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Upgrading from 1010LT

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Eric Sagmuller

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Re: Upgrading from 1010LT

PostMon Sep 26, 2016 7:04 am

mdyde wrote:
dhm wrote:The only device we're currently aware of which can be used as an audio interface and has NO inputs is this, with 16 analogue outputs


RME also make 32/16-channel DACs:

http://www.rme-audio.de/en/products/m32da.php

... and need to be used with with interfaces that have ADAT or MADI inputs.


This is a little confusing. I checked and they show TRS outputs which would be analog, right. In other words it's a digital to analog converter. They do mention ADAT and MADI inputs.

Eric
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mdyde

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Re: Upgrading from 1010LT

PostMon Sep 26, 2016 7:18 am

Hello Eric,

Yes -- it's a digital-to-analogue converter (DAC), designed to be used with an audio interface that has MADI or ADAT digital outputs, e.g. this one:

http://www.rme-audio.de/en/products/hdspe_madi.php
Best regards, Martin.
Hauptwerk software designer/developer, Milan Digital Audio.
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Eric Sagmuller

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Re: Upgrading from 1010LT

PostMon Sep 26, 2016 8:02 am

OK I understand now. I missed the part about it just being a D/A converter, not an interface itself that runs directly from the computer.

Thanks,
Eric
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Eric Sagmuller

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Re: Upgrading from 1010LT

PostMon Mar 06, 2017 7:03 am

mdyde wrote:Hello Eric,

Yes -- it's a digital-to-analogue converter (DAC), designed to be used with an audio interface that has MADI or ADAT digital outputs, e.g. this one:

http://www.rme-audio.de/en/products/hdspe_madi.php


Hi Martin,

Bringing up an older thread here. I found that the DAC can also be used with a RayDat card about 1/2 price of MADI card, but this card can only feed the 32 channels of the DAC, while the MADI card can do 64, allowing for expansion of an additional DAC.

So here's my question, I think there was a limitation on PCI cards that can be used at one time. If I were to use the RayDat card with one DAC, could I add another RayDat and DAC down the road? I haven't found an answer for that on the RME sight.

Thanks,
Eric
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mdyde

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Re: Upgrading from 1010LT

PostMon Mar 06, 2017 8:08 am

Hello Eric,

The ASIO driver architecture only allows a single 'driver' to be used at any one time. In practice, that usually means that only a single computer audio interface can be used at once, although some audio interface manufacturers do provide drivers that have specific functionality to allow multiple identical units to be used together (appearing to the driver as additional channels on the same virtual device), provided that the cards are properly synchronised together in hardware (usually via Word Clock cables).

I don't know off-hand whether RME's RayDAT driver supports more than one RayDAT unit, so I'd recommend contacting RME to check first, before buying one. I see that it requires an additional optional expansion board for Word Clock support ( http://www.rme-audio.de/en/products/hdspe_raydat.php ), so, if the driver does support more than one RayDAT unit, then my guess would be that you would also need one of those for expansion boards for each RayDAT, with appropriate 75-ohm Word Clock cables to connect them together. However, RME would be the best people to contact to verify that for certain.

Another interface that looks interesting for Hauptwerk purposes is MOTU's 16A, which has 16 analogue outputs ( http://motu.com/products/avb/16a ), can connect to the computer via either Thunderbolt, or USB, or AVB, and allows further MOTU AVB units (e.g. more 16A units, or 24Ao units) to be connected/chained via AVB from the first/primary device (e.g. even if connecting the main 16A to the computer via Thunderbolt). A Thunderbolt connection is supposed to be able to handle up to 128 audio channels at 48 kHz, with extremely low latency.

Sound on Sound have a good review of the MOTU AVB series here: http://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/motu-1248 . The main reported issue with them seems to be that they can be very slow to switch sample rates.
Best regards, Martin.
Hauptwerk software designer/developer, Milan Digital Audio.
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Eric Sagmuller

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Re: Upgrading from 1010LT

PostMon Mar 06, 2017 8:50 am

Thanks for the info Martin.

I really want the best sound so have been drawn to the RME as they appear to be at the top. Maybe the MOTU's aren't that far behind now.

Is it possible to add Thunderbolt to a PC? I thought this was just an Apple thing, of course Firewire was too I think, and I'm using that now.

Eric
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mdyde

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Re: Upgrading from 1010LT

PostMon Mar 06, 2017 9:02 am

Eric Sagmuller wrote:Is it possible to add Thunderbolt to a PC? I thought this was just an Apple thing, of course Firewire was too I think, and I'm using that now.


Yes -- lots of recent PCs/motheboards now have Thunderbolt ports, and Thunderbolt PCIe cards are readily available to add Thunderbolt to those that don't (but that have PCIe slots).
Best regards, Martin.
Hauptwerk software designer/developer, Milan Digital Audio.
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Eric Sagmuller

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Re: Upgrading from 1010LT

PostMon Mar 06, 2017 9:48 am

OK Thanks. That gives alot of flexibility.

Eric
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Re: Upgrading from 1010LT

PostThu Mar 09, 2017 5:29 pm

Just for the record and my question answered, I found one can have up to three RME RayDAT cards in one computer, synced internally, and have all channels available on ASIO. I know their stuff is expensive, but I've seen some good prices on second hand 32 channel DAC's. Of course this is only half the picture as one needs the PCI express card to drive it. Here I am very hesitant to buy (a bare card) second hand.

Eric
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mdyde

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Re: Upgrading from 1010LT

PostFri Mar 10, 2017 4:47 am

The RME UFX+ might also be worth considering, which has 12 analogue output channels, and can host the two M-32 DA units via MADI, itself connecting to the computer via Thunderbolt or USB 3.0:

http://www.rme-audio.de/en/products/fireface_ufx-plus.php

It gets a very good review in this month's Sound on Sound magazine:

http://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/rme-fireface-ufx-plus
Best regards, Martin.
Hauptwerk software designer/developer, Milan Digital Audio.
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Eric Sagmuller

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Re: Upgrading from 1010LT

PostFri Mar 10, 2017 11:09 am

Thanks Martin, I'll check it out.

Eric
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