1 Topic by Quint (edited by Quint 2024-12-12 22:49:09)

  • Quint
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Topic: HDSPe AoX-D card + SFP MADI versus HDSPe MADI FX + Digiface Dante?

I'm trying to evaluate which is a better way to get MADI and Dante both into and out of the computer (Mac), using only one PCIe interface.  Lowest latency possible is my primary concern, but not my only concern.

1. HDSPe AoX-D Dante card with the AoX-MADI-EXT-SFP MADI daughter card

2. HDSPe MADI FX card with MADI coax daughter card and with the Digiface Dante used as a format converter to take Dante and convert it to MADI coax, and then send that to the MADI coax on the HDSPe MADI FX daughter card.

In both scenarios, I intend to place the PCIe card into a TB enclosure, and then connect that to my M1 Mac Studio. The MADI connection is for my Burl converters and the Dante connection would be for the Lynx Aurora (n). Price is a consideration, but I'm primarily focused on which of the two scenarios offers the best round trip latency performance, if I want to software monitor thru the DAW (Cubase) while tracking.  However, I'd be interested in hearing any other benefits that one scenario might provide over the other.

What are your thoughts on which is the best way to go?

2 Reply by waedi (edited by waedi 2024-12-12 22:48:28)

  • waedi
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Re: HDSPe AoX-D card + SFP MADI versus HDSPe MADI FX + Digiface Dante?

AoX-D 1900 €

Opto-X board 350€ (not sure if this is compatible to the AoX)

HDSPe MADI FX + Opto-x bundle 1700 €

Digiface Dante 1300€


The AoX seems to be the less expensive way. No need for the extra converter device.
And as it is a brand new product, I would choose it, the latency and driver will be new. It is not yet available, you have to be patient.

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

3 Reply by Quint (edited by Quint 2024-12-14 17:59:42)

  • Quint
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Re: HDSPe AoX-D card + SFP MADI versus HDSPe MADI FX + Digiface Dante?

waedi wrote:

AoX-D 1900 €

Opto-X board 350€ (not sure if this is compatible to the AoX)

HDSPe MADI FX + Opto-x bundle 1700 €

Digiface Dante 1300€


The AoX seems to be the less expensive way. No need for the extra converter device.
And as it is a brand new product, I would choose it, the latency and driver will be new. It is not yet available, you have to be patient.

The AoX is the less expensive way, for sure.  I kind of feel like the AoX might even be the best way too, meaning that it is best because of lowest latency and/or for other reasons, but I don't know much about the AoX (and know even less about the Digiface Dante), so I wanted to find out if there might be a reason that would make it worth spending the extra money to go with the HDSPe MADI FX + Digiface Dante instead of the HDSPe AoX + AoX SFP.

Also, as I mentioned, the AoX-MADI-EXT-SFP daughter card is what I would use for the MADI connection to the HDSPe AoX card.  There is no need for the Opto-X card in that scenario, and the Opto-X card is also not compatible with the HDSPe AoX card anyway. Also, there is no need to purchase the Opto-X card to use with the HDSPe MADI FX, as the MADI connection from the Digiface Dante would use the coax (BNC) to connect to the coax (BNC) connection on the daughter card that already comes with the HDSPe MADI FX. 

So there is no need to purchase the Opto-X card in either scenario.  That said, the AoX scenario still comes out cheaper than the HDSPe MADI FX + Digiface Dante scenario, but it's not THAT much cheaper (~$500).

https://rme-audio.de/expansion-boards.html

So the price difference between both scenarios is not so large that I wouldn't be okay spending more money if it meant that I got better functionality.  So I'm still curious to hear people's opinions on these two different scenarios.