[PlanetCCRMA] RME Multiface or Digiface?

[Mark Knecht]

Hi Henk,

Digiface (and the HDSP 9652 that I use) - 3 ADAT channels and 1 spdif
channel. Each ADAT channel carries 8 audio channels in digital format.
The spdif port carries 2 audio signals in digital format. All of these
ports must be hooked to some sort of external digital device to be
useful. There is no analog on the Digiface at all. (3*8) +2 == 26
channels out and 26 channel in.

Multiface - 8 Analog channels + 1 ADAT + 1 spdif. 8+8+2 == 18 channels
out and 18 channels in. (possibly 2 more channels for headphone stuff
but I'm not sure.) The Multiface can be hooked to a synth or an
external preamp, etc. as it has 8 channels of D/A and A/D.

I would suspect that the Multiface is probably the one you want as the
Digiface will require that you purchase additional external D/A and
A/D converters to be useful to you but possibly you have some
equipment like that hanging about.

Hope this helps,
Mark

On 8/28/05, Henk Jansen <burley@zonnet.nl> wrote:
>  I'm a newbie to the world of home recording. I want to do multitrack
> recording of our band and want to buy a capable RME device. Now I'm confused
> about what the major differences are between an RME Multiface and RME
> Digiface external soundcard. The Multiface has 8 parallel mono inputs (jack
> plugs, as my mixer has, so I understand what they are for); it speaks about
> 36 channels (of what...). The Digiface I read has 3 ADAT channels, what are
> these for...; it speaks about 52 channels. Is #channels == #tracks, I don't
> think so... 
>  
>  Considering my lack of experience, I might be looking for boots too big to
> fit my size, but AFAIK the RME's are the only multitrack recording devices
> that are properly supported by Linux/CCRMA software. 
>  
>  Some elementary help to increase my basic understanding would be greatly
> appreciated. Thanks.
>  
>  --Burley
>  
>  BTW: Sorry for being slightly off-topic