• From: Madrid -Spain-
  • Registered: 2011-10-28
  • Posts: 14

Topic: connecting and clocking the octamic D too my Fireface 800

Please walk me through slaving/connecting  my octamic D too my FF800. Where does the BNC cable hook on the FF800? where should the dip switches be on the Octamic? I want to record at use all 8 channels on the octamic for drums... plus my ff800 channels also... Please give me step by step instructions... Also I was wondering  about the optical cables  themselves?  I want to set this system up for the best sound and recording quality possible I am new to clocking and optical setup... Should I be set to consumer or professional?  on the ff800 ASE I have no idea?  I am running a Asus pc i7 windows 7 ultimate 64bits.  should I be running the ff800 at 192kh for the best recording quality or does it limit my tracks and is there dithering involved with mixdown? vs 44.1? I want to get the best possible recording quality from both units so all your information on how to achieve that would be awesome and I would be very grateful thank you so much..

Another question are:
how can I know BNC cable is working right, because there is no any work status on the control panel from ff800, or lights where I can see if it is cloking or not?
In total mix, what will bee inputs for Octamic?
Fron total mix will be possible to route any octamic input to any octamic output as in ff800? if it is possible, How can I do it?

Thanks a lot and Best Regards
Manuel

Fireface 800 + Octamic + Quadmic
  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2007-04-10
  • Posts: 9,779

Re: connecting and clocking the octamic D too my Fireface 800

Connect from WCK out on the FF to the Octamic's WCK in. Move the first two dip switches down.
Since there is no Word Clock going into the FF, there will be no status indicator. Ic the ADAT input that comes from tha Octamic says "Sync" in the FF settings, everything is ok.

The inputs will be the ADAT channels in Totalmix. It is not possible to route signal back to the Octamic. The outputs only carry the analog line signal from the mic inputs.

Regards,
Daniel Fuchs
RME

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

RME Support's Website

  • From: Madrid -Spain-
  • Registered: 2011-10-28
  • Posts: 14

Re: connecting and clocking the octamic D too my Fireface 800

Thanks Daniel,

I will do it and let you know.

thanks in advance and Best Regards

Fireface 800 + Octamic + Quadmic
  • From: Madrid -Spain-
  • Registered: 2011-10-28
  • Posts: 14

Re: connecting and clocking the octamic D too my Fireface 800

Hello,

I have setting up everything as you told me and seems everything works if I do not use SPDIF input in FF800 and that is the reason what I have new questions as follow:

1st - Regarding no routing possible in octamic (between in and outs with total mix), are the octamic outputs setting up as difault as follow: in1=out1, in2=out2, in3=out3, and so on.....?

2nd - I am also usind in FF800 SPDIF input to connect the sound car from computer.
In ff800 front side, SPDIF green light is flashing always, and ADAT1 (where is connect octamic) is green on permanently. In FF settings-Input Status, ADAT input says "Sync" as you told me above, and SPDIF input says "Lock 44100 Hz". Is it means everything is right?

3rth - I have also setting up in ff settings-ClockMode-ClockSource as "internal". Seems everything works but if I use the sound card is connected to SPDIF ff800 in, I can ear a "click" cyclick under the music I play in windows media player, which only desapear if I set up Clock Source as "word", but if I select "word" appear an error in ClockMode-Samplerate that is set to 44100 HZ to its right that must be 48000 Hz and the ADAT 1 "Sync" start to flashing also together with SPDIF green light at the same time and some times also all inputs make an strange noise. What I am doing wrong?

4th - How many version of octamic there are?,  Are there an "Octamic I", also and "Octamic D" and also the last one "Octamic II"?. I am asking this one to you, because my octamic in the back side has a 25 pins connector without any labeling and I do not know if it is "AES OUT/SYNC", or others. Please let me know about it and also let me know if possible where can I find the pin-out of this 25 pins connector.

Thanks in advance and Best Regards

Fireface 800 + Octamic + Quadmic
  • vinark
  • DAW Mastermind
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2009-06-05
  • Posts: 2,782

Re: connecting and clocking the octamic D too my Fireface 800

2nd - I am also usind in FF800 SPDIF input to connect the sound car from computer.
In ff800 front side, SPDIF green light is flashing always, and ADAT1 (where is connect octamic) is green on permanently. In FF settings-Input Status, ADAT input says "Sync" as you told me above, and SPDIF input says "Lock 44100 Hz". Is it means everything is right?
No, Lock means only signal present but not in sync. The external sound card needs to be slave to the fireface (if it also has a spdif in) or it needs to be master and the FF slave.
Clocking can be difficult to grasp, but once you get it it is easy. There can only be one master in any setup, ever. No matter how complex the setup is (be it 2 or 10 devices).
So:
FF master; octamic and spdif slave
Spdif master; octamic and fireface slave
Octamic master; FF and spdif slave.

Vincent, Amsterdam
https://soundcloud.com/thesecretworld
BFpro fs, 2X HDSP9652 ADI-8AE, 2X HDSP9632
  • From: Madrid -Spain-
  • Registered: 2011-10-28
  • Posts: 14

Re: connecting and clocking the octamic D too my Fireface 800

Hello Vincent,

Too many thanks by your answer regardin issue 2.
The problem is that I do not know what to do to do FF will be the master and octamic and spdif slave and to have everything in "Sync" status.
Could you let me know how do I set up  in ff settings-ClockMode-ClockSource? As "internal", as "Word", as "SPDIF", as "ADAT1" or as ADAT2"....
For your information the octamic has set up also the two first (1 and 2) dip switches down.

With Best Regards

Fireface 800 + Octamic + Quadmic
  • vinark
  • DAW Mastermind
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2009-06-05
  • Posts: 2,782

Re: connecting and clocking the octamic D too my Fireface 800

If the FF is gonna be master it needs to be set to internal. You didn´t mention yet what audiocard is connected to the spdif.  But anyway, then the FF spdif out needs to be connected to the extra audio card spdif in so it can slave to the FF.
As i read it, the octamic is already set op right.

Maybe to explain it a little clearer. A master always needs a digital output/clock (be it WC, adat or spdif) connected to the digital/clock in of the slave, so it has something to slave to.

good luck!!!!

Vincent, Amsterdam
https://soundcloud.com/thesecretworld
BFpro fs, 2X HDSP9652 ADI-8AE, 2X HDSP9632
  • From: Madrid -Spain-
  • Registered: 2011-10-28
  • Posts: 14

Re: connecting and clocking the octamic D too my Fireface 800

Hello Vincent.
The audio card I am using is realtek audio card integrated in "p5ke wifi pa" ASUS mother board which has onli SPDIF exit and no input. I understan that this could be the reason why SPDIF never is on "Sync" status because it can not be syncronice from FF to audio card throught the output.

If I chose as clock source SPDIF, in this case SPDIF change from Lock to Sync status which means the audio card is now the master.

I think I understood your explanation and now it is clear for me.

Thanks a lot and best regards

Fireface 800 + Octamic + Quadmic

9 Reply by manuelfor (edited by manuelfor 2011-11-19 23:42:01)

  • From: Madrid -Spain-
  • Registered: 2011-10-28
  • Posts: 14

Re: connecting and clocking the octamic D too my Fireface 800

manuelfor wrote:

Hello,

I have setting up everything as you told me and seems everything works if I do not use SPDIF input in FF800 and that is the reason what I have new questions as follow:

1st - Regarding no routing possible in octamic (between in and outs with total mix), are the octamic outputs setting up as difault as follow: in1=out1, in2=out2, in3=out3, and so on.....?

2nd - I am also usind in FF800 SPDIF input to connect the sound car from computer.
In ff800 front side, SPDIF green light is flashing always, and ADAT1 (where is connect octamic) is green on permanently. In FF settings-Input Status, ADAT input says "Sync" as you told me above, and SPDIF input says "Lock 44100 Hz". Is it means everything is right?. IT IS ALREADY CLEAR

3rth - I have also setting up in ff settings-ClockMode-ClockSource as "internal". Seems everything works but if I use the sound card is connected to SPDIF ff800 in, I can ear a "click" cyclick under the music I play in windows media player, which only desapear if I set up Clock Source as "word", but if I select "word" appear an error in ClockMode-Samplerate that is set to 44100 HZ to its right that must be 48000 Hz and the ADAT 1 "Sync" start to flashing also together with SPDIF green light at the same time and some times also all inputs make an strange noise. What I am doing wrong?

4th - How many version of octamic there are?,  Are there an "Octamic I", also and "Octamic D" and also the last one "Octamic II"?. I am asking this one to you, because my octamic in the back side has a 25 pins connector without any labeling and I do not know if it is "AES OUT/SYNC", or others. Please let me know about it and also let me know if possible where can I find the pin-out of this 25 pins connector.

Thanks in advance and Best Regards

If possible for RME support team, please give me and answer for questions 1, 3, 4 above which are not clear for me. Issue 2 is already clear.

Fireface 800 + Octamic + Quadmic