1 (edited by grappagreen 2024-10-09 09:11:45)

Topic: Running UCXII and USB Digiface on same machine

Hi all,

Any reason the above can't be used at the same time on a Mac?

I ask as I'm thinking about adding a digital desk to my setup and want to interface via ADAT. I don't have enough ADAT channels on the UCXII.

Thanks,

Si

Re: Running UCXII and USB Digiface on same machine

A DAW can connect to only one interface. you have to create an aggregate device in the Audio-Midi-Setup.
You will have to work with two Totalmix, each interface has it's own Totalmix.

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

Re: Running UCXII and USB Digiface on same machine

As a consequence of this you need to route channels across both interfaces over the DAW with the full RTL.
An alternative would be to make the "Digiface USB" to the main interface and to connect the UCX II via ADAT.
But then you can only route 8 channels over ADAT at single speed and only 4 at double speed.
Furthermore, you can't make good use of DURec, only for max 8 channels over ADAT.

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

Re: Running UCXII and USB Digiface on same machine

Thanks both.

Might have to rethink a bit..

Si

5 (edited by ramses 2024-10-10 10:04:11)

Re: Running UCXII and USB Digiface on same machine

If you're thinking about aggregation, you'll need to synchronize the interfaces via ADAT, as the Digiface USB has no word clock (WC). This uses up at least one ADAT port on both the UCX II and the Digiface USB for this purpose.

I don't know your exact requirements or target setup from this thread (how many devices you intend to add),
but generally speaking:

If you want to add a few devices and have the flexibility to route any input to any output, you may run out of ADAT I/O rather quickly.

It happens even faster:
a) at higher sample rates (e.g. double speed which halves the number of channels via ADAT), and
b) depending on what devices you connect.

Regarding b), some mic preamps don't have word clock or digital input for clock synchronization. Such a device needs to become the clock master, and you can only connect one such device in a setup.

What I want to point out is that this is an isolated question, and the answers may already help you. However, it's often more useful to know the whole picture to check if all requirements are met. For example, if all devices in the setup can be clock-synchronized and which device can or must be the clock master. Ideally, the main recording interface should be the clock master. That way, you only need to set the sample rate in the DAW, and the slaves will follow the master automatically.

If you want to expand with ADAT: the only interfaces with more than two ADAT ports are the RayDAT (PCIe, more ports, optional WC module) and Digiface USB (no WC).

Depending on budget and demand, it could also make sense to change the strategy and implement something that also supports MADI.

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

6 (edited by vinark 2024-10-10 10:33:52)

Re: Running UCXII and USB Digiface on same machine

There is a possible workaround for needing 1 adat port for sync. If one of your devices you connect to the rme can take care of syncing. It is not easy to explain, hence an example, but many more possibilities then this one.

If one of the devices you connect has both in and output adats (or WC), connecting the adat in to the ucx and the adat out to the digiface, gives you the option to let the ucx sync the digiface through that device. Same goes for WC, ucx WC out to the devices WC in and the adat or optical spdif to the digiface and sync from that.
I hope this explains the principle!

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

Re: Running UCXII and USB Digiface on same machine

You mean something like this (constructed case):

PC--USB---Digiface USB[cs]<-----ADAT----------Device#2[cs]
|                                                                        |
|                                                                        | WC
|                                                                        |
+---USB---UCX II[cm]--------------ADAT-------->Device#1[cs]

UCX II is master
Device#1 is slave to UCX II via ADAT IN
Device#2 is slave to Device#1 via WC (both need WC or suitable digital out/in's)
Digiface USB is slave to Device#2 via ADAT IN

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

Re: Running UCXII and USB Digiface on same machine

That is also possible (with 2 external devices) but I meant with just one. You use the in of that device with the ucx and the out with the digiface (or visa versa). The in can be adat spdif or WC, the out must be optical for the digface.
Cheers ramses!

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

9 (edited by ramses 2024-10-10 13:20:03)

Re: Running UCXII and USB Digiface on same machine

Ok, but then you have to manage the external device (Device#1) in two different TM FX instances.
The inputs in the Digiface USB
The outputs in the UCX II

In this case, not so beneficial that you can't directly route the inputs of external device
to your main interfaces (UCX II) outputs.

PC--USB---Digiface USB[cs]<-----ADAT---------+
|                                                                     \
|                                                                      \
|                                                                       \
+---USB---UCX II[cm]--------------ADAT-------->Device#1[cs]
                           \
                            +---Main Out

Then maybe better this way, so that e.g. the preamps or other ports of Device#1
can be monitored on the main interface UCX II.

PC--USB---Digiface USB[cm]-----ADAT--------->Device#1[cs]
|                                                                      /
|                                                                    /
|                                                                  /
+---USB---UCX II[cs]<-----------ADAT-------+
                           \
                            +---Main Out

But still settings for the external device need to be performed in two different TM FX instances.

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

Re: Running UCXII and USB Digiface on same machine

Sure it is not ideal, or maybe it is since we have no idea what the OP wants and has. But possibilities are many and there is always one best for the use case. Sometimes inputs and outputs are unrelated. For example mic inputs and monitor (headphones ) outputs. And maybe it is all about expanding inputs and not outputs. Who knows?

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