• Registered: 2011-09-02
  • Posts: 2

Topic: RME Standalone with Yamaha LS9

Hello

I run a live sound business using a Yamaha LS9 Digital Mixer into a Peavey Versarray MKII Sound System. The Versarrays have ribbon horns which makes the high frerquency content quite detailed. The LS9 Mixer does not have a good rep for its analogue/digital conversions so I would like to try to use an outboard standalone convertor for the Stereo output going to the PA. The LS9 has Spidf, AES/EBU and Adat I/O but max sample rate of 48K.

Out of the Babyface, FF UC, FF UFX and ADI-2...is there a order of quality in the D/A conversion and would it be that noticable anyway?

Use of some mic preamps coming into the desk would be good too but the D/A conversion would have priority.

Thanks

Justin

  • From: Connecticut, USA
  • Registered: 2011-08-01
  • Posts: 376

Re: RME Standalone with Yamaha LS9

Hi Justin,
The sound qualities of all the units are very close to each other. Any of the units should noticeable improvement.
From technical specs the quality pretty much from the top goes UFX, Babyface, ADI-2, FF800, FF400FF UC. The FF400 and FF UC are the same converters

The Babyface does not work as a standalone device like the FF400, 800, UC and UFX can.
So it will be the Fireface's units or the ADI-2.
The ADI-2 is just a high quality stereo AD/DA so will have just the function of improving your stereo output.
The Fireface series can all be setup as standalone multi-channel AD/DA you just need to hook up to a computer the one time to setup the routing.

If your LS9 has the ADAT card or can use the MY 16 ADAT card then the Fireface series will be even more useful. In standalone Mode on the Fireface 400/UC you will get up to 8 channels of analog I/O expansion for the LS9. The Fireface 800 and UFX both have 16 channels of ADAT so if your LS9 can use the MY16-AT expansion card then you have even more analog I/O available. With the FF800 you will get 10 analog I/O and on the UFX 12 analog I/O in standalone mode.

The Fireface series when hooked to a computer also have the added benefit to record and playback multiple channels so this can add to the services you offer now that you will be able to record performances if needed and have a multi-channel sound playback system.

The UFX is the ultimate choice of the bunch because it is the closest to a completely standalone unit. It's front panel can control all the settings of the unit with no computer attached. It also has a built in recording ability. You can just plug in a USB driver and record up to 30 channels at a time without a computer.
The Mic-Pre amps on all the units are very good. The UFX technically has the best Mic-Pres of the Firerface series. It along with the FF800 have 4 which would make them more usable in this setup.

Thanks Chris

Chris Ludwig
North East USA Sales | Synthax/RME
www.facebook.com/RMEAmericas
Twitter @RMEAmericas

ChrisLudwig's Website

  • Registered: 2007-06-16
  • Posts: 214

Re: RME Standalone with Yamaha LS9

We do live sound buisnes using FF800 outputs feeding audio system's power amps. After years of use I'm still shure, that FF800's AD and DA are one of the keys for detailed and sweeet sounding audio reproduction.

  • Registered: 2011-09-02
  • Posts: 2

Re: RME Standalone with Yamaha LS9

Thanks for the replies. Very helpful.
I have the MY8AE96S and the MY16AT cards installed. UFX does look tempting.

  • Registered: 2011-05-11
  • Posts: 31

Re: RME Standalone with Yamaha LS9

Hi there
No matter witch of the RME you use. Please make shure that you`re not !!!!! use the clock of the LS9.
It`s not only the converters in the LS9 that sound "bad" it`s a matter of the unsteady clock. Use the RME (word)clock and converters then you will hear the big difference.

Happy testing

MacPro Quad 2,8; MacBook Pro Dual 2,3; ProTools 10; Logic 9; Fireface UFX; OctaMic D; Quadmic