What’s the best way to get multiple SPDIF & Analog > ADAT > Interface

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Rastus

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Hi,
I am currently upgrading my (DAW) project studio with an Emu1616m interface. The Emu allows one ADAT I/O (8 Channels) which I would like to use. With most newish outboard gear offering SPDIF interfaces it sort of makes sense to stay in the digital realm, so I am considering how to plug 2-4 stereo SPDIF units into the Emu without having to hot swap or running them in series. Using the ADAT seems to be the go with a stand-alone interface but I am having trouble finding any that don’t require me to sell a kidney to be able to afford it.

There are plenty of options for audio to ADAT but few have more than one SPDIF. I am working in 24Bit 48Khz which of course eliminates some of the older (cheaper) units out there.

This is not something I absolutely have to have, but it would definitely increase the versatility of my setup. Obviously having both SPDIF and audio I/O would be the go, but if it came to the crunch I would keep it SPDIF. I am trying to avoid multiple AD/DA conversions in my setup for both latency and quality reasons.

One thing I am trying to find out, is if an independant PCI card can do SPDIF to ADAT conversion without having to run multiple Asio drivers. I am sure there would be a clash with the Emu PCI card but am having trouble finding out any hard info. (Win XPpro).

Any help or advice appreciated.

Cheers,
Rastus.
 
Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe the spdif on the Emu1616m only supports two channels simultaneously. (As most spdif cards do.)

I also have the RME pci card that Daveg62 points to and I love it. I have more inputs and outputs than I know what to do with. It features 48 channels of adat (24 in and 24 out) and spdif in/out. Mine has been 100% stable for four years now.

If you want to be able to change digital formats and sample rates at will, perhaps this would help. http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/SRC2496.aspx
 
Thanks for the replies,

The 1616m can I/O ADAT (8 audio Channels) which is what I really want to take advantage of. All I am looking for, is a way to convert 2 or more effect unit SPDIF outputs to ADAT, then feed the ADAT signal into the 1616m, & vice versa ie. 1616m > ADAT > Effects SPDIF inputs . This way I can stay digital through the signal chain for adding effects after tracking. There are many solutions for analog conversion, but not a lot for Digital.

It seems that it is not possible to run two seperate ASIO controllers so a PCI Card solution would have to be a stand alone converter.

Thanks for the replies so far,
Still searching.
Rastus
 
I was looking to integrate some outboard into my system as well and headed to an RME RayDat as it at least has a pair of aes/spdif. Anywho, I was curious about your question and came up with this but haven't really checked it out.. Maybe what you're looking for?
http://www.rme-audio.de/en_products_adi_4_dd.php
 
I've had a Midiman SAM years... good 24 bit conversion on the cheap for two SPDIF channels to ADAT... If you can find one it should be cheap, I paid about 25 bucks for it about 10 years ago...

SAM S/PDIF-to-Adat* and Adat-to-S/PDIF converter and digital mixer. SAM provides the long-needed bridge between the worlds of Adat and S/PDIF digital audio at an affordable price. SAM flawlessly converts Adat to S/PDIF and S/PDIF to Adat. And SAM does this with an exciting twist: during Adat to S/PDIF transfers each of the Adat's eight channels can be mixed down to stereo (with independent pan and gain controls) using the onboard digital micromixer.

Good mind you, maybe even very good, but not great...
 
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