2408 Adat I/O question

microstudio · Post by **microstudio** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 7:13 am

When using the Adat i/o on the 2408 does the signal go through the converters?

If so is there a way to bypass them?

Thanks for your time.

Jidis · Post by **Jidis** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 8:59 am

Hi,

Only the one you hear (the D to A). I've considered getting an older 2408 for my 424, just for the ADAT banks, so I could free up the mk3. It's all just numbers.

George

microstudio · Post by **microstudio** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 11:16 am

Jidis wrote:Hi,

Only the one you hear (the D to A). I've considered getting an older 2408 for my 424, just for the ADAT banks, so I could free up the mk3. It's all just numbers.

George

I am looking into get 3 Mackie 800r units for a mobile recording rig. I want to use my 2408 for the I/O into my PC. The 800r has conveters so I want to us them.

So I can come out of the 800r using Adat into the 2408 Adat's and this will not be using the 2408 converters and you are sure about this? It seems odd that it would only use the D to A?

Just want to make sure... thanks.

Jidis · Post by **Jidis** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 1:20 pm

Hey again,

If the system is working fine as it is now, you should be OK, but there's obviously a bandwidth/throughput jump if you're planning on going from streaming 8 track audio to the computer, up to 24 tracks. The 324 could theoretically handle 3 audiowire ports full of interfaces or whatever, so filling the three banks on the 2408 with ADAT streams shouldn't be a problem as long as your host can pull it off. AFAIK, they all do the same 24bits of ADAT, but keep in mind you won't be able to use the higher rates (>44/48k) of the Mackies unless you go with something that does the ADAT "mux mode" thing. You might want to look for a more up to date ADAT card later on, maybe with better D to A anyway. I'm not sure how much the old 2408 analog outs will blur the benefits of the nice new pre/converters.

Take Care,

George

PS- As we've all heard complaints about the MOTU clock, you may want to try to slave to one of the Mackies if you've you've got the clock ports to do it, or it least try with one to see if there's an improvement (still at the mercy of the 2408 analog outs however

).

<EDIT> Sort of answered everything but the question there

- Yes, it should just be bringing in a stream of numbers through those ports and feeding the digital data directly to disk and to your apps, so the only "old" part of the chain will be the re-converted audio that you'll be hearing. Now if there's any electrical/optical difference in the ADAT circuit, that could cause a difference in quality, but I guess that would be a "flaw" really (It shouldn't be changing the numbers in the stream on it's own). FWIW- I've used S/PDIF inputs on really cheap soundcards in that manner myself. If they're properly slaved to a better clock and being fed data from a better converter, it's all the same on disk.

microstudio · Post by **microstudio** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 1:53 pm

Thanks,

I will be sending out my 2408 MK2 to Black Lion to get it upgraded. My 2408 has word clock in/out and my app will handle 24 stereo/ 48 Mono at a time with no problems... SAWStudio is good like that.

This will be just a mobile rig to track with and maybe give a quick mix. I••™ll take the mix to the home studio and their.. I will have top notch D/A & Monitors to mix with.

If this works out you can't beat a 24 track setup for under 3,000 for mic pres and conveters.

microstudio · Post by **microstudio** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 4:05 pm

I emailed motu asking id the Adat ports go through the AD or DA and they replied:

"Hi Matthew,

ADAT information will not go through any A/D/A conversion process.

Have a good day,
Charles
MOTU Tech"

Thats cool. The 2408 gives me 24 I/O.