I’ve written before on expanding your inputs with ADAT, and how it’s a simple way to get more channels of audio into your ADAT equipped interface. Today, however, I want to show you exactly how to hook the darn thing up and specifically in Pro Tools how to set things up to work flawlessly. In the video I’m using a Behringer ADA8000 into a Digi 002, but the concept applies to any ADAT mic pre and audio interface combo with your DAW of choice.
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So that is what ADAT could be used for. Never had a clue exactly what that was for. Now I know! Question: So if you are using Mics in the DIGI002 interface and the ADAT simultaneously, how would you set the clock? I am assuming that the DIGI002 would have to be the master, so how would you make the ADA8000 the slave.
Once again Thanks.
BTW – Vocal Boot Camp is great and was a well worthwhile purchase… Marc
Marc, in the video I explain that you would set the ADA8000 as the master and then in Pro Tools set the clock source from Internal (Digi002) to Optical (ADA8000). That’s it 🙂
Glad you’re liking the Vocals Boot Camp!
Hi Graham, watched many of your videos but this one in particular that you mention that you would set the ADA as the master and not the digi002.
is there a reason for this? Could you use the internal as the clock source. Would this cause a problem? Thanks in advance for your response. God bless you.
Denton
Yes, make the ADA the master in order for them to sync.
Awesome, Graham. Great explanation. And you have beautiful hands. 🙂
You actually inspired a followup post over on HSC:
http://www.homestudiocorner.com/2010/12/01/adat/
Haha…Joe you crack me up my friend. Glad someone in this world thinks my hands are beautiful. Also glad I was an “inspiration” 🙂
It is great to see both my mentors on the same page. I was intrigued by Joe’s comment about your hands so I re-watched the video. And you know Joe really does have a point. They are clean and very well manicured. Curiosity directed me to watching an old post on Joe’s site and noticed he too has beautiful hands. Coincidence? I think not. Maybe I have found the hidden key to being a successful recording engineer.
Go to go wash my hands and schedule a manicure…. Later
Haha. Too much talk of beautiful hands on this website. Sheesh 🙂
proud of you man..You’re my source of inspiration
My apologies, Graham. I let the secret out.
Ok, Joe. Now I have another home studio website to check every day for new tips and articles. Between you two and your sites + all the great videos you sell I’m going to spend way too much time by the computer. Theres just too much good cheap online tutoring.
Pardon me for drifting away from the hands / manicures subject and asking a question on the gear 🙂
First — as always, great video Graham!
Question(s):
While the ADAT concept is great, and its an affordable and easy addition of mic pres to the Digi racks or M-Audio’s or Presonus’ 26 x 26 I/O interfaces, do you know of any “cheap” interfaces that help link 8 tracks via ADAT to the computer via USB or Firewire? Maybe something that just has an ADAT in and headphone or monitor out, and a firewire link at the other end (‘cos essentially, that’s all you’re using your Digi rig for, in the video, right?)
I ask because the aforementioned units cost well over 500 to 600 USD, which isn’t quite a justified ‘investment’ for people like me who record only for fun (no income out of it!) and have already spent 300 – 400 bucks for other interfaces that come without optical ADAT inputs.
M-Audio has the 299 Profire Lightbridge wich is just 4 adat inputs and 4 outputs pluss a stereo audio out. And a FireWire connection to your computer and then you can add adat preamps as you nede then.
Ankur – Focusrite makes the Saffire PRO 24 firewire interface. It’s a bus powered box with two built in pres, but also an ADAT input on the back to hook up one of these 8 channel pres. And the best part…it costs $299 US! Something to consider.
Wow – thanks Stian and Graham! I had heard of the Saffire Pro 24, but didn’t know it had an ADAT in. And had no idea about the Profire Lightbridge — that’s AWESOME!
Now how shitty is it that the freakin “distributor” in Singapore charges literally one and a half times the price that Musician’s Friend is selling this at! (Envy you guys in the US!)
Thanks again!
Here in Norway the retailers usually multiplay the listed $ price by ten. 299$ becomes 2999Nok. Even though the exchange rate is 1$=6Nok.
So I always pay 1.5 times the US prices. That`s why I buy every downloadable product from Sweetwater instead of norwegian resellers.
I Paid 299$ for Pro Tools 9. norwegian price 5000NOK =(700+$)
I have the Behringer 8000, and I’ve used with Adat on first a Digi 002, then a Metric Halo 2882, and now my current interface, the M-Audio 2626, and I’ve never had success with getting the clocking right UNLESS I also have an Adat connection between the in of the Behringer and the out of the interfaces. I’ve gone through all my settings… and it just doesn’t want to work right unless I do that. Could it be my Behringer unit is broken? Eventually I’d like to get a BNC based Word Clock… something small like the BLA Microclock… so i’ll be able to see then if it really is the unit itself.
Brandon…something sounds amiss. Hmm. It’s possible that the unit is functioning properly. All you need to do is what I show in the video. You could always contact Behringer support to see if they have any suggestions. But yes using an external clock should work as well.
Brandon: I was reading up on several forums about the ADA8000 and the connectivity issues people faces with multiple interfaces. I don’t know if the logic i derived from it is flawed, but what I understand is that if the ADA8000 is NOT set to work as the master and / or your interface by default works as the master, you need to send the word clock out from the ADAT OUT of your interface to the IN of your ADA8000 for them to be in Sync. However, if your setup permits the ADA8000 to be the master, it automatically transmits word clock data down the ADAT lightpipe (as is the case in Graham’s video), hence just a one way adat link works.
Hope that makes sense.
Thanks Ankur. That’s exactly my thinking of the issue. As long as I’ve got ADAT connected both ways, it works great. No harm done though… Putting ADAT out to the ada8000 means 8 more available outputs for whatever hairbrained scheme I could ever come up with requiring me to have 16 available outs 🙂
WoW! this answered just about everything I was wondering about ADATS.
Are Adats like wordclocks where there are “inferior” sounding unit’s or do they
all pretty much sound the same? If they don’t sound the same which are the
recommended adats in your opinion?
Thanks soooo much Graham. and thanks for the video.
So great! Thanks a M tilmes. I’ve been looking for this information all over.
Damn… It didn’t help. Pro Tools says: External Clock Invalid, Reverting To Internal. THe cables are brand new and I’ve tried all sort of combinations. Do I need to tell PT to be slave somehow? PT doesen’t allow me to choose ADAT and external. I can choose ADAT and ADAT or ADAT and s/pdif but when I do so it says “External Clock Invalid, Reverting To Internal “. I use LE 6.7. If someone knows anything about this issue I would be soooo greatfull.
Hmm, and your ADAT mic pre is set to master? And the same sample rate as your PT session?
Yes and yes. I don’t get it. Could it be that you have to turn the devices on in a specific order? I get a audio signal from the device but it’s messed up from the crackling… What if I put the ADA to be the slave? Would it work?
Hey ,
Great tutorial video (watched it 4 times to learn how I could add Adar tracks in protools w/Ada 8000)
Now I’m stuck on one last thing . If I’m using 1-8 Adat tracks how can I monitor The input signal w/headphones ?
Ira, if you’ve got your ADAT preamp hooked up you should be able to listen through your audio interfaces main output. The ADAT channels 1-8 should act like any input on your interface.
Hey,
i have also a question. I have an RME Fireface 400 and use Pro Tools 10. Can I use the digi 002 only for more Inputs? That means i connect the Adat out from the digi 002 to the Adat in from the RME Fireface! So that i have 8 more Inputs? Does this work??
I mean with the digi 002 rack!!
You would have to use the 002 as your interface and connect the FME as the extra 8 channels if it can work in standalone mode. The 002 cannot act like an adat mic pre unfortunately.
Hi Graham!
I’m considering to buy an RME Hammerfall HDSP 9652 (pci interface) with a Behringer 8000. This audio interface has only adat I/O. How can I get the main output from the rme to the studio monitors?
I was thinking maybe that is possible if I connect the rme adat output to the Behringer adat input and then get the analog signal from the Behringer outputs. If I connect two Behringer 8000 to the rme how would I sync them?
Thanks for all the tips and answers!
I just emailed you back.
Hi Graham,
When you connect the adat8000 to the soundboard, are you using the ada8000 as 8 preamps or just 8 inputs ?
thanks!
I’m using them as 8 mic pres.
thanks!
How would this concept work in Logic 9, do you know? I have the 002 and the ada8000 but i dont use protools i use Logic and the settings are very different ..can anyone help?
Hi, I am also having a problem in Logic Pro 9? I have a Focusrite ISA One Digital preamp with ADAT and SPDIF outputs. I have a Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 interface with optical input. I have connected using the Adat output on ISA one to optical in on Saffire Pro 24 with optical cable and synced via the Saffire Mix Control software making the ISA One the master device. I have output sound through my monitors, but no signal sending to logic even with record enable highlighted? I am getting a great sound in monitors, just can’t record in logic digitally. This does work however, if I connect using a Xlr out of the ISA One to the analogue input of my Safire interface, but this defeats the purpose of having digital options?
Thanks for your previous input Graham, on the Liquid Saffire 56 review thread which I posted on recently.
Have you set up the ISA One as the digital master IN LOGIC?
Hi Graham,
Thanks for your reply, I think you’re providing a super service to people who are trying to get on the right track with recording and gear!
From the outset, I would like to say that I have resolved the issue.
However, to answer your question, I am using the ISA one digital to master from the Saffire mix control software, so I guess the Saffire PRO 24 becomes the slave, as this is set to ADAT 1 from the Saffire Mix control software, which is the software that comes with the interface. All the sample rates are matched.
Basically, I did some further reading in the Saffire PRO 24 manual and realised that I had to set a logic track to input on input 7 to obtain the input ( or send the signal) into logic pro 9, as inputs 1 to 4 are analogue and 5 and 6 are SPDIF. A phonecall to Focusrite tech support in the UK confirmed this.
Now I can record in logic and keep transfer in the digital domain somewhat.
Thanks and keep doing what you’re doing!
Glad you got it working!
Great video who was great help setting up my Saffire Pro DSP and ADA8000
After working perfect in my Home studio now for 18 month it suddenly making a continuos noise and I can’t find the reason why – does anybody have the same problem?.
My set-up is:
Mac OS. 10.8.2
Cubase 7
Saffire MixControl 3.1 (Firmware vers. 1660)
ADA8000 is connected with cable to ADAT Out / Sync is set to master 44.1Mhz
Saffire Pro DSP (44.1 Khz, ADAT, Locked, Connected)
The noise is a loud continuos digital hum/noise – in the background I can hear my signal (Synth, mic etc.)
Is this noise caused by a defect in ADA8000 or is my settings/set-up the problem?
Thank you in advance – and Thanks to Graham for this great Blog
Bjarke
Hello there! Do you know if they make any pluginsto safeguard against hackers? I’m kinda paranoid about losing everything I have workedhard on. Any recommendations?
hi am trying to do the same thing but having problems new to this connection method. am running a profire 2626 and an 003.In this config i want to use the profire as the master beause am running pro tools 9 m-powered but for some reason after much fightin it seemed to sync but only on sample rates which are multiples of 44.1 and yet could not get any sound recording into the 003
You can’t use the 003 as additional pres. Only as your main audio interface.
Hi Graham !
I also have an issue with Logic 10. I use an Alesis TXT20 as ADAT device and a Saffire Pro 24 audio interface.
The Alesis Device is well recognized by the MixControl software, but no signal is displayed in Logic.
I also check in audio/midi setup, and all the Saffire channels are turned down (and grey, so no possibility to turn them up).
Any idea ?
Thanks a lot !
Hmmm. Not sure about this. I would contact Focusrite support. They are very helpful.
I finally managed to solve my problem : actually there wasn’t any problem at all…. the adat1 in MixControl is just not the input 5 in Logic, but input 7… Inputs 5 and 6 are SPDIF… Yep, I heard you said “weird” 😉
Now I still have a firewire issue giving me an awful cracked sound in the Saffire outputs. I ordered a Sonnet firewire 400-800 adapter to solve this. Looks like Apple changed the Texas Instrument chipset to another one which causes cracks.
Hi, I have a TC Impact Twin, great little audio interface. It has 14 In/Out, 4 analog, 2 SPDIF and 8 ADAT/Optical. The SPDIF and ADAT are both in and out. My question relates to the opposite scenario, i.e what can I use the ADAT out on my Impact Twin for? I have a home theatre amp with Dolby and DTS controlled through a Digital Optical In (e.g. Blu Ray). Thus could I use Logic Pro X to set up a Surround Sound scenario whereby send my audio Out through the ADAT to the home theatre amp? I would only need 6 channels i.e. 5.1 surround. Not sure if this is what is intended for the ADAT (and for that matter SPDIF) Out connections on the Impact Twin. I am assuming it gives additional flex when monitoring and/or setting up a surround type connection??
how can you make the apollo twin the master of a focusrite liquid saffire
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I have a question if anyone might be able to help me. I appreciate any time you might be able to offer to answer this. I have the following interfaces/preamps, and want to see if it is possible to sync them all together via ADAT? If so, how would I do this?
Digi 003 Console
PreSonus Firestudio 26×26
Behringer ADA 800 (Just like in the video)
Any help is greatly appreciated, and I thank you for your help.
Adam.
P.S.
Great video Graham, as always!!! I love watching your videos! They are extremely informative and easy to follow!!!! I always check my YouTube account to see if there are any new videos you have made!!!
Hey Adam,
The FireStudio and the 003 might be able to link together if one can go in stand alone mode (likely the PreSonus) and feed into the other as simply a preamp. But I’m not sure about adding the Behringer into the mix. The 003 only has one bank of ADAT so it can only take one of those devices.
Thank you Graham! The presonus has 2 inputs and outputs for the adat. So I could plug it in that way, but I don’t know if the digi 003 console would work in standalone mode.
Any help is much appreciated!!!
Thanks again!!!
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Love your video bro good info. Question tho. Im using my Digi002 and berhinger ADA8000 with LogicX. When i open up a new audio track i dont see that extra list with the adat inputs. How do i go about seeing my extra 8 channels on logicX?
I’m not familiar with the IO setup of Logic, but I assume you need to navigate to some setting and enable your second bank of 8 inputs (via adat).
If I am simply taking tracks out of a yamaha ls-9-32, out of an adat card on the back, do I need to worry about clock? not using any pres except those on the yamaha board. Just using the second interface to ge tthe audio into my laptop. Can I get away with one lightpipe per 8 channels? (It’s a 16 channel adat card, so 2 inputs, right?)
You will be fine with just the ADAT cable.
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Hi Graham,
Great video. I might have a tricky one for you. Having a Projectmix IO (with 8 mic ins as you know) I would like to expand with 8 more inputs but would like to purchase the RME Fireface UC and use it as the main audio interface, and hook the 8 Projectmix inputs onto the RME. Is this possible?
It would only work if the Project Mix has a “stand alone” mode. Or if working on a Mac you can trick your DAW into seeing all available inputs and outputs. Forget what that’s called. Anyone??
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hello,
A stupid question ,
when i do it i don’t use the press of the mother interface ? for exemple i want to expand analogue input channels to apollo twin , how can i do it and use the pres of the apollo?
Thanks for all
Pedro Neves
Hi Graham, i just wondering, if i’m using an interface like Saffire Pro 40, and the same expansion ADA8000, does the audio from ADAT connection (in this case, ADA8000 will be used) will be included into Saffire Pro 40 for direct monitoring?
Yes. It comes up on channels 9-16
Hi Graham!
Is it possible to get two Behringer ADA8200’s synced to a RME Hammerfall HDSP 9652 and Cubase at 48 kHz?
Current setup :
1st ADA8200 by two toslink-cables => ADAT1
2st ADA8200 by two toslink-cables => ADAT2
I nead at least 16 input-channels and 8 output.
The HDSP9652 won’t sync the 2nd ADA8200 ( ADAT2 ).
Do I nead worldclock to get them synced ?
Any recommendations? Thanks for all the tips and answers!
Hmm. I think it would just depend on the RME interface if it has two ADAT inputs and can take them at 16 streams total. You can sync them over ADAT.
Hi, Graham
Not sure if this stream is still active or not, but is there a way to connect an ISA 828 to a RME 400? Can’t seem to get the digital channels to work. I also have a Behringer but I’m looking to have a different sound.
Hmm. I don’t know those units as well as others, but if the RME has ADAT INs and the ISA has ADAT outs, then yes. It would just involve setting the RME’s clock to Internal, and the ISA’s clock to ADAT.
Thanks Graham… That did the trick
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Message: Hey Graham, i have two ADATs and i want to use just the converters to run 16 outs to my Mackie console. I’m good with that. My thing is, i’m thinking about using the optical out on a Digi002 to run my audio from Studio One Artist. Question, is there a better way to connect the ADATs to my computer, like a particular PCI card or, can you point me to a better way.
Hey Graham,
I’m using a Focusrite Clarett 8preX and I have an ART DPSII for two additional channels. I’m familiar with how to set the master/slave. Is there a reason why the ART has to be the master? Since the preamps are inferior to the focusrite, does that have an effect on the clocking as well? Can the Clarett be set as the master?
Hi Graham, Happy new year.
A quick question hoping you are able to help. I have a Projectmix I/O and recently acquired a Saffire PRO40 to use it as the main audio interface (after watching some of your videos). I have connected the ProjectMix to Saffire PRO40 using firewire and that in turn to my Mac (firewire), which runs Pro Tools LE.
When I open my DAW, I can see the ProjectMix only. In the MixControl, I can see only the Saffire Is/Os, and unable to play the Pro Tools sessions over through my PRO40, to my main monitors. I think I did my best in mapping the Outputs to the right Line Outputs (1&2) on my PRO40, but may be missing something.
I have no problem when I open a GarageBand session, which plays through my PRO40.
This may be something basic for you or someone else. What could be the issue? Thanks in advance.
I have a question my guy. I recently went a bought a m-audio profile 2626 and a beringer ada8000.. but I’m stuck w m-powered protools 8 on my Amd phenom II 6x pc.(no I have to buy a pic firework card but it that’s a roblen,I’ll just get one tomorrow)[lol].. my question is…
Which would I set as the master and which as slave? And then I’d assume, the profile as master,due to protools requirments;@44.1 but the back of the beringer has me a bit perplexed.lol.having never done this before I thought I’d ask a like minded person so I could understand a little easier. Thanks graham I’d love to hear what you have to say about a super hard rock/metal recording session.maybe ill send you what I can get done from my band after I set this all up and get it going! Lol, that’d be amazing!! Take er easy!\m/