Apogee / MADI Setup Help

[vinco]

Hi there,

first I want to thank you all for your help. I finally found a biased place to talk to :-)

after a few discusssions and research, here's the setup that I did. Please let me know if you think that would be a right investment.

- Apogee AD16X
- going optical to RME ADI 648 (ADAT to MADI Conversion)
- Giga rack going optical to RME ADI 648 with a RME 9652 Card
- going to the G5 with the RME Hammerfal DSP MADI
- Outputs to an Apogee DA16X

That way, I'm ready to expand my gear if needed in the future as well as going to 96Khz if I want to with SMUX.

My synths would be connected directly to the AD16X with the help of Avalon DI Boxes if needed.

I'm also going to use my powerbook in sync with my G5 to output my videos with the Virtual VTR. I know I can use the MTC to sync it but should I use also a Big Ben synchronizer to make everybody happy?

Now I'm wondering what I could use in order to have a monitor management. It looks like there's not many options in the high end. I found out about the TASCAM DS-M7.1. Maybe some of you could advise me on this as well?

I currently have one pair of monitors and another pair coming which will be 5.1 ready (meaning I'm going to buy 2 monitors for now then the surround system in the next few months).

I therefore need a matrix that would allow me to switch between the 2 pairs of monitors. I still don't know which brand, I have to try them but the idea will be the same.

Thanks for your help!
Vincent

PS: Also please let me know about which cables I should use with all of this in order to provide the best signal.