Cheap USB interface with ADAT?

[winky dinglehoffer]

So my big, ancient PC died, & I'm currently using a decently specced (i5 7400 with 16GB RAM) temporary replacement, but it's micro ATX, so completely unexpandable. My big problem right now is that the only way I have to get audio into it is through a 1/8" audio jack. I have converters with ADAT I/O, so it struck me that a cheap USB interface with ADAT might be a useful temporary fix. I don't care about converters at all--just need ADAT and USB.

So far, the only thing, new or used, that I've found that's almost as cheap as I'd like it to be, is the Audient ID14. Does anybody have any ideas? (Firewire would be easy, but this 'puter ain't got no Firewire port.)

[CraigS63]

Is a Scarlett 18i8 in your budget? I have the 2nd gen version, have never used the ADAT / optical input.
https://us.focusrite.com/products/scarlett-18i8

It looks like the first and second gens also have the optical input.

[winky dinglehoffer]

Interesting. Thanks for the tip!

[frans_13]

Even cheaper than the Audient and IMHO quite good for the money is the Onyx 800R by Mackie. The preamps are nicer than you'd think they are. There's an even cheaper version of that with the Mackie Onyx Blackbird (same preamps), which is an older firewire interface that can also do standalone ADAT. If in doubt, go for the 800R. If it's just for pocket money, the Blackbird. You may perhaps need an older machine to configure it to your needs, after that you're fine.

[digitaldrummer]

assuming you are OK with used gear.... (it's cheaper)

https://www.sweetwater.com/used/listing ... -condition

https://www.sweetwater.com/used/listing ... -interface

https://www.sweetwater.com/used/listing ... -interface

I have purchased a coupla things here where I didn't get charged sales tax but YMMV

[winky dinglehoffer]

Dangit, I always forget about Sweetwater's used gear site. I ended up finding an 18i8 for $125 shipped, so pretty much in the same ballpark. Hopefully it'll work out well.

[blakeq]

Sounds like the original poster got this sorted. But here is an inexpensive USB to ADAT convertor option:

USBStreamer B


https://www.minidsp.com/products/usb-au ... reamer-box

[trodden]

Sounds like the original poster got this sorted. But here is an inexpensive USB to ADAT convertor option:

USBStreamer B


https://www.minidsp.com/products/usb-au ... reamer-box

Wow. That's pretty fucking cool! I could have had an easy mobile rig with my Alesis AI-3 and one of these.

[trodden]

So my big, ancient PC died, & I'm currently using a decently specced (i5 7400 with 16GB RAM) temporary replacement, but it's micro ATX, so completely unexpandable. My big problem right now is that the only way I have to get audio into it is through a 1/8" audio jack. I have converters with ADAT I/O, so it struck me that a cheap USB interface with ADAT might be a useful temporary fix. I don't care about converters at all--just need ADAT and USB.

So far, the only thing, new or used, that I've found that's almost as cheap as I'd like it to be, is the Audient ID14. Does anybody have any ideas? (Firewire would be easy, but this 'puter ain't got no Firewire port.)

Just curious. What are you ADAT I/O converters here?

[Scodiddly]

Sounds like the original poster got this sorted. But here is an inexpensive USB to ADAT convertor option:

USBStreamer B


https://www.minidsp.com/products/usb-au ... reamer-box

"Out of Stock"

MiniDSP makes some pretty cool stuff, though. I built one of their little 2x4 "speaker DSP" modules into a custom PA amp for a church, has some crazy EQ needed to make a homebrew column speaker sound good. I think I did that like 10 years ago?

[winky dinglehoffer]

Just curious. What are you ADAT I/O converters here?

I'm using a Lucid 88192, and then that goes into the Focusrite 18i8 that I picked up. That setup is doing a good enough job for me right now.