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HELP: Audio Routing Setup Discussion
Hello everybody. I'm currently shopping around and in the market for an expansion to my audio setup for my Home Studio. I am looking into getting a USB Audio/ADAT expander interface for my setup and have decided to keep my FocusRite Scarlett 8i8 2nd Gen USB hub, as it offers an ADAT In channel to accept this sort of expansion.
I've put together a quick routing map to show what I think is the right setup for my preferred workflow...and I've also attached a clean version of the map if anyone is particularly interested in offering a better setup scenario. You can mark it up on the iPad with your finger or Pencil 
@ipadbeatmaking @joniqwest I've included you all since you were on the other thread, but I wanted to pull this discussion into its own since I'm closer to a decision since I've opted to keep the Scarlett for the near term (I can always add a different ADAT IN device in the future once I get the ADAT expansion part of the setup sorted).
Now, the big question I have is if this set up is correct, and will I have access to a 16 Audio Channels which I can add EFFECTS to on the iPad and record into the iPad as Multiple Tracks.
As always, thanks in advance for the help and advice. I hope this little thread illuminates and inspires all of us.
Cheers,
Routing Map
Clean Map
Comments
How cool is this! So are you trying to use two audio interfaces with the iPad (maschine and Scarlett?)
Ideally yeah, if this will even work. I'm new to the ADAT world, so I'm not sure if this is even possible with the iPad. I know that on the Mac I'd create an Aggregate device and be good to go. I'm just curios if all 16 Channels of Audio will show up on iPad.
8 from ADAT/Audio Expander and the 8 from Scarlett 8i8 that the iPad is hosting in AUM.
As far as I know, ipad is unable to stack aggregate devices. Just one device only. Last connected device gets priority.
So the maschine audio routing would need to be through audio cables into your Interface connected to iPad (unless maschine is your preference)
But in terms of the adat this looks extremely doable. 16 channels meaning 8 STEREO correct? Also, be aware that some interfaces limit your sample rate or channel count when routing via adat.
Thanks.
I am so confused and the YouTube isn't helping me to get a better idea of this type of mobile only setup. So the ADAT device connected to the Scarlett 8i8 that the iPad is hosting, still needs to be connected to a USB device? I thought the whole point of these was to expand the Scarlett 8i8 via ADAT so I could see 16 Mono/8 Stereo Channels on that device?
Yeah 8 Stereo Channels total. Yep...running at 44 or 48 is fine...
You can, but the Maschine won’t work in addition to this via usb as an audio interface.
You should be able to pull down 18 simultaneous inputs on that 8i8. 8 analog, 8 digital optical, and 2 digital spidif (1 stereo L/R)
Ahh...ok. Thanks.
Yeah, the Maschine+ will just receive Audio In from the Audio Outs from the Scarlett. It's an option in case I want to resample the Master Mix to do some chopping.
That being said, the M+ will be the sequencing brains for all the gear and iPad synths (which is my current workflow with the single Scarlett 8i8 setup).
Not to throw a curveball in to the mix, but I do currently have a SoundCraft board which seems to work...mostly, although the USB returns aspect of the device is temperamental at best, but it's another option I often ponder as a pure Analog Stereo Out solution...but my gut says to go for the first map above as it will be more reliable and ultimately have better control over my mixes since I can master all channels on the iPad.
So to be clear. If I’m not mistaken with adat, it’s 8 more total inputs not 8 more stereo inputs. So 4 more stereo inputs via adat and 1 more stereo via spdif. So a total of 9 stereo inputs when mixing analog and digital together.
Let's simplify things.
In the first setup, what will show up on the iPad? Will I see the 4 Stereo from the Scarlett 8i8 and the 4 Stereo from the Expander that my hardware synths are plugged into? Will the audio from those synths be accessible on the iPad so I could effect them and record them directly on the iPad?
Ummmm in the world of analog, the more pieces you place in between, the more noise you have introduced, unless you are dealing with truly ‘passive’ equipment, which I’m gonna bet that that mixer isn’t, and even then, depending on cables etc....
And if not ‘noise’ then another ‘flavor’. Lot of variables I’d prefer to avoid personally if it is possible when dealing with ‘Studio’ not ‘live’ applications. Sometimes it isn’t possible however...
But I’d skip the mixer, if I could, especially when you’d be ‘2 tracking’ out of it. Sounds like a lot of hair pulling and stress in the making. No way to change the mix later etc. No thanks 😊
What expander?
The green usb A is Midi right?
I would assume it would work, but grab an optical or spdif cable and plug into a piece of equipment and route it to the Scarlett in addition to the analog ins and see what you see in your iPad DAW. A no risk, quick Best Buy trip should answer it.
Yeah, that's what I was thinking too
Thanks.
Maybe I'm using the wrong terminology. I don't have a way of testing things right now since I don't have any gear with Optical Out.
What I mean is the Audio Interface that the hardware synths are plugged into. Will the audio they are generating show up on the Scarlett 8i8 that the iPad is hosting, and will I hear those synths playing when I load up AUM?
Cant you connect all these devices direct to the scarlet 8i8 gen 2? 3 of them via analog and 2 of them via SPDIF & optical? Then analog stereo out of that to the input of the Maschine? Then analog stereo out of that back into the scarlett?
Hrmmm...so what you're saying is I'd send 2 of them into an Audio to SPDIF converter, and then pass that converter into the Scarlett 8i8?
Sorry if I'm being dense, but I'm paddling like crazy out here in the deep end
I'm just not sure how I can make 2 of them SPDIF if they don't offer me that type of Audio Output on their back panel I/O.
Thanks for your input
Yes exactly, I assumed one/two of those devices would have a digital out, which would greatly simplify everything, but it appears that isn't the case.
No...all the gear only offers TRS out..
hmmm for budget sake, as a temporary fix for the time being, i'd say...split the difference and go 3 instruments into the scarlett directly and 2 into the mixer, with it's stereo out going into the scarlett, whichever your least used 2 (or least important to the mix) instruments are.
I can get everything into the Scarlett 8i8 right now without getting another interface, but I'm maxed out on Input channels and wanted to give myself some additional wiggle room in case I add additional gear in the future.
I thought the other box with SPDIF and ADAT out would do the conversion from Analog to Digital to pass it down as 4 Stereo Channels of SPDIF/ADAT to the Scarlett 8i8...but I guess I am wrong...
Are those ports only there to support other SPDIF/ADAT gear? No conversion happens on these boxes?
I don't like the whole plug/unplug workflow...I'd just like to leave everything plugged in, so I can play what I want to at different times and groove.
Thanks for clarifying things for me...save me from dropping $$ and being disappointed.
That would work, and of course the interface would work for a/d-a/d but the routing would be something to consider in terms of possibly needing a computer as a go between for the other (new) interface depending on if it allow a standalone mode or not, if that makes sense
I don’t have any useful input on your setup other than I like your diagram!
Reminds me a lot of the one I did a while back. Did you use Pixelmator?
https://forum.audiob.us/discussion/39366/i-created-a-diagram-of-my-semi-dawless-rig-in-pixelmator#latest
@echoopera great news! Looks like the scarlett will support standalone mode!
This link should help you with the routing:
https://support.focusrite.com/hc/en-gb/articles/115003394169-How-do-I-set-up-my-Clarett-Scarlett-in-Standalone-Mode-E-g-for-use-as-an-ADAT-preamp-
Thanks for the link. Will look in a moment. So would this box convert the Analog Audio in to ADAT and then pass it along down to the Scarlett? Or am i wrong about these kind of boxes with ADAT and analog connections?
What do you mean about the routing and needing a computer?
As I understand, the Scarlett 18i8 has an ADAT (expansion) port. He buys an 8-input ADAT "expander" meant to add extra inputs to such a unit. It A/Ds its inputs and sends them digitally to the 18i8, which combines them with its own and sends them over USB to the iPad. I think you've already seen an example in the other thread of how the expander signals just appear in AUM as more inputs from the main interface.
Something to look out for, though. These primary interfaces, like the Scarlett, are usually speced with a certain number of inputs, say 16, but they have only 8 actual analog connections. You need an expander to add the other 8 to make 16. But they probably will not handle more inputs than they are designed for. Can the Scarlett 18i8 accept an 8-input expansion? You need to review the exact specs of your existing interface.
Edit: Sorry, I misread the fine print. The 18i8 should be ready for an 8-input expander.
You need to set the audio interfaces routing up with a computer. Some interfaces CANNOT be used standalone WITHOUT a computer, some can, this one CAN.
What ADAT expander are you referring to? Essentially he needs analog channels converted to digital, and those digital channels then piped to another interface via optical/adat/toslink to be ingested by the iPad connected to usb.
To accomplish that he is considering another interface in conjunction with the scarlett 18i8. Something like the AudioFuse 8pre, Scarlett 18i20, etc
What is this expander? Can you send a link? Is it another A/D converter or something else?
@uncledave thanks for the reply.
The Scarlett i have supports 18 IN. 8 are analog so i assume the rest are Digital In via the Optical In
The whole thing i am unclear on is if i went for a box that has the Analog In and ADAT out, would it send along those analog signals as digital down to my Scarlett.
To keep things harmonious i was looking at either the Scarlett 18|20 for the 1U box or the Arturia AudioFuse8Pre, which operate Stand Alone after being configured on the desktop.
Join the thread. It’s here for all of us 😬
I remember that post. I used Sketch on the desktop to lay out the routing map.