can i use a interface as an adat mic pre?

[Nathan1984]

I have an e-mu 1212m pci interface, I am in the market for a 8 channel mic pre. I was wondering if I could get like a focusrite saffire pro 40 and use the adat output on it to send the 8 channels digitally to my e-mu and use it as my mic pre, I know you can with some interfaces, so I was just curious? What do you guys think, focusrite saffire pro 40, motu 8pre, presonus, or m-audio? I am hoping I can do this because I would then be able to use the interface adat'd to my pci interface, and I could use the interface with my laptop via firewire for mobile tracking if I can do this, which would be awesome.

 

[TimOBrien]

Anything with a ADAT in can receive 8 channels from anything with an ADAT out.... thats kinda the whole point.

Yes it will work.

 

[Steenamaroo]

Saffire pro 40 has a standalone mode (apparently), and the motu 8pre is described as being an interface, or 8 channel mic pre/converter.
So, yes, you can use those they way you're describing.

I think you were right to check though.
I don't imagine all 8 channel interfaces with adat can be used as standalone units.

 

[Nathan1984]

yeah, that is what I wanted to know. Now I just need to make up my mind on wheither I should get a Focusrite Saffire pro 40 or the Motu 8pre, or I guess I could get a presonus digimax or behringer ada8000. All within my budget, I was thinking about the behringer because black lion audio does a mod that is suppose to bring it up to Apogee Ensemble caliber pre amps.

 

[Steenamaroo]

Saffire preamps are the same as in the octopre le, according to SOS.
In another thread I was just telling someone I owned an octopre LE and a presonus unit with xmax preamps.
The presonus just always sounded much nicer to me.


The motu I know nothing about, unless the preamps are the same as the two in my 828mk2.
Those suck IMO. They never ever get used here.

The behrry isn't a terrible idea, but from all accounts you would want that Black lion mod. It gets good enough rep as line converters, but not for its preamps.


All in all, I'd be going presonus based on build quality, ease of use, quality of preamps, and personal experience.
Hope that's useful.

EDIT.
This page clears up the presonus jungle.

 

[Nathan1984]

I am definitely gonna take that into consideration. I have a bid on a presonus digimax, one of the older ones with adat. I heard they are pretty damn decent. If I lose, I will probably just opt for the behringer and get the black lion mod. I have heard awesome things about those, with the mod of course. That and black lion gives a two year warranty for their work. If spending 480 bucks gets me anywhere close to an apogee ensemble quality, count me in lol.

 

[snatchman]

I am definitely gonna take that into consideration. I have a bid on a presonus digimax, one of the older ones with adat. I heard they are pretty damn decent. If I lose, I will probably just opt for the behringer and get the black lion mod. I have heard awesome things about those, with the mod of course. That and black lion gives a two year warranty for their work. If spending 480 bucks gets me anywhere close to an apogee ensemble quality, count me in lol.

If you win the older PreSonus LT, get BLA to mod the converter section on that..I had one ( I sold it tho'... Long story...) that Matt modded for me a few years ago and it really upped the ante on that unit.!..Talk about removing the haze..!..Good luck..