Hello.
Does anyone use Sonnet Thunderbolt AVB Adapter as audio interface for Mac to stream audio to a MOTU AVB interface?
Is it as stable as having two MOTU AVB interfaces streaming audio to each other?
Thank you.
Sonnet Thunderbolt AVB Adapter and MOTU AVB interfaces
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Discussion related to installation, configuration and use of MOTU hardware such as MIDI interfaces, audio interfaces, etc. for Mac OSX
Discussion related to installation, configuration and use of MOTU hardware such as MIDI interfaces, audio interfaces, etc. for Mac OSX
- mikehalloran
- Posts: 16191
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Re: Sonnet Thunderbolt AVB Adapter and MOTU AVB interfaces
The Sonnet is necessary only if a Mac does not have built-in Ethernet ports which many laptops do not. I have no idea if the Apple TB to Ethernet adapters incorporate the same functionality.
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IK-NI-Izotope-PSP-Garritan-Antares, LogicPro X, Finale 27.4, Dorico 5, Notion 6, Overture 5, TwistedWave, DSP-Q 5, SmartScore64 NE Pro, Toast 20 Pro
2023 Mac Studio M2 8TB, 192GB RAM, OS Sequoia 15.4, USB4 8TB externals, Neumann MT48, M-Audio AIR 192|14, Mackie ProFxv3, Zoom F3 & UAC 232 32bit float recorder & interface; 2012 MBPs (x2) Catalina, Mojave
IK-NI-Izotope-PSP-Garritan-Antares, LogicPro X, Finale 27.4, Dorico 5, Notion 6, Overture 5, TwistedWave, DSP-Q 5, SmartScore64 NE Pro, Toast 20 Pro
Re: Sonnet Thunderbolt AVB Adapter and MOTU AVB interfaces
The Apple Thunderbolt Ethernet interface (BCM57762) should be AVB-capable (it's the same PCIe Ethernet chip that Sonnet uses), with the caveat that Apple's adapter forces you to use a chain of dongles, because Apple never spent the hour of engineering time to swap the connector and update their custom FGPA programming or whatever to negotiate Thunderbolt 3/4 over the USB-C CC1/CC2 pins. 
- HCMarkus
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Re: Sonnet Thunderbolt AVB Adapter and MOTU AVB interfaces
Pretty sure latency will be higher and it is possible sample rates are limited as well when using AVB to interface to a Mac.
What is the use case that requires this? Distance from computer to interface? USB might be a better choice unless the distance is more than about 16'. Thunderbolt works well if available on your interface and the distance to computer is short.