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running two rme fireface 800 daisy chained together
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psyaudionamics
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
38
Posts :
546
Posted : Oct 19, 2008 23:12:24
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Salutations Folks,
im going to be running two rme fireface 800 daisy chained together... i never done this so some help from someone whos done it before would be great!!!
im not sure if i should buy a fireface 800 pci card or a 400 hundred would be fine,
any help in how i should set this up would
be fuckn very appreciated 
Im trying to avoid headaches and all the stress the comes up with issues that might come up, god knows i got enough stress at the moment and i really need for this to be as simple as possible, thnks ahead of time
Best regards, Deyan |
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Upavas
Upavas
Started Topics :
150
Posts :
3315
Posted : Oct 20, 2008 10:49
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Are you using them in conjunction with a mixer?
Clock the 2 devices with your SPdiF connectors. So get yourself a couple SPdiF cables, read below, connect, set and have fun 
In the digital world, all devices must be either ‘Master’ (clock source) or ‘Slave’ synchronized to
a master. Whenever several devices are linked within a system, there must always be a single
master clock. The Fireface's intelligent clock control is very user-friendly, being able to switch
between clock modes automatically. Selecting AutoSync will activate this mode.
In AutoSync mode, the system constantly scans all digital inputs for a valid signal. If any valid
signal is found, the Fireface switches from the internal quartz (System Clock – Mode displays
'Master') to a clock extracted from the input signal (System Clock - Mode displays 'Slave'). The
difference to a usual slave mode is that whenever the clock reference fails, the system will
automatically use its internal clock and operate in 'Master' mode.
AutoSync guarantees that record and record-while-play will always work correctly. In certain
cases however, e.g. when the inputs and outputs of a DAT machine are connected directly to
the Fireface 800, AutoSync may cause feedback in the digital carrier, so synchronization breaks
down. To remedy this, switch the Fireface’s clock mode over to 'Master'.
Remember that a digital system can only have one master! If the Fireface’s clock mode is
set to 'Master', all other devices must be set to ‘Slave’.
The Fireface's ADAT optical and SPDIF inputs operate simultaneously. Because there is no
input selector however, the Fireface 800 has to be told which of the signals is the sync reference
(a digital device can only be clocked from a single source). Via Pref. Sync Ref (preferred
synchronization reference) a preferred input can be defined. As long as the card sees a valid
signal there, this input will be designated as the sync source.
The Fireface has been equipped with an automatic clock source selection, which adopts the
first available input with a valid digital signal as the clock reference input. If none of the inputs
are receiving a valid signal, the card automatically switches clock mode to ‘Master’. The input
currently used as sync reference is shown in the AutoSync Ref status field, together with its
sample frequency.
To cope with some situations which may arise in studio practice, defining a preferred sync reference
is essential. One example: An ADAT recorder is connected to the ADAT input (ADAT
immediately becomes the AutoSync source) and a CD player is connected to the SPDIF input.
Try recording a few samples from the CD and you will be disappointed. Few CD players can be
synchronized. The samples will inevitably be corrupted, because the signal from the CD player
is read with the (wrong) clock from the ADAT i.e. out of sync. In this case, Pref Sync Ref should
be temporarily set to SPDIF.
 Upavas - Here And Now (Sangoma Rec.) new EP out Oct.29th, get it here:
http://timecode.bandcamp.com
http://upavas.com
http://soundcloud.com/upavas-1/ |
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psyaudionamics
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
38
Posts :
546
Posted : Oct 20, 2008 13:36
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thanks, u think i should get a firewire 800 card or the 400? im also using an alesi AI-3
cause the site say u should on 3 rme firefaces but ima be running 2 and 1 alesis would i reap more from the 800?
i did the math and realize i'll be able to record 16 stereo inputs and 2 monos trs connections in total
not including the spdif and adats inputs fucken insane huh? hehe any feedback would be great upavas... |
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Upavas
Upavas
Started Topics :
150
Posts :
3315
Posted : Oct 20, 2008 23:02
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Hang on hang on, I think you forgot the adat optical in and out, each optical connector should give you 8 aditional tracks. According to their specs sheet you should have 26 analog inputs and outputs. Try to find a few old adat machines somewhere like maybe a pawnshop, insert your optical outputs and split them up to send them to your mixer. Now having 2 of these buggers daisychained should leave you with a sick number of channels. Pretty slick imo..., especially when you use a mixer, meaning if your monitors get connected via the monitor outs on the mixer so you even have 2 more channels available.
All in all I would probably spend the $ if I have it and go for the 800, you will have plenty in and outputs , so all you need is a mixer... btw. I think there are mixers out there that have optical connectors, they should all be digital (even better) so you can really go wild!!!
Upavas - Here And Now (Sangoma Rec.) new EP out Oct.29th, get it here:
http://timecode.bandcamp.com
http://upavas.com
http://soundcloud.com/upavas-1/ |
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Upavas
Upavas
Started Topics :
150
Posts :
3315
Posted : Oct 20, 2008 23:35
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subconsciousmind
SCM
Started Topics :
37
Posts :
1033
Posted : Oct 21, 2008 10:13
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I'm running two daiychaned Fireface800s for a couple of years now.
On PC it was pretty unstable. so I simply set up one fireface as a AD converter and connected it to the other fireface via Adat. (I needed the analog ins only).
Now I'm on the mac (I believe in the meantime its stable on pc too) and I have them both connected via firewire. I have one connected via firewire 800 and the other via 400 to make sure they are on seperate buses of my mac pro.
They are connected to each other via a wordclock cable. one is slaved to the other.
Since I have a two channel A/D / D/A converter connected to the SPDIFs of one Fireface I have a total of 22channels of Analog IN and 18 Analog out (headphones excluded).
It works good so far.
Most of my music for you to download at:
http://www.subconsciousmind.ch |
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psyaudionamics
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
38
Posts :
546
Posted : Oct 22, 2008 02:29
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SCM when it was unstable on ur pc could it have been the drivers? theres new one's out ya know.
thanks for the feedback aswell |
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subconsciousmind
SCM
Started Topics :
37
Posts :
1033
Posted : Oct 22, 2008 09:48
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I know, I don't know what it was. I always had the newest drivers.
I used a lacy firewire 800 card, which is recommended by RME... maybe it was cubase or just the computer. I had an Asus p5p800 deluxe or so.. don't remember..
Most of my music for you to download at:
http://www.subconsciousmind.ch |
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psyaudionamics
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
38
Posts :
546
Posted : Oct 23, 2008 22:14
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cool, thanks for your feedback SCM
i guess the only way is to try it
then i'll know if it works... |
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