External pres to ADAT

[WhiteStrat]

Riddle me this Batman:

Say my firewire interface can take 3 ADAT in connections--at 8 channels each. I've got a bunch of outboard preamps I want to connect. I can already do it a couple of ways.

Take for example, my M-Audio Octane. It's an 8 channel preamp with ADAT out--but each channel has sends and returns. So I can connect another outboard pre into the return of an Octane channel--thereby completely bypassing the Octane's preamp, and getting my analog pre into the interface. Problem is, the Octane is $600--and that's mostly for the preamps--which I'm completely bypassing anyway.

I also have a Behringer ADA8000 (which I use for 8 outs via ADAT). I could use it for inputs, but they're line ins, not true inserts, so it doesn't bypass the preamp.

I just want to get a bunch of outboard preamps hooked up cleanly (no additional preamp-age) to something with an ADAT out. Anyone know of such a creature?

 

[darrin_h2000]

Line6 UX8 has spdf outs...and 8 analog outputs

 

[WhiteStrat]

Line6 UX8 has spdf outs...and 8 analog outputs

Thanks, it's got line ins & outs--but not send & return. So again, even the line ins are going through the UX8's pres. I'm looking for direct conversion without pres--since I've already got preamps; I just want them to speak ADAT somehow.

So, at $500, I'd be wasting the preamps in it altogether, since I'm just wanting to bypass them.

 

[mshilarious]

Thanks, it's got line ins & outs--but not send & return. So again, even the line ins are going through the UX8's pres. I'm looking for direct conversion without pres--since I've already got preamps; I just want them to speak ADAT somehow.

Not to mention that S/PDIF is not ADAT . . .

You can find an Alesis AI3, which has the same converters as the Behri, minus the Behri's analog stages (Behri buys the chips from Wavefront, which is somehow related to Alesis, I forget). You can score an HD24 and use it for the converters. You can use an old ADAT for the converters.

Higher-end would be something like RME.

 

[WhiteStrat]

Not to mention that S/PDIF is not ADAT . . .

You can find an Alesis AI3, which has the same converters as the Behri, minus the Behri's analog stages (Behri buys the chips from Wavefront, which is somehow related to Alesis, I forget). You can score an HD24 and use it for the converters. You can use an old ADAT for the converters.

Higher-end would be something like RME.

As I recall, you mentioned the AI3 to me when I was on a similar quest recently. I ended up with a Behri ADA8000--and I'm really happy with it. But that was to get some outs for individual channels so I could route some ITB channels through hardware FX. Works great for that, but without send/returns, wouldn't be as clean on the way in.

BTW--am I right in assuming that anything short of a straight return is, in fact, passing the signal through another preamp--even if its a line in? For example, with the Octane, if I use a return, the volume knob does nothing--the box is merely passing signal from a quarter inch jack to a Ligthpipe. I guess that's conversion at the core.

So do you know if the AI3 would be on the order of a return, or a line-in preamp?

 

[mshilarious]

As I recall, you mentioned the AI3 to me when I was on a similar quest recently. I ended up with a Behri ADA8000--and I'm really happy with it. But that was to get some outs for individual channels so I could route some ITB channels through hardware FX. Works great for that, but without send/returns, wouldn't be as clean on the way in.

BTW--am I right in assuming that anything short of a straight return is, in fact, passing the signal through another preamp--even if its a line in? For example, with the Octane, if I use a return, the volume knob does nothing--the box is merely passing signal from a quarter inch jack to a Ligthpipe. I guess that's conversion at the core.

So do you know if the AI3 would be on the order of a return, or a line-in preamp?

As far as I know, all of these converters tend to have an IC opamp in front of the converter chip. The converter chips are very specific with respect to the sort of signal conditions they want to see, and the easiest way to ensure that is with an analog stage directly in front of the converter input.

Thus, I don't think you can ever avoid that, the question is how long is that path and what components are involved . . .

I will add that I used to have the AI3, and I replaced it with an RME ADI-8 DS. There is really no comparison between those two units; the RME is audibly and measurably much better. But it is still measurably not as good as state of the art; maybe their newer QS is nicer, I don't know. Of course the RME is like 5x as expensive . . .

 

[darrin_h2000]

Even if spdf isnt the adat standard there is still analog inputs on an adat right?

 

[mshilarious]

Even if spdf isnt the adat standard there is still analog inputs on an adat right?

Yes, but OP doesn't have an ADAT, he has a firewire interface with 3 ADAT inputs. In that context, ADAT means an eight-channel optical TOSLINK connector at 44.1kHz or 48kHz, or if the firewire interface supports S/MUX, four-channel 88.2kHz or 96kHz. Therefore, he needs a converter that outputs an ADAT format digital signal via TOSLINK.

 

[WhiteStrat]

Yes, but OP doesn't have an ADAT, he has a firewire interface with 3 ADAT inputs. In that context, ADAT means an eight-channel optical TOSLINK connector at 44.1kHz or 48kHz, or if the firewire interface supports S/MUX, 88.1kHz or 96kHz. Therefore, he needs a converter that outputs an ADAT format digital signal via TOSLINK.

Bingo. (10 char)

 

[second skin]

i know that i am a bit late to the party but i have to reccomend that you keep an eye out for a frontier tango24. i have one that i use and it works great. nothing extra just a simple converter.

 

[oretez]

if I remember correctly (and lazily am not going to do the research) the Aphex 142 might come as close to transparent as cost effectively available

no 'mic pres', 8 analog input on d-sub break out cable to adat out, and has work clock

used to run around $400 and could not even tell you if it is still manufactured

used it primarily to increase # of tracks on live/field recording and have since migrated to Black Lion mod on SmPro pre and Onyx 800r which also has line level in on d-sub break out . . . though, yes even with gain @ 0 you still pass through the opamp . . . even the 142 has some sort of trim pot ahead of the A/D convertors and at that price point it's as about as tincan & string analog to adat out as I've used