ADAT audio Interface expansion questions...

[vstdls]

I'm starting to explore adding another interface for more IO to my computer setup. I am using a Presonus 1820 USB, which has optical ADAT in and out.

Will just about any audio interface with optical in/out suffice for expanding inputs/outputs? I see that alot of the "older" last gen firewire rack mount interfaces are getting pretty affordable used, and feature optical ADAT in/out.

Example: https://m-audio.com/products/view/profire-2626

I will use it for hardware synth inputs, and I'm fine with 48K. Do I hook anything up/need other things than the optical cables (and power) to do this? Any suggestions are welcome. Thank you!

[Etienne1973]

You don't need a full-fledged 2nd Audio-Interface. An ADAT-I/O-Expansion unit is enough. Like affordable entry-level Behringer ADA8200 for example.

[stanlea]

https://www.arturia.com/products/audio/ ... fuse-x8-in

[vstdls]

Thanks for the guidance. I was looking at older MOTU and M-Audio firewire interfaces since they seem to have ADAT and 8in/out and can be scooped up for roughly $100. The Behringer ADA8200 looks like the ticket though too.

I guess the issue with the older firewire ones would be connecting them to configure the clock master/slave bit... is that correct thinking?

[Etienne1973]

You really don't need a 2nd audio interface with Firewire/USB/Thunderbolt connectivity. You already have an USB audio interface which communicates with your computer. An ADAT Expander "only" communicates with your USB audio Interface so to speak.

[vstdls]

You really don't need a 2nd audio interface with Firewire/USB/Thunderbolt connectivity. You already have an USB audio interface which communicates with your computer. An ADAT Expander "only" communicates with your USB audio Interface so to speak.

Totally agree - but all the research I've done states the #1 thing to get right is the clock sync. The reason I'm asking (and havnt found answers too via YT and googling)... I have no experience with firewire, and older firewire interfaces can be had for half the $$ of something like the ADA8200 (or 8000).

I suppose the extra spend is probably worth not having to screw around fighting an older unit that I might have a hard time configuring the clock on.

[Etienne1973]

There are 2 usual ways an audio interface and an ADAT-Expander are clocked:

A) Via Word Clock Out of your audio interface to Word Clock In of your ADAT-Expander.
or
B) Via ADAT lightpipe between your audio interface and your ADAT-Expander.

Does your USB audio interface provide Word Clock Out? BNC Connector on the back?

[vstdls]

Hi, thanks - yes. The presonus 1820 USB has both adat optical in/out as well as a bnc-type "word clock" hookup.

If I gamble on trying a firewire type interface, does that put me in the realm of needing to buy a PCI slot card to connect it.... just to hopefully configure it, to set clock as "slave"?

Or, if I find one with that BNC style hookup, do I just plug in and go...without having to worry about connecting the older interface merely to configure the clock?

[Etienne1973]

I don't say your goal to get and add a really cheap 2nd audio interface is completely impossible. But there are many things (prerequisites) needed that you get a reliable working combo with your USB interface. So ...

My advice: Wait and save money if somehow possible to get an ADA8200 used or new. Don't try to catch a used ADA8000 (predecessor) b/c ADA8000's power supply inside the unit is known for its thermal problem AFAIK. Behringer fixed that issue with the ADA8200.

[vstdls]

Thanks for the tip on the 8000 vs the 8200!

[lfm]

Or, if I find one with that BNC style hookup, do I just plug in and go...without having to worry about connecting the older interface merely to configure the clock?

Audio interface can sync, as Etienne said, on the incoming ADAT from expander. No need for BNC and wordclock.

You just select that input as clock sync. And the rest of interface sync to that.

Forget about Firewire, it's 90's technology. Very sensitive to cable tension and bend. 2010 and a new daw then I tried two interfaces, and it's silly high cpu used to just have audio up.

[vstdls]

Thanks everyone, after a couple nights of more research, Combined with your advice, I decided to just pull the trigger on an ADA8200

[vstdls]

Thanks for the help everyone. ADA8200 all hooked up and working great. Nice and cheap too.

[DevonB]

Thanks for the guidance. I was looking at older MOTU and M-Audio firewire interfaces since they seem to have ADAT and 8in/out and can be scooped up for roughly $100. The Behringer ADA8200 looks like the ticket though too.

I guess the issue with the older firewire ones would be connecting them to configure the clock master/slave bit... is that correct thinking?

When you get into oddball things like CD Players or DAT machines and the like, that's where the master/slave bit can get a bit wonky, because some are quite picky of who HAS to be master (or it gives no options of switching to master to slave or vice versa), or the quality of the clock. As long as you can select master/slave, and can sync via Wordclock (best) or SPDIF (next best) or ADAT (not as best ) you will likely be fine.

I know you already got your solution, but people will read the forums after the fact looking for answers.

I have done ADAT from my main interface to another MOTU 828 Mk3 which I got cheap. I tried the Mk2, because it was even cheaper, and got stuck. You REALLY have to pay attention to your audio routing requirements carefully. I didn't realize for my particular use case until too late that I needed to be able to save 8 'scenes' of routing configuration to get working what I wanted it to to (act as a send/receive patch bay for external effects processors for my use case.) The Mk2 only allowed 4 saved configurations, but the Mk3 allowed 8, and I needed 8. I needed to route a specific stereo input pair out and a specific stereo pair in and needed 8 specific setups to pull off every which way I needed those inputs and outputs to work. In the end, it worked out fantastic, and it was relatively cheap, but even careful study of the manual might not get you your answer until you sit down with the driver/configuration software to see if it'll route the way you want it to route. Everyone's mileage will vary. Glad you got your sorted out easily and quickly.

Devon