RME ADI-648 [21/32] Special modes

User's Guide ADI-648 © RME

11. Special Modes

11.1 MADI to MADI Converter

MADI has been used for quite some time now and therefore not all interfaces from different

manufacturers are compatible with each other. An AMS Neve Logic DFC e. g. only accepts the

56 channel input format and when a 64 channel signal is applied, the whole input is muted.

There exist lots of other but similar examples.

The ADI-648 can serve here as a perfect link, because its MADI input can read any input for-

mat. The ADI-648's MADI output can be set to 56 channel or 64 channel output mode by apply-

ing an ADAT signal to ADAT input 8 (see also chapter 7.2). After selecting 96K FRAME there

are also 28 or 32 channels in a 96k Frame mode. With this option, the ADI-648 can translate a

double wire MADI signal (2 single speed channels contain one double speed channel's data)

into a single wire double speed signal (1 channel contains 1 channel's data at double sample

rate), or vice-versa.

Thanks to an integrated matrix router, no further cabling has to be arranged for (except for acti-

vating or deactivating of the 64 channel mode), since all MADI input signals can be sent to the

MADI output directly via the router.

In short: the ADI-648 makes all MADI interfaces existing at the moment compatible to each

other in the easiest way.

11.2 ADAT Patchbay and Splitter

The integrated Matrix Router makes the ADI-648 also an interesting 8 port ADAT patchbay. No

matter if different devices are to be connected with each other, or one ADAT signal has to be

sent to multiple ADAT receivers, the ADI-648 can achieve this by simply pushing a button.

When the MADI input and output are connected directly (loopback), the user can easily switch

between a 1:1 connection and a freely defined router/splitter setting.

11.3 MADI Coaxial / Optical Converter

The integrated Matrix Router allows to send the MADI signals from the MADI input directly to

the MADI output. As the ADI-648 supports both coaxial and optical format, it can be used as

either coaxial to optical or optical to coaxial format converter. Thanks to a completely newly

generated signal, jitter suppression by SteadyClock, and a reclocking of the MADI output signal,

the ADI-648 truly represents a hi-end format converter.

For such a simple application, the ADI-648 seems to be highly over-qualified. But seeing the

very high prices (but not better quality) of dedicated format converters, we could not resist to

point out this ADI-648 capability.

11.4 MADI Merger

Another very interesting application, else only possible by using very special and expensive

devices, becomes reality when using more than one ADI-648: combining the audio channels of

multiple MADI sources into one single MADI wire. The need for this application arises quite

often, because many devices don't make use of the full channel count. Often only 32 or 40

channels are used. A HDSP MADI card allows to record 64 channels simultaneously into a

computer. To also use the remaining channels, further channels have to be added to the origi-

nal MADI signal. Two examples will show how the ADI-648 can handle this task with ease.