• Registered: 2012-06-21
  • Posts: 12

Topic: ADI-2 with FireStudio Mobile - Choosing ADAT or Pro for output

External Preamp --> Presonus Firestudio --> ADI-2 SPDIF In ) then back (SPDIF OUT) ---> Presonus Firestudio --> COmputer

I am thoroughly confused as to whether do the ADAT or PRO selection on the output. Can someone help?

When I select ADAT it sounds larger and more detailed but not as clean, when I select Pro is sounds cleaner and tighter but also loss of detail - almost like its compressed.  Does this make any sense?  I'm not sure with the SPDIF setup whether I should have it set at ADAT or PRO.

Any help feedback would be appreciated.

  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2007-04-10
  • Posts: 9,806

Re: ADI-2 with FireStudio Mobile - Choosing ADAT or Pro for output

There is no possible difference in sound quality between these settings.
Also, where do you monitor signal and what is the purpose of this connection, it isn't quite clear..


Regards,
Daniel Fuchs
RME

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

RME Support's Website

  • Registered: 2012-06-21
  • Posts: 12

Re: ADI-2 with FireStudio Mobile - Choosing ADAT or Pro for output

Hmm well there is a clear difference.  Ok, I am using the RME as the converter while using the Firestudio Mobile as the interface to the computer.  My monitor speakers are connected to the  Firestudio Mobile.  When I record with ADAT selected and then record on PRO selected there is a clear difference between the two.   I'm recording at 44.1.  Are you saying there should not be a difference?

  • Registered: 2012-06-21
  • Posts: 12

Re: ADI-2 with FireStudio Mobile - Choosing ADAT or Pro for output

I am mainly concerned with the Analog to digital conversion

  • Registered: 2012-06-21
  • Posts: 12

Re: ADI-2 with FireStudio Mobile - Choosing ADAT or Pro for output

Would it help if I took a picture of the connection so you could see exactly what it is?

  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2007-04-10
  • Posts: 9,806

Re: ADI-2 with FireStudio Mobile - Choosing ADAT or Pro for output

How are you using the ADI-2's AD conversion if the external preamp is first connected to the Presonus and then to the ADI-2 via SPDIF? And what happens to the signal between the RME's analog output (fed by SPDIF In) and SPDIF Out (fed by analog in)?

Since the SPDIF connection of the the Presonus is coaxial only, the ADAT setting on the ADI (which only affects its optical output) has no significance here at all, particularly not to sound quality.
The PRO setting will send AES/EBU format to the Presonus, if it can handle it, it will work, but there is also no effect on sound quality whatsoever..


Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

RME Support's Website

  • Registered: 2012-06-21
  • Posts: 12

Re: ADI-2 with FireStudio Mobile - Choosing ADAT or Pro for output

By using SPDIF out of the Firestudio, its converters are bypassed an uses what it is connected to and sends it right back.  So you connect instrutment to preamps go to the Firetsudio first then SPDIF out to RME and back to Firestudio then to computer.

  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2007-04-10
  • Posts: 9,806

Re: ADI-2 with FireStudio Mobile - Choosing ADAT or Pro for output

I am not sure you understand your own setup correctly. You can not bypass the Presonus converters if you connect the preamp directly to the Firestudio. This does not make much sense. To achieve this, the preamp would need to be connected to the ADI-2, and from there to the Presonus via SPDIF. I would suggest searching help with basics e.g. on general home recording related web forums.

Concerning the ADI-2, different digital output formats do not change the audio signal in any way or kind.

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

RME Support's Website

  • Registered: 2012-06-21
  • Posts: 12

Re: ADI-2 with FireStudio Mobile - Choosing ADAT or Pro for output

Ok, you are saying the only way to bypass the Firestudio converters is to go first into the RME then out to the Firestudio via SPDIF? 

And based on your response above it shouldn't matter if I select ADAT, PRO or CON?

  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2007-04-10
  • Posts: 9,806

Re: ADI-2 with FireStudio Mobile - Choosing ADAT or Pro for output

gfunny72 wrote:

Ok, you are saying the only way to bypass the Firestudio converters is to go first into the RME then out to the Firestudio via SPDIF?

Yes, of course. If you go into the analog inputs of the FS, you are using its converters - otherwise, how could the signal go elsewhere in the digital SPDIF format...?

And based on your response above it shouldn't matter if I select ADAT, PRO or CON?

Precisely. For best compatibility with the Presonus inputs, though, use CON. ADAT only affects the optical output anyhow and can therefore have no influence whatsoever. All these options are explained in the manual, by the way.

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

RME Support's Website

  • Registered: 2012-06-21
  • Posts: 12

Re: ADI-2 with FireStudio Mobile - Choosing ADAT or Pro for output

RME Support wrote:

Yes, of course. If you go into the analog inputs of the FS, you are using its converters - otherwise, how could the signal go elsewhere in the digital SPDIF format...?

Awwww that makes sense - sorry sometimes we're a little slow on this side of the Atlantic.

Precisely. For best compatibility with the Presonus inputs, though, use CON. ADAT only affects the optical output anyhow and can therefore have no influence whatsoever. All these options are explained in the manual, by the way.

Yeah I read it but wasn't able to connect all the dots and digest a solid understanding.  Thank you!

If I wanted to step up to 4 channels what would you recommend?

  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2007-04-10
  • Posts: 9,806

Re: ADI-2 with FireStudio Mobile - Choosing ADAT or Pro for output

You can do 4 channels already - assuming the FS can record from analog and digital inputs simultaneously.


Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

RME Support's Website

  • Registered: 2012-06-21
  • Posts: 12

Re: ADI-2 with FireStudio Mobile - Choosing ADAT or Pro for output

Well yeah the Firestudio has 6 line ins and a 2 mic ins - but the RME only has 2 analog ins - so if I need to go to the RME first for conversion I can only do 2 channels of analog conversion at a time - right?

  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2007-04-10
  • Posts: 9,806

Re: ADI-2 with FireStudio Mobile - Choosing ADAT or Pro for output

You can use the ADI for conversion of two channels (from the preamp) and connect an additional set of mics to the FS - voilà, 4 channels of microphone inputs...

There is apparently no way to connect multi-channel digital formats like ADAT to the FS Mobile.

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

RME Support's Website

  • Registered: 2012-06-21
  • Posts: 12

Re: ADI-2 with FireStudio Mobile - Choosing ADAT or Pro for output

Right Right, but I would only be getting RME conversion on 2 of the 4 channels.  What is the next step up if I want 4 channels of RME conversion.

  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2007-04-10
  • Posts: 9,806

Re: ADI-2 with FireStudio Mobile - Choosing ADAT or Pro for output

A different audio interface - e.g. RME Fireface UC, UCX, UFX....

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

RME Support's Website

  • Registered: 2012-06-21
  • Posts: 12

Re: ADI-2 with FireStudio Mobile - Choosing ADAT or Pro for output

Thanks for all your help!

  • Registered: 2012-06-21
  • Posts: 12

Re: ADI-2 with FireStudio Mobile - Choosing ADAT or Pro for output

Hi, Ok I had a chance to do exactly as you suggested. I appreciate your time and patience with me, but I want to make sure I am using this properly.

Ok so now my chain is this: instrument -> preamp -> ADI-2 -> SPDIF -> to FireStudio -> computer.
I am questioning the Input setting, should it be Opt or Coax:

Opt - produces a tighter sound, clean, harder but not as big and detailed as the Coax.
Coax is slightly bigger, hear more detail but softer not as tight/hard
Which setting is the correct one for my setup using spdif? Coax?

Now I know you said there should be no sound difference between using Pro and Con and that I should use Con.  But there are differences between the two similar as above:
Con - produces a tighter sound, clean, harder but not as big and detailed as the Coax.
Pro is slightly bigger, hear more detail but softer not as tight/hard

Are you sure Con is the setting I should be using?

thanks again for your help.

  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2007-04-10
  • Posts: 9,806

Re: ADI-2 with FireStudio Mobile - Choosing ADAT or Pro for output

gfunny72 wrote:

Ok so now my chain is this: instrument -> preamp -> ADI-2 -> SPDIF -> to FireStudio -> computer.
I am questioning the Input setting, should it be Opt or Coax:

Opt - produces a tighter sound, clean, harder but not as big and detailed as the Coax.
Coax is slightly bigger, hear more detail but softer not as tight/hard
Which setting is the correct one for my setup using spdif? Coax?

The setting in question has no effect whatsoever on the signal chain outlined here, as it only determines which of the ADI-2's digital inputs is to be used. There is no influence on the signal chain from analog to digital, and therefore no possible effect on audio quality.
This should be enough to prove that (sorry to say this) you are only imagining these differences. You are moving a switch that does absolutely nothing and yet you hear a "difference"... HeadScratch :roll

By the way, you did not mention where you have your speakers connected, i.e. where you believe you are hearing a difference.

Now I know you said there should be no sound difference between using Pro and Con and that I should use Con.  But there are differences between the two similar as above:
Con - produces a tighter sound, clean, harder but not as big and detailed as the Coax.
Pro is slightly bigger, hear more detail but softer not as tight/hard
Are you sure Con is the setting I should be using?

I guess the FS will only understand regular SPDIF (Consumer), not AES/EBU, but you'll have to look this up in the manual. Please ensure a correct clock setup.

Since there is no possible effect on sound quality here either (the switch chnges the format of the digital carrier signal, not the audio content), I'm afraid I will not discuss this aspect further. As shown above, these differences can also be imagined where there isn't the slightest possible change, and your "test setup" is totally invalid for any correct determination of (hypothetical) differences.

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

RME Support's Website

  • Registered: 2012-06-21
  • Posts: 12

Re: ADI-2 with FireStudio Mobile - Choosing ADAT or Pro for output

hmmmm, I'm very surprised.   Look, before you disregard this,  you need to listen to it for yourself. Let me send you a wav/mp3 file.  After this I will drop it, but I hear a difference, enough so that I am contacting you.  I have Yamaha hs-50's that are hooked up directly to the Firestudio.   Do you have an email address?  Or any other way I can get you the wav/mp3 file.

Again I appreciate it your time on this. Thanks,

Ryan

  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2007-04-10
  • Posts: 9,806

Re: ADI-2 with FireStudio Mobile - Choosing ADAT or Pro for output

My email address is right here, but please do not attach huge files, upload them instead (if possible, not to some ad-infested hosting site, either...).

But it's a simple technical fact, the Input switch does absolutely nothing in the setup you describe (analog to digital on the ADI). It just switches between two digital inputs (only one of which you can theoretically use in your setup anyhow, as the FS has got no optical connection).

Maybe you should look at the clock setup here, which you did not mention.


Regards,
Daniel Fuchs
RME

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

RME Support's Website