and are not working with a combination of patch and in-house cables between two devices, then it doesn't even matter, what multimode fibre cable standard you choose (OM3, OM4, ..). Every connection between the devices has its own optical sender and receiver.

As you can see here, for audio (100 Mbit/sec bandwidth) the maximum cable length is not different between e.g. OM3 or OM4 it doesn't give you neither better performance (the 100 Mbit bandwidth is fix) nor it gives you longer cable length between two MADI devices (2km, not more):

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ztdsx132kjcfpipd0hfy4/2024-01-20-OM3-vs-OM4.jpg?rlkey=95etuqznyt8tudkqmuwcssfen&dl=1

But as a rule of thumb, you should generally stick to one multimode fiber cable standard so that you never have to think or worry about it. Bad would be to mix different types of multimode cables, OM3 and OM4, when working with a combination of in-house cabling and patch cables. Then you get weaker signals, higher dampening, especially bad when the distances are higher.

Although the advantages of OM4 over OM3 are not relevant for your application in any way, I would choose OM4 because the cables support higher bandwidth, faster data transmission rates, and longer distances compared to OM3. So you get automatically more flexibility when re-using cables for other purposes (if supported speed and max cable length would be relevant). I do not think this is applicable, but if OM4 doesn't cost much more, then I would simply go for it.
In short: simply choose the more future-proof cables -> OM4. OM5 is much over the tops for your applications.

Perhaps a silly sounding statement, but I like the violet colour of OM4 cable more than the aquamarine of OM3, cheers wink

Cabling examples:

Whats possible, the usual way

         Device#1 TX--------------------OM4 (or OM3)------------------>RX Device#2
                         RX<------------------OM4 (or OM3)--------------------TX

What even should work because the cable standard is IMHO only relevant between optical sender and receiver…

              Device#1 TX--------------------OM3------------------>RX Device#2
                              RX<------------------OM4--------------------TX

     or same with multiple MADI devices

               Recording Interface----OM3---->Preamp----OM4---->Converter AD----OM4---->Converter D/A
                               ^-------------------------------------OM3--------------------------------------------------+
      But you really should not do it, better stick to one standard for your location.
      Then it is also easier to exchange multimode fibre cables between alternative solutions / setups.
      Maybe you have in-house cabling and also need to connect servers, then it is better to have only one standard
      to be able to reuse these cables for multiple purposes … Audio and network in general.

What should definitively be avoided, mix of multimode cable standard between optical sender and receiver.
Leads to higher dampening, will cause issues, especially if you use much longer cables.
It is unpredictable if or when you get issues, no matter whether it just runs or not, it's simply an unsupported setup:

Device#1 TX-----OM3 patchcable---Patchpanel1---OM4 inhouse cabling---Patchpanel2---OM3 patchcable--->RX Device#2
                RX<---OM3 patchcable---Patchpanel1---OM4 inhouse cabling---Patchpanel2---OM3 patchcable-----TX

In this case OM4 has to be used for all patchcables to match the cable standard of the inhouse cabling (which can not easily be changed).

Example Patchcable:

This shop offers patch cables from 0,5 up to 20m. Some shops also offer longer patch cables up to 30 or even 50m.

SC to LC OM4 multimode fibre duplex cable, violett:
https://www.reichelt.de/duplex-jumper-l … &nbc=1

Only for your information:

Difference between "Patch Cable" and "Installation Cable (or structured cabling)"

Patch cables (what you need): are used for short-distance connections. They have a flexible design, shorter lengths, and are intended for frequent plugging and unplugging.

Installation Cable (or Structured Cabling): being used for structured cabling within buildings, connecting devices across longer distances between rooms or floors. The construction of the cable is more durable, designed for building installations and less suited for frequent plugging. These cables are also more "stiff". In comparison to patch cables, they do not support as high bending radii.

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

Re: UFX III SC/UPC or SC/APC fiber cable for MADI ?

Thank you so much Ramses. Excellent and very thorough explanation. I will go ahead with my purchase of SC/UPC to LC/UPC OM4 cables.

Thanks again,
Cheers

UFX-III, 12Mic, FerroFish Pulse 16

Re: UFX III SC/UPC or SC/APC fiber cable for MADI ?

You're welcome ;-)

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

5 (edited by ramses 2024-01-21 10:15:44)

Re: UFX III SC/UPC or SC/APC fiber cable for MADI ?

Here a few pictures from my blog

Current setup

You see the OM4 MADI cabling, below you see how MADI out needs to be connected to MADI IN

https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/ent … iii-en-de/


https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/attachment/3079-09-rack-back-madi-extfx-cabling-jpg/

https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/attachment/3081-11-rack-back-even-more-cabling-distance-jpg/

Here you see one specific aspect of splitting MIDI output from FC-300 to the two FX

https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/attachment/3040-07-fx-and-amps-jpg/

https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/attachment/3059-2023-04-30-22-40-56-current-cabling-marshall-parallel-effect-loop-etc-jpg/

The complete setup including Wi-Fi to control Music playback via MusicBee Remote and HiFi as Monitor B

https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/attachment/3044-current-setup-ufx-iii-v002-jpg/



Pictures from older setups



https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/Ent … cber-MADI/

How to connect a few devices is a serial fashion, MADI OUT to MADI IN

https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/attachment/1774-ufx-und-octamic-xtc-bild-2-rear-madi-cabling-jpg/

This was with OM3 cables, aquamarine

https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/attachment/2172-om4-duplex-jumper-sc-sc-50-125%C2%B5-0-5m-jpg/

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