Connect RME Fireface 800 and Steinberg MR816X

[CJ1973]

Hi
I currently have a Fireface 800 and need an additional 8 analog outputs for an outboard analog summing of 16channels.
I am considering an MR816X and would like to use the ADAT connector to make this work.
Is anyone using this combination?
Thanks!!

[Gearowner]

Interested in this as well

[Fergies Watch]

have you looked at the behringer ADA8000 ?

seems like overkill to purchase and mr816 to run additional 8 channels out via adat. Since you are paying for reverb dsp.

regards

Stu.

[Gearowner]

Thank you for your tip.

I have looked at the behringer ada8000. However, the steinberg mr816x have really nice preamps, which i think the behringer ada8000 has not.

[jimbridgman]

To be honest, you would be better off getting another Fireface 800, and using the correct routing through totalmix to get what you are looking for. The Fireface units were meant to be daisychained like this, and use the totalmix app for that. All you need to do is connect a Firewire 800 cable and a bnc clock between the two FF800s and you get 16 analog in and out, and 16 ADAT in and out between the two units.

Here is a video explaining how to connect two FF800s:
RME FF800 tutorial - YouTube

The MR816 is not really even meant to be a daisy chained device, to do that you would have to give up most of the features of the MR816, and use the second device in a standalone config over ADAT, which forces the bitrate to 88KHZ. Even if you could get both units to work, you will have to use both totalmix, and the mixer on the MR816, to get it all working, and that seems like a big pain to me.

Jim

[lostwars]

Originally Posted by Fergies Watch

have you looked at the behringer ADA8000 ?

seems like overkill to purchase and mr816 to run additional 8 channels out via adat.

It is overkill. You are right. He'd be better off getting one and having BLA mod it.

Some people hate the B word...

[Gearowner]

@ jimbridgman - Thank you for your suggestion. I must be clear on why I want to know this; I need 16 mic channels. So, just buying FF800's will be a waste of my funds, especially since the preamps will be of importance for me. You are right that daisychaining mr816x will cause all sorts of problems, see the respective forum thread on the cubase forum. However, I do not plan to use daisychain mr816x's,... No. I intend to go and buy a RME fireface 800 and add two mr816x's through the adat out into the rme adat in's. This way, I will have 2 mic channels of the rme, plus 8 and another 8 through the mr816x. Also, i will have 8 balanced line in as a bonus.

I know the zed r16 or the mackie onyx 1640i are another option, I'm still in the research phase.

@ lostwars. I must admit, I hate the B word. Once, in a far past, I had to use one of their entry line analog mixers,... it blew up. However, I am always interested in giving second chances. So, what is this BLA Mod you spoke about. Willing to shortly explain what its intention and results are?

[lostwars]

Black Lion Audio | Behringer ADA 8000

The Behringer ADA8000 is a very economical option for an 8-channel A/D and D/A converter expansion, complete with preamps & ADAT i/o. It is based on Wavefront Semiconductor's AL1101 and AL1201 and/or Cirrus Logic 4270's converters, all which have quite decent harmonic & musical sound quality. The biggest drawback within the ADA8000's analog path would be from the use of the Texas Instruments' TL074 opamp, which is primarily responsible for the unit's hazy and muddy characteristic. But the good news is that we've come up with an amazing solution to bring this very inexpensive converter into a COMPLETELY different league!

[jimbridgman]

Originally Posted by Gearowner

@ jimbridgman - Thank you for your suggestion. I must be clear on why I want to know this; I need 16 mic channels. So, just buying FF800's will be a waste of my funds, especially since the preamps will be of importance for me. You are right that daisychaining mr816x will cause all sorts of problems, see the respective forum thread on the cubase forum. However, I do not plan to use daisychain mr816x's,... No. I intend to go and buy a RME fireface 800 and add two mr816x's through the adat out into the rme adat in's. This way, I will have 2 mic channels of the rme, plus 8 and another 8 through the mr816x. Also, i will have 8 balanced line in as a bonus.

I know the zed r16 or the mackie onyx 1640i are another option, I'm still in the research phase.

@ lostwars. I must admit, I hate the B word. Once, in a far past, I had to use one of their entry line analog mixers,... it blew up. However, I am always interested in giving second chances. So, what is this BLA Mod you spoke about. Willing to shortly explain what its intention and results are?

You might be better off looking at a FF800 with 2 Focusrite Octo pres. that will give you same thing, and the focusrite pres are WAY better than the MR816 pres.

OctoPre MkII Mic Pres

Or the octo pre with dynamics:
OctoPre MkII Dynamic Mic Pres

These are both just plain mic/lines and two are insturment connections as well. These can connect via ADAT or analog I/O.

I think that ganging to interfaces together to get more line or mic ins is not the best way to go about it. I think the Octo pre will set you up, much closer to what you are looking for. and heck, you can still go with any interface you want with the Octo pres.

Jim

[Gearowner]

Thanks again. Your advise is getting me closer to making decisions as you offer alternative solutions to my situation. Refreshing for sure. However, the OctoPre MkII will not be the chosen one.

I want to record @ 24/96. To have access to the OctoPre MkII's 8 channels at this bitrate/sampledepth i will need to have use both, that is 2 of its adat outputs. That means that If I go down the RME ff800 route, both of its adat ins will be full with just one focusrite mkII. Obviously, since the ff800 only has two adat inputs, both will be occupied and will leave no room to expand with another 8 channels @ 24/96. I think people should be aware of this.

Maybe I just need another type of solution to this wish to record 16channels at one time,... this way it seems will be so much hassle for something so simple...