Topic: Setup Suggestions
I spent quite a bit of time studying the MADI setup examples, the M-32 and HDSPe manuals, and searching the forums. If the answer to my questions already exists elsewhere, please forgive me and just point me in the right direction.
Within the next few months I am considering upgrading the interfaces in my home studio setup. I mostly track and mix local bands for demos. I occasionally would like to use MIDI to do sound replacement and sequencing, but recording live sounds is my main focus. My DAW is Reaper, and I use Windows 7 x64. After much research, I really like the consensus that RME is the best way to go. However, there are a few things I don't understand about the RME MADI setups. Here is what I would like to have for the setup:
1. 24 to 32 analog input channels, with the option to expand to more channels/other formats later
2. 12 to 24 analog output channels to allow multiple headphone mixes for tracking, and patching in of outboard devices for mixing
3. At least 1 digital output, either AES/EBU/SPDIF, ADAT, or TDIF, to use as my control room output - I really like my TCE BMC-2
The setup I am considering would be an HDSPe MADI, attached to an M-32 AD and an M-16 DA. My questions are as follows:
1. Are the ADAT outputs on the M-32 AD addressable as "system" digital outputs from the attached HDSPe card, or do they only provide a direct output of the digital streams from the M-32 AD's own converters?
2. If the answer to 1 above is that the ADAT outs are NOT addressable separately on their own, is it possible via an expansion card to add an SPDIF out to the HDSPe MADI card? I can't find one in the RME web site.
3. If the answer to both 1 and 2 is no, could I use the onboard Realtek SPDIF out with ASIO4all as my control room out, along with the HDSPe? Is anyone doing this, and does it work? The mainboard is an MSI P45D3 platinum, but may change as the system grows.
4. Nearly all of the MADI setup examples show a MADI bridge or format converter. If I am connecting the M-32 AD and M-16 DA directly to an HDSPe card, what would I need a bridge or converter for, if I need one at all? (Or is that the best way to get the SPDIF out I want?)
5. I understand that cascading MADI units together results in the summation of the signals. Do the signals from all of the summed units show up together in TotalMix, so you can create headphone mixes from all of the inputs? I believe the answer is yes, but I just wanted to confirm.
Many thanks for any and all help and suggestions!