Notes On The Adat Interface; Multiclient Operation - RME Audio DIGI32/8 User Manual

12. Notes on the ADAT Interface

DIGI32/8 comes with two different driver methods in one driver. Using channel interleave
there is only one device, the software in use divides the channels into 8 mono tracks. Because
this easy to handle 'Windows native' method is not widely used the DIGI32/8 also supports
Multi-Device operation. The driver routes the 8 tracks in 4 stereo devices. These 4 stereo devi-
ces can be used by nearly any software to record or playback more than 2 channels simultane-
ously, making DIGI32/8 compatible to a wide range of already existing software.
DIGI32/8 includes an intelligent hardware controller for ease of use. Whenever more than 2
channels are used, no matter with record, playback or both, the card switches into ADAT mode.
The Input switch is overwritten when more than 2 channels are used. If the Input switch is set to
coaxial, and the display shows 44.1 kHz, using more than 2 channels immediately activates the
optical input in ADAT mode.
When the Input switch is set to optical and an ADAT signal is supplied to the optical input the
settings dialog of the DIGI32/8 indicates 'ADAT PLL Locked'. If now the Output function is
set to 'Input' the card changes to ADAT mode to allow input monitoring of up to 8 channels.
If the software being used requires a continuous ADAT mode activate the switch 'Force Adat' in
the Settings dialog. When using a 'normal' 2 track program to play or record a stereo file, you're
not only able to use SPDIF but also any ADAT interface! Just activate 'Force ADAT' and choo-
se the stereo pair in the device list box that corresponds to the channels you want the data
being transfered to.
G DIGI32/8 works in SPDIF- or ADAT mode, but not in both simultaneous. Thus using
more than 2 channels no SPDIF signal will be available at the outputs.
The stereo pairs work independent. This means you may use the 4 stereo pairs with different
programs. A typical example would be to play back six channels from a harddisk recording
program, and simultaneously use a real time synthesizer software like Generator from Native
Instruments on the two remaining channels.

13. Multiclient Operation

13.1 General
The DIGI32/8 series supports multiclient operation. That means more than one program can be
used at the same time. But this mode is only available as long as certain rules are followed. For
a flawless multiclient operation with multiple programs the below guidelines have to be followed
precisely.
Rule 1: Multiclient operation always requires the activation of Force Adat!
After an activation of Force Adat all 4 output pairs can be used freely. You can use up to 4
different MME programs at the same time.
Rule 2: Multiclient operation always requires identical sample rates and bit resolutions!
It is not possible to run one program at 44.1 kHz and another one at 48 kHz. Also it's not pos-
sible to run one program in 16 bit and another one in 24 (32) bit resolution.
User's Guide DIGI32/8 © RME
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