ADAT optical w/o 9-pin ADAT sync? (AND PC interfaces & HD24's)

[Kyle S]

I want to record and playback through my hd24 with whatever interface i end up purchasing. All im considering have ADAT but not all of them have 9-pin sync, though some of those have WORD.

What problems would i run into wihout the 9-pin sync and just word, or more common, with just the optical connections and no sync whatsoever?

So far ive just recorded with my hd24 to its internal HDDs with my console but im getting a decent pc finally. So far recording straight into a DAW for me has just been a dream unless i use my AP192. By using the ADAT in's on the interface, ill skip its AD's and use the HD's though i still plan on using the AD's in the interface for location stuff.

More than likely, ill be heavily using the ADAT ports somewhat like this:

pres > hd24 > laptop interface
laptop interface > hd24 > console

Still havn't decided on an interface either really. It's between these basically:
MOTU Traveler
MOTU 8Pre
MOTU 828mk][
EMU 1616(m?)
Alesis IO14 (pres dont have much gain?)
RME FF400($)

[Kyle S]

bump

[Kyle S]

bump

[travisgarrison]

As far as I know, you shouldn't need to use 9-pin sync with this setup. It is possible for your audio interface to clock to an incoming ADAT signal, so you could get away with a simple ADAT connection. I have done this with my HD24 and a Digi002 without any difficulty. If your interface has wordclock, that would be a more reliable solution. But as I recall, you only would need to use 9-pin sync for ADAT and HD24-specific applications.

[Kyle S]

whats the advatage of ADAT 9-pin sync at all with an interface?

[Raw-Tracks]

Originally Posted by Kyle S

whats the advatage of ADAT 9-pin sync at all with an interface?

The 9-pin provides a time code reference. Lets say you want to transfer 24 tracks from your HD24 but only have one lightipipe input on your interface. If your interface has the adat 9-pin on it, you can do 3 trasnfer passes with the HD24 locked to your DAW via the 9-pin connection and have all of your tracks line up.

It sound slike you want to use your HD24 as an 8 channel AD converter when you finally purchase an interface. In those cases, your don't need 9-pin.

[Kyle S]

well thats just it, im going to be using it for more than an AD interface (sorry if i wasnt clear enough). I want to be able to make multiple passes, take crap out of the HD into the pc, edit and throw back into the HD vice-versa for retracks etc.

Making sequenced parts in the pc and then lightpiping it into the HD and tracking on top of it, then lightpiping back into the pc is what ill be doing a lot of.


So i guess i do need ADAT sync.

[Raw-Tracks]

I think you should just get the FirePort for the HD24.

[travisgarrison]

Originally Posted by Raw-Tracks

I think you should just get the FirePort for the HD24.

Agreed. Transferring projects in real-time (especially in 8-track chunks) is very time-consuming. I can't imagine ever regretting a Fireport purchase.

[Kyle S]

yeah true i do need a fireport. how fast does a 6-7 min track take to transfer through a fireport and be ready to play with the other 20 or so tracks?

[muziekschuur]

HD24tools.