Using Outboard Effects with DAW Question

[Hershal Pearlma]

Hello everyone,

I would like to ask for help with the following problem.

I have a Digi001 studio set-up. It has 1 stereo S/pdif digital input and output and one ADAT optical I/O which will carry 8 digital channels of audio I/O.

The S/pdif inputs on the Digi001 are connected to a two channel Apogee A/D convertor which is fed by two Neve preamps. This is where I record my dry signals.

I have three Effects Processors:

Eventide Eclipse
Lexicon PCM 81
TC electronic M-ONE

They all have S/pdif digital I/O on them but, not all have ADAT optical I/O.

I want to connect these three Hardware Effects Processors to my Pro Tools Mixer Digitally to avoid A/D and D/A conversion LATENCY.

Is there a way to convert the S/pdif I/O on my effects units to an ADAT optical format so that I can use the 8 ADAT I/O on my Digi001 to send and receive signals to and from all my Hardware units within my Pro Tools mixer?

Is there a box that you can connect up to 8 S/pdif I/O to and turn these into 8 ADAT channels?

Any help with this problem would be greatly appreciated!

[staticinsect]

well, the manufacturer's website seems to have disappeared... but here is a link to another site that sells the product. you might want to check out the Friendchip DMX-16

[staticinsect]

actually, the above site had a link to the manufacturer's site

go figure. follow this link instead of the first one I posted

[staticinsect]

so you would probably want a DMX-16 with at least one MQA card and one MCO4 card installed...

[Hershal Pearlma]

Thanks a million. I also noticed this other device that I thought might work but I am not sure. Check it out for me and please let me know which one I need.

http://www.z-sys.com/pp_detm.html#z8

I need to be able to plug in 2 s/pdif inputs and outputs from each of my three Processors and have those 6 connections turn into the first 6 channels of ADAT I/O's in the 8 channel ADAT I/O configuration.

Thanks a lot for the help!

[staticinsect]

looks like either one will do the trick, but there is still one thing to consider:

the Z-Sys ADAT box will accomodate what you have now, and allow you to add one more digital FX unit (or other 2-channel digital device) to your set-up before you reach it's full capacity.

the DMX-16 will accomodate what you have now, and allow you to add one more digital FX unit (or other 2-channel digital device) to your set-up... and after you've done that, you can also expand it to double that. the DMX-16 will accomodate what you need right now with 2 cards installed - but it has room for 4 cards.

so the long and short of it is this: keep any possible future expansion in mind. if you don't forsee going beyond what you've got now, the Z-Sys would do the trick. if you think you might add more digital devices to your rig in the future, then the DMX-16 is probably the better option.

[Jules]

Sending & returning to & from digitally hooked up gear from your DAW is COOL!

Good luck with it, let us know how you get on with this please.

[edmann]

Originally posted by staticinsect
actually, the above site had a link to the manufacturer's site

go figure. follow this link instead of the first one I posted

I have been looking at this box too - for the same reasons. However - I get no responses from Friend-chip and I cannot find a dealership in the US. Mystery abounds. Anyone have any clues?

It is surprising to me that more companies have not jumped on this obvious need, MIDIMAN used to make a great and inexpensive box to patch S/PDIF coaxial to ADAT/TOSLINK.....you can find them on ebay sometimes - do a search under "digital patchbay"....

[strauss]

I just got myself a friendchip DMX 16 (the one with four optional slots). Is far as I know it's almost similar to the Z-sys stuff though you can choose what type of connectors you want.
I haven't took the time yet to hook it up, so I'll let you know how it works in real life once that's done.

[edmann]

Originally posted by strauss
I just got myself a friendchip DMX 16 (the one with four optional slots). Is far as I know it's almost similar to the Z-sys stuff though you can choose what type of connectors you want.
I haven't took the time yet to hook it up, so I'll let you know how it works in real life once that's done.

wonder bar strauss danke

[dave-G]

Originally posted by Hershal Pearlma
I want to connect these three Hardware Effects Processors to my Pro Tools Mixer Digitally to avoid A/D and D/A conversion LATENCY.

You seem to be on the right track with the recommendations above, but keep in mind that the routing itself should induce some latency (enough to phase with the dry signal, but probably not enough to effect musical timing at all--I don't know LE).

Anyway, I wouldn't look to this as a means of avoiding latency, but as a means of getting at your outboard FX.

Best of luck with it!
-dave

ps: the Z-Sys stuff is excellent!