ADAT Lightpipe

  • Thread starter Thread starter Eleanor Fudd
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Eleanor Fudd

Eleanor Fudd

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Could someone please explain the practical use of ADAT? Who needs it when? Is it valuable in an interface with a small number of inputs and outputs?

Thanks very much. :)
 
Thanks very much for that, but it's a tad too theoretical for someone as electronically challenged as I am. The question is: will one suffer lack of ADAT on a 4-in 4-out interface, mostly doing 1 or 2 inputs at a time?
 
ADAT Lightpipe is 8 channels of 24 bit, 48kHz audio data or 4 channels of 24 bit 96kHz. Generaly speaking, when folks refere to ADAT, they're talking the 8 channel version. The Lightpipe cable is basicly a fiber opt ic cable, the same type used for optical S/PDIF. If your interface doesn't have an ADAT in/out, it's kind of a moot point.
 
Track Rat said:
ADAT Lightpipe is 8 channels of 24 bit, 48kHz audio data or 4 channels of 24 bit 96kHz. Generaly speaking, when folks refere to ADAT, they're talking the 8 channel version. The Lightpipe cable is basicly a fiber opt ic cable, the same type used for optical S/PDIF. If your interface doesn't have an ADAT in/out, it's kind of a moot point.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Rat. The point is not moot yet, because I have not bought the [otherwise excellent] interface yet, and wondered if the lack of ADAT IS A DEAL-BREAKER.
 
It's not something that you'll miss or suffer from unless you plan to expand in the future.

It's an option to add more gear giving you eight more channels of audio input.

For example, a behringer ada8000 will plug into an adat lightpipe port and provide 8 extra preamps.

If your desire is 4in 4out, then you're sweet to go. If you think you might want more in the future, get something with adat,
or just get something with more built in pres.
 
Steenamaroo said:
It's not something that you'll miss or suffer from unless you plan to expand in the future.

It's an option to add more gear giving you eight more channels of audio input.

For example, a behringer ada8000 will plug into an adat lightpipe port and provide 8 extra preamps.

If your desire is 4in 4out, then you're sweet to go. If you think you might want more in the future, get something with adat,
or just get something with more built in pres.
Click to expand...

Good reply. Thank you. :)
 
Just to give an example of where you can use ADAT:

I record using a Yamaha digital mixer as the first half of my "interface". In the mixer, I've installed the appropriate expansion cards to convert the output of the mixer to ADAT standard. I then feed the output of the mixer (up to 32 tracks at a time) via lightpipe "cables" to an interface that converts ADAT to Firewire and then into my DAW computer. I can also feed 32 tracks from the DAW back into the mixer if I ever need to...though this is more for playing since I mix in the box.

Basically, it's a useful method of feeding multiple tracks over a single cable or cables. However, unless you have a specific reason to use it, the lack is not necessarily a deal breaker. Also, if I was setting up from scratch these days there are alternate methods of achieving similar things using forms of networking technology and Cat 5 cables. If I was setting up from scratch, I might look at some of those solutions.

Bob
 
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