• Registered: 2017-03-02
  • Posts: 10

Topic: ADI 2/4 - How to get 2 in 4 out

Let's be honest, people buy this unit to get access to two stereo analogue outputs independently. I've read through the manual and can find no clear instructions about how this is achieved. Even the block diagram of the USB mode shows the TRS output mirroring the XLR output, both labelled 1/2, and yet in another post on this forum I find complex instructions about how to set the unit up in USB mode to get 2 independent stereo analogue outputs.

So, lets skip to the chase -

1) Is it possible to use the 2/4 as a standalone 2 in 4 out A/D D/A(x2) converter, without using USB?

2) If not, why not? I mean, there's two independent DACs, so why restrict access to only USB mode?

3) Is it possible to create an artist headphone mix combining the analogue input and one of the digital inputs?

I am presuming the answer to Q3 is no, because I find no mention of this in the manual. And by having no software control panel or mixer, like total mix, the user is restricted. If I am forced to use USB mode for my 2/4 I/O, then I get unusable DAW round trip latency if I want to set up a vocal artist headphone mix of the recording input and backing track, which means this is unusable for tracking in USB mode.

So, In looking for a solution I wonder if this is possible. I use the 2/4 to convert the analogue recording (e.g live vocals in this case) to digital AES and send it to my HDSPe AES-32. Then, via Total Mix, I send the source recording to the DAW and also use Total Mix to mix the source into the monitor AES output stream that connects to the AES input of the 2/4. Then the only latency I get is converter latency, not DAW latency. And I only require 2 in 2 out from the 2/4. Would that work? And would I need to be in ADDA mode to make that work?

Also, I'm trying to figure out what 'Dig. Out Source' setting does.

Thanks

  • Registered: 2023-06-30
  • Posts: 214

Re: ADI 2/4 - How to get 2 in 4 out

Let's be honest

Let's be honest, you did not read the manual carefully enough.

1) Is it possible to use the 2/4 as a standalone 2 in 4 out A/D D/A(x2) converter, without using USB?

Yes. See manual chapters 12.2 and 12.3.

3) Is it possible to create an artist headphone mix combining the analogue input and one of the digital inputs?

No. There is no mixer.

Also, I'm trying to figure out what 'Dig. Out Source' setting does.

See chapter 14.1.3 of the manual.

Fireface UCX II + ARC USB > ADI-2 Pro FS R BE > Neumann KH 750 DSP + MA 1 > KH 120 A

3 Reply by ramses (edited by ramses 2024-12-08 14:24:48)

  • ramses
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Re: ADI 2/4 - How to get 2 in 4 out

General remark.

If you need TotalMix FX for low-latency submixes, then you are always well advised to get a combination of RME Recording interface and reference converter. Here is an example from my blog on how to set it up:
https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/Ent … our-Setup/

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

4 Reply by Temas1 (edited by Temas1 2024-12-08 15:41:46)

  • Registered: 2017-03-02
  • Posts: 10

Re: ADI 2/4 - How to get 2 in 4 out

unpluggged wrote:

Let's be honest

Let's be honest, you did not read the manual carefully enough.

1) Is it possible to use the 2/4 as a standalone 2 in 4 out A/D D/A(x2) converter, without using USB?

Yes. See manual chapters 12.2 and 12.3.

3) Is it possible to create an artist headphone mix combining the analogue input and one of the digital inputs?

No. There is no mixer.

Also, I'm trying to figure out what 'Dig. Out Source' setting does.

See chapter 14.1.3 of the manual.

I rest my case. The manual is so badly translated. It does not make any sense in English, even to someone such as myself With 30 years professional experience. Go read an SSL manual to see how to explain things logically. And don’t bother replying here unless you have something useful to contribute.

5 Reply by Temas1 (edited by Temas1 2024-12-08 15:42:31)

  • Registered: 2017-03-02
  • Posts: 10

Re: ADI 2/4 - How to get 2 in 4 out

So as far as I can deduce from the manual. I can set the TRS to follow what goes to phones 3/4 and then set phones 3/4 to accept the SPDIF? Not exactly intuitive.

6 Reply by unpluggged (edited by unpluggged 2024-12-08 15:45:42)

  • Registered: 2023-06-30
  • Posts: 214

Re: ADI 2/4 - How to get 2 in 4 out

Temas1 wrote:

don’t bother replying here unless you have something useful to contribute.

Then you should practice what you preach and look somewhere else for assistance, a great contributor that you are. Indeed, I shouldn't have bothered to open the manual for you and spoon-feed you with relevant references. Good bye.

Fireface UCX II + ARC USB > ADI-2 Pro FS R BE > Neumann KH 750 DSP + MA 1 > KH 120 A

7 Reply by Temas1 (edited by Temas1 2024-12-08 15:52:20)

  • Registered: 2017-03-02
  • Posts: 10

Re: ADI 2/4 - How to get 2 in 4 out

unpluggged wrote:
Temas1 wrote:

don’t bother replying here unless you have something useful to contribute.

Then you should practice what you preach and look somewhere else for assistance, a great contributor that you are. Indeed, I shouldn't have bothered to open the manual for you and spoon-feed you with relevant references. Good bye.

I came here because of the inadequacies of the manual. You came to be a troll and to belittle me. Look again at the manual and you will see on all the block diagrams there is no signal path that shows TRS and XLR outputs accepting different digital sources.

8 Reply by waedi (edited by waedi 2024-12-08 16:48:44)

  • waedi
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Re: ADI 2/4 - How to get 2 in 4 out

UCX ll has all kind of inputs and outputs and thru Totalmix you can send every signal to every output.
It has six storage slots for totalmix, lets you use it in standalone-mode.

You did discover the ADi-2/4 does not fit your demands.

The user manual of the UCX-ll has blockdiagrams on pages 55 and 105 and 119.
I suggest to study the entire user manual before buy.

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

9 Reply by KaiS (edited by KaiS 2024-12-08 23:11:33)

  • KaiS
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Re: ADI 2/4 - How to get 2 in 4 out

Hey, what’s going on here, boys behave please, this is a friendly forum!

Someone comes in here with a valid question and after 5 replies still got no valid answer.


Of course ADI-2/4 Pro SE can be set in a way to have 2 ins and 4 outs accessible as standalone unit.

• The XLR outs are linked to channel 1/2.

The Rear TRS can be assigned to 1/2 (default) or 3/4:
• I/O / Phones Out 3/4 / Settings / Rear TRS Source: Ph. 3/4


For use as standalone AD/DA converter set ADI-2/4 Pro SE to “AD/DA Converter Mode”, manual page 41:
• SETUP / Options / Device Mode/DSD / Basic Mode: AD/DA

Now you can select different digital inputs for each path 1/2 and 3/4, e.g.
• I/O / Line Out 1/2 / Settings / AD/DA Source: AES
• I/O / Phones Out 3/4 / Settings / AD/DA Source: SPDIF
or vice versa.

SPDIF Optical or Coax is selected in the setup menu.
• SETUP / Options / SPDIF/Remap Keys / SPDIF In: Auto (detects active), Coax, Optical.
Most cases the default “Auto” does the job.

SPDIF Coax can take AES signal with a simple cable adapter XLRf to RCA.
For reasonable cable length impedance mismatch can be ignored.


Analog in goes to all digital outs by default, nothing to set here.

If you want the analog in to be processed by ADI-2’s DSP, the option “Digital Out Source” allows processing through channel 1/2’s DSP:
• SETUP / Options / Device Mode/DSD / Dig. Out Source: Main Out
• I/O / Line Out 1/2 / Settings / AD/DA Source: Analog
Aside from that, the analog in has it’s own DSP functionality that already covers most things ever needed.


Most settings can be done on ADI-2 Remote software too, on iPad or Windows PC.


The above should enable you to fix the latency issue the way you already found out, inside TotalMix of your HDSPe AES-32.

I’m working this way in my studio every day, albeit with different RME AD-DA converters.

KaiS's Website

  • Registered: 2017-03-02
  • Posts: 10

Re: ADI 2/4 - How to get 2 in 4 out

Thanks for the detailed explanation and sorry for any ill temper. I genuinely couldn’t find any simple instructions for how to do that in the manual and as I said all the diagrams just showed the TRS and XLR outputs only mirroring each other, until I found the block diagram on the very last page of the manual that totally contradicts all the other diagrams. Anyway., looks like it will be fine for my needs - all I want to do is connect the digital I/O to my HDSPe-AES and have the 2/4 running side by side with my Lavry Blue, black and Dangerous Convert-8 converters. Looks like that should work fine. Thanks