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Old 07-08-2016, 02:29 PM   #1
Drums are for parades
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Default Scarlett 18i20 and Behringer ADA8200 with Reaper

Hi,

I'm trying to setup my Focusrite audio interface with a Behringer ADA8200 ADAT interface. Everything works fine, until I startup Reaper. The clean sound of my warm voice, spoken into a microphone connected with XLR with one of the preamps in the Behringer, then suddenly sounds distorted.

Here's my current configuration:

Macbook Pro Retina 64bits.
Reaper 5.211

The Behringer is connected to the Scarlett with a toslink cable.

The Behringer is set to Master
The Behringer is set to 48khz

In Mixcontrol the sample rate is set to 48khz
The sync Source is ADAT
The sync status says 'Locked'
ADAT in 1-4 are linked to ADAT output 1-4

In OSX audio devices, the clock source of the Scarlett is set to ADAT, 48khz, 18ch-24bit integer.

Finally, in Reaper, the the option 'Request sample rate' is set to off. Request block size is set to 256 (not sure this setting is relevant).

So, without Reaper open, everything works just as expected, then when I startup Reaper, voice sounds distorted. Gain levels are normal (no clipping).

I attached an audio file recorded with Reaper. The link to the (small) file is here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/qgosihegcj...radio.ogg?dl=0

Any help is appreciated!

Thanks,

Walter

Last edited by Drums are for parades; 07-08-2016 at 03:37 PM. Reason: Added audio example
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Old 07-09-2016, 12:21 AM   #2
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Not a Mac guy, so read this with a pinch of salt!

Does the Scarlett have an ADAT IN and an ADAT out?
Could be as silly as the synch mode requiring both in and out connected to work properly.

FWIW I used to run a couple of ADA8000s with an RME PCI card, which I am now running with a pair of Focusrite Octopres via ADAT and I always run two toslink leads per Octopre.
Worth a try....
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Old 07-10-2016, 04:24 AM   #3
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Default It worked

Hi Ivansc,

Thanks for your reply. The Scarlett indeed has IO for ADAT. I connected the two units with a second toslink cable and suddenly... it worked. Distortion gone. I don't really understand the logic behind this, but nonetheless a very happy person as I was able to record my band yesterday. Thanks a lot.

Walter
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Old 07-10-2016, 05:57 AM   #4
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Originally Posted by Drums are for parades View Post
connected the two units with a second toslink cable and suddenly... it worked.
Odd. Good to know. It definitely should work with one cable too. I wonder why.

Something odd between Focusrite and Behringer?
Bug in either?
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Old 07-10-2016, 08:08 AM   #5
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Wrong, guys. In order to synch the two via toslink, one has to be master one has to be slave.
In order to achieve this and get synch, you have to have a simultaneous bi-directional link.
Therefore TWO cables needed. Light in a lightpipe only travels in one direction, if you think about it....

Just to convince yourselves, you might want to hook up both bits of kit and see which ends of what have a red light showing. The red light indicates an ADAT "send" and absence of light means that port is expecting to see a receive.

Whoda thunk it?

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Old 07-10-2016, 02:10 PM   #6
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Default but still...

I find it odd that a schema in the Behringer manual shows exactly my setup, but with one toslink only.

The Behringer is at the beginning of the chain, set to master. One would argue that the master only has to give orders, thus a single toslink would suffice. Anyhow, it is working now, and my Behringer and Scarlett lived happily ever after.
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Old 07-10-2016, 03:11 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ivansc View Post
Wrong, guys. In order to synch the two via toslink, one has to be master one has to be slave.
In order to achieve this and get synch, you have to have a simultaneous bi-directional link.
Therefore TWO cables needed. Light in a lightpipe only travels in one direction, if you think about it....

Just to convince yourselves, you might want to hook up both bits of kit and see which ends of what have a red light showing. The red light indicates an ADAT "send" and absence of light means that port is expecting to see a receive.

Whoda thunk it?

I'm not absolutely certain, but I seem to remember using an ADA8000 with one optical cable, set as master to my RME to use the inputs on the Behringer. And that worked...
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Old 07-10-2016, 03:39 PM   #8
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Ah - you may be right if you ONLY want to run Inputs and with Behri as master clock.
My RME is master and the two octopres I now use are clocking from the RME - I use the outputs to run my main monitors & artist's monitoring when required. Same as when I had 2x ADA8000.

On the other hand, it's working, isn't it?
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Old 07-10-2016, 04:22 PM   #9
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Yep.

It also doesn't work with one cable with all ADAT devices, as in this case.

There used to be Swissonic devices that were input only or output only and had just one connector. You needed to set up those with dip switches. Good convertors, tho...
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Old 07-11-2016, 12:49 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Drums are for parades View Post
I find it odd that a schema in the Behringer manual shows exactly my setup, but with one toslink only.

The Behringer is at the beginning of the chain, set to master. One would argue that the master only has to give orders, thus a single toslink would suffice. Anyhow, it is working now, and my Behringer and Scarlett lived happily ever after.
FWIW the clock in your RME is subjectively "better" than the one in the behringer, unless they improved that with the ADA8200, so this is why I clock with the RME.
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Old 07-11-2016, 07:41 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ivansc View Post
FWIW the clock in your RME is subjectively "better" than the one in the behringer, unless they improved that with the ADA8200, so this is why I clock with the RME.
I'll believe that instantly.

Don't underestimate the 8200, though. Phonic is already cloning them. A "grey" ADA8 for 159 €. Yay! Considering 2nd hand 8000's still go over 100 €, that should be a steal.

http://www.thomann.de/nl/phonic_firefly_ada8.htm
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Old 07-11-2016, 09:44 AM   #12
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Didn't even know about the Phonic FireFly. The Behringer matches better with the Scarlett. Color wise that is
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Old 04-02-2017, 09:21 AM   #13
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Hi, reviving this thread, as i am experiencing a similar issue : i have an ADA8200 connected as slave to a Focusrite 18i20, and when i feed audio to the ADA8200 i don't see the vumeters moving on the software (neither MixControl nor Reaper)...
I have only one single ADAT cable (Behringer OUT to FOcusrite IN) connected, could anyone confirm if we need 2 cables or should it work fine as it is ?
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Old 04-02-2017, 01:57 PM   #14
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The Behringer ADAT must be the master (feeding the Focusrite). The devices should be connected to eachother with TWO toslinks (unlike what the manual suggested).

Make sure to also select the ADAT as master clock source in Mix Control.

I also experienced some problems when recording on 48khz. With 44.1khz everything works as expected.

Make sure that your computer audio settings are are set to the same frequency rate and that both devices are recognized.
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Old 04-02-2017, 02:43 PM   #15
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Thank you for your answer.
Ok, so two Toslink are indeed needed ? I will get another one.

Is it required to have the Behringer set up as master (you may call me superstitious, but i trust my Focusrite a bit more than the Behri, so i wish i could have it set up as master) ?
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Old 04-03-2017, 04:09 AM   #16
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As a general rule, the AD should be master with ADAT. There's nothing wrong with the clock in the ADA8200.

If you don't follow the general rule, you'll have to set up external clocking, either with a second ADAT optical cable, or a coax cable. There's no advantage to it, unless you're part of a bigger setup, with a central clock.

ADAT should work with one cable. Even with the "in" going to one device and the "out" going to a different device.

Why it doesn't work for some with the Focusrite 18i20 and the Behringer ADA8200 isn't clear.

And which 18i20 are we talking about?
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Old 04-03-2017, 04:44 AM   #17
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Clocking accuracy with modern gear is good enough that you just set it up however works best and forget about it. The clock in the ADA8200 isn't going to be what compromises your audio quality.
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Old 04-03-2017, 07:38 AM   #18
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I now have focusrite octopres and use both ins and outs
but I am pretty sure you will find 2 cables is way more reliable AND gives you the option of multi outs if that foxcusrite interface allows it. Very useful for for multiple monitor mixes etc.
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Old 04-03-2017, 12:41 PM   #19
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Hi
Ok, it was a mistake from my part : i had to set the ADA to "master" (from the rear) and the Focusrite to "slave" (from Mixcontrol software).
One cable seems ok so far
Thank you all for the advices (and fwiw, it's a 2nd gen 18i20).
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Old 04-05-2017, 09:20 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Drums are for parades View Post
Didn't even know about the Phonic FireFly. The Behringer matches better with the Scarlett. Color wise that is
Red does sound better.
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Old 04-05-2017, 09:41 AM   #21
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but I am pretty sure you will find 2 cables is way more reliable...
I've had just one optical for over a year. Never any problem, as long as you use only inputs or only outputs and set the clock accordingly.

But since I've bought two new optical cables and an ADAT connected EQ, I've tried out daisy-chaining ADAT and that works perfectly.

Of course, don't overdo it. The length in total shouldn't exceed 15 m. Unless you want to invest in expensive cables and opto-amps.
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