AES: ADI-4 DD ADAT/AES Converter Announced

Front Panel

Rear Panel

At AES, RME introduced the ADI-4 DD, a simplified, smaller version of RME's ADI-8 DD. Built into a space-saving half-rack space enclosure, the ADI-4 DD includes all of the technology of the ADI-8 DD, except for sample rate conversion and TDIF ports.

Conversion includes 4 AES-3 inputs to double ADAT ports, and double ADAT inputs to 4 AES-3 outputs, for full 96 kHz compatibility (S/MUX). With this, full 8 channels are supported from 32 kHz up to 96 kHz. The unit provides one XLR I/O directly. A DB-25 connector allows for a use of industry standard AES-3 I/O breakout cables. Setting an internal jumper easily changes the DB-25 connector to meet the pinout of Tascam, Yamaha and Euphonix cables.

The actual states of incoming and outgoing signals and ongoing operations within the unit are displayed by LEDs for easy monitoring. SyncCheck, already found in other RME products, not only shows if an input signal is locked, but also if multiple inputs are in synchronicity. Furthermore RME's SyncAlign technology prevents accidental errors of 1 sample misalignment between the AES/EBU inputs. The AES output signal can be set to Professional or Consumer subcode. Channel 1/2 can optionally be received and output optically (TOSLINK).

RME's SteadyClock provides jitter suppression, enabling the ADI-4 DD to refresh and clean up any clock signal, and to provide the clock signal as reference clock at the word clock output. Additionally, the last sample rate detected as valid will be held in case of fault and loss of input signal. The device can be stacked without limit, all devices will be sample synchronous by using word clock. All settings are stored at power-off.

Application examples:

• AES/EBU front-end for RME's digital I/O cards (ADAT optical I/O)
• Serves as 8-channel AES and ADAT I/O for all digital mixing desks with ADAT or AES ports
• Allows to operate up to 4 SPDIF or AES devices
• Converts between AES-3, SPDIF and SPDIF optical
• Removes jitter from AES-3 and ADAT signals

Conversion modes (selection):

• 8-channel AES to ADAT optical converter (96 kHz)
• 2-channel AES to 8-channel ADAT splitter (96 kHz)
• 8-channel ADAT to AES converter (96 kHz)
• 2-channel AES to 8-channel AES splitter (96 kHz)
• 4-channel AES Double Wire to AES Single Wire converter (96 kHz)
• 4-channel AES Single Wire to AES Double Wire converter (96 kHz)

MSRP: To be announced.