Ferrofosh A16 mk II

[fraz]

Hi,

Was having a look at the Ferrofish A16 mk II - There is a MADI connection on there - Whilst I may have heard of MADI and realise its for high end studio gear its another technology I'm not familiar with so what is the extent of what can be connected to the MADI port on the Ferrofosh A16 mk II?

Whatever is connected, would this be in addition to the 16 I/O of ADAT? -

[garyb]

using MADI allows multiple A16s to be connected together. MADI allows 64channels of audio, so connecting multiple A16s together allows more channels into your interface. with Scope, MADI is not used, at least not right now, so you don't need to worry about it. for you, you would just use the ADAT connections.

[fraz]

OK Gary thanks.....

[dante]

Check here :

http://www.hitfoundry.com/issue_10/fsh_mast.htm

The 'Key Features' section has a diagram showing the MADI connecting multiple units. The see the 'GUI Control Application' section for how you can configure the bridging between MADI and ADAT (mentioned in the 'Audio Applications' section).

[garyb]

bridging MADI and ADAT is probably pointless for most users...

[dante]

My choice would be to go entirely MADI rather than any bridging. But at least the option is there.

[garyb]

unless you want to use the A16 as a mixer/router, something that it wasn't built for(but that it can do), there's no point to doing this. there's no audio advantage to MADI, and there aren't enough inputs on the XITE for MADI to be useful.

[dante]

I think what Juergen had in mind was for those that already have MADI based studio that also want to integrate XITE (or any ADAT gear) into the stream.

[garyb]

yes.
MADI allows for a lot of channels.

[fraz]

One of the units arrived today.... ..........I see it has MIDI included too - Is this for regular hookup with the MIDI synths modules etc...? etc? - Or is it something to do with the MIDI over MADI (that I won't be using)


The MK 1 doesn't have MIDI on

[garyb]

midi allows you to control the input and output levels remotely. most won't need it.

[Bud Weiser]

midi allows you to control the input and output levels remotely. most won't need it.

I´d need it !

Is this done by using standard MIDI CC offsets like CC#7 (volume) and/or CC#11 (expression) for each I/O channel separately and is it possible w/ each standard hardware MIDI controller device,- like Cooper Masterfader Pro for continuous control or p.ex. my Miditemp PMM88E transmitting MIDI CC offsets with each PMM88E patch change ?

Bud

[garyb]

i don't think the midi implimentation is that extensive. there is pc software for remote control and i think that's iit. it's pretty cool in a really big setup with lots of i/o(MADI) connecting things of various input and output levels, like movie post production.

[Bud Weiser]

i don't think the midi implimentation is that extensive. there is pc software for remote control and i think that's iit. it's pretty cool in a really big setup with lots of i/o(MADI) connecting things of various input and output levels, like movie post production.

Yes,- but there´s a mixer in this software.
Now the question is if it´s "faders" are automatable.

From A16mkII MIDI implementation:

GET FADERS
This reply is sent without a request from the PC.
It's always sent when faders change.

offs name description
$00-$0F INFADERS Input faders
$10-$1F OUTFADERS Output faders

Now I wonder what "It's always sent when faders change" means,- even the mixer (control) software might have to run in background for MIDI realtime changes.

And now w/ Copperlan, I´d see the option to use Ferrofish A16mkII as a direct replacement for any analog 1HU line input mixer, using native Copperlan hi resolution messages to control "faders" over MIDI/MADI and avoiding zipper noise well known when controlling MIDI tonegenerator overall output directly over standard MIDI and CC#7 or #11.

If you go to A16mkII manual page 9 and 10, I understand it that way there´s a gain ajustment per channel in 0.5dB steps and they talk about "faders" too.
I don´t know if 0.5 dB gain steps will be audible like MIDI zipper noise while being controlled continuousely and even IF,- it makes sense to control the "faders" remotely over MIDI for a gain boost of a solo/lead part w/ any connected instrument.
According to the manual, there´s a 6dB headroom left always and regardless of the max setting of input gain, so I doubt realtime continuous control will overdrive the converter ever.

With this background, it would be a nice firmaware/software upgrade if not implemented yet.



Bud

[dante]

Well, looks like the MIDI port also allows you to upload Sesame Street logos as well