TRS to TDIF - No audio sending/receiving.. MOTU 2408MK3

[Michael Dow]

Hey there, so in realising i could re-jig some of the equipment round, i realised i could move one of my MOTU 2408's over to where the modular is, for an extra 8 inputs to my DAW from the modular. Great..

So i connected the two synths that WERE connected to that 2408, up to my MAIN 2408 via a TRS to TASCAM/TDIF cable. Now i get no audio showing up on the main 2408 interface at all fthrough this TDIF cable. Have checked wires, all connected correctly.
Have checked all software, all inputs are enable too.
Have i bought a TDIF cable that somehow doesn't work with the 2408?? It's very annoying!

Anyone have experience connecting these up?

[Michael Dow]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AudioKraft-2 ... 2749.l2649

This is the cable i bought for the job, whic states it should work, being the tascam standard.

And this https://www.soundonsound.com/sound-advice/q-which-db25-cable-do-need is the guide i used!!

[Michael Dow]

Oh no. It;s not an analogue to digital converter is it.

Shit.

How might i go about this then? I've used the 8 analog INs on my 2408mk3, and i want to input more... Anything i can do?

[Hugh Robjohns]

So i connected the two synths that WERE connected to that 2408, up to my MAIN 2408 via a TRS to TASCAM/TDIF cable.

Oh dear!

Well, that's not going to work... not even slightly!

Point 1: TDIF is a digital interface format. It wants a specific -- now very obsolete -- set of digital input signals. It won't work with analogue signals from your synths.

Point 2: Although it's not going to matter to you at all, for the benefit of others, the TDIF connector does use the same 25-pin D-sub connector as Tascam's analogue and modern AES3 digital interfaces (both now embraced as the AES59 interface)... but it's wired up completely differently.

Now i get no audio showing up on the main 2408 interface at all through this TDIF cable.

No, and you never will, I'm afraid!

Have i bought a TDIF cable that somehow doesn't work with the 2408??

No, you've bought an AES59 analogue breakout cable which will never work with an obsolete TDIF digital input connector.

If one or more ADAT ports on your interface are available, then an alternative way forward might be to buy an ADAT-equipped preamp, such as the Behringer ADA8200, and use that to convert your analogue synth outputs to the ADAT digital format, and then use a lightpipe connection between the preamp and interface. If you went for the Behringer you could also make use of its outputs if you needed additional sends. If you don't need more outputs, there are plenty of other good ADAT-equipped preamps around.

Hope that helps.

[Michael Dow]

Thanks Hugh. yeah after a while of headscratching, not long after i posted this i realised. Thankfully i went for the cheap £30 cable as opposed to the £100 van damme alternative i nearly went for!

Feel a little silly!!

[ef37a]

on the bright side! (cough) that cable is good value. I could barely buy the connectors and cable for 25 quid let alone get a drinkypoo out of making it...which WOULD take some time!

Dave.

[Michael Dow]

on the bright side! (cough) that cable is good value. I could barely buy the connectors and cable for 25 quid let alone get a drinkypoo out of making it...which WOULD take some time!

Dave.

haha, it is a super cheap cable, so i'm not too fussed about the dosh (a little annoyed that i didn't properly think it through before hand!) Maybe i will be able to ebay it for 5 quid or so....

[Hugh Robjohns]

Or... You could hang on to it and buy an Audient ASP880, and then use it to get the synth inputs direct into its A-D stage, while still having eight great mic preamps available at the press of a button (or eight!)

[Aled Hughes]

Sorry. Edited misjudged post

[Hugh Robjohns]

It does break the forum rules, and I don't think it would help the OP anyway!

[Aled Hughes]

It does break the forum rules, and I don't think it would help the OP anyway!

Sorry, I’ve edited the post now.

But it would have allowed the poster to get analog signals into the MOTU’s TDIF inputs, no?

[James Perrett]

A Tascam DA-88* would also give you 8 extra inputs via TDIF - and your cable would come in useful as it would allow you to use the balanced inputs on the DA-88 which are not otherwise available. There are probably quite a few with non working mechanics that could be pressed into service.

*(or a 38, 78 or 98)

[Hugh Robjohns]

Sorry, I’ve edited the post now.

No problem, and thank you. I realised you were just trying to be helpful. That's why I didn't delete it straight away.

But it would have allowed the poster to get analog signals into the MOTU’s TDIF inputs, no?

Well yes, technically... If he didn't mind filling his room with a huge obsolete digital mixer just for eight input channels... And he would have had to buy some real TDIF-TDIF cables from somewhere!

[Michael Dow]

It does break the forum rules, and I don't think it would help the OP anyway!

Oh man i wish i saw what this was now!

That audient is a beautiful piece of gear for sure. But i have 3 MOTU 2408's already. I pretty much never use a MIC input and if i do it goes through my Drawmer 1960, which i mostly use now with my SH-09 (an incredibly beautiful pairing). Just growls so nicely when pushed!

[Michael Dow]

And yes i know the MOTUs are SO old now (ive got a mk3 and two mk2's) but really, who can tell! (you probably) but nobody on the "dance floor"

[Hugh Robjohns]

I was trying to think how you could use those TDIF inputs... Apart from buying an old Tascam or Yamaha console fitted with TDIF option cards, there were a few multichannel digital preamps with TDIF outputs... And you might find some on fleabay or other outlets for ancient obsolete gear...

Tascam certainly made an 8-channel preamp/converter called the MA-AD8. And I think Apogee did an eight channel TDIF converter too (Rosetta 800 maybe).

But you'll be looking at gear that is around 15-20 years old...

[James Perrett]

The other suggestion would be to use a TDIF to ADAT convertor which would allow you to use a Behringer ADA8200 (or something better) for both inputs and outputs. Convertors like the Tascam IF-TAD seem to go for around £70 on Ebay.

[Aled Hughes]

I was trying to think how you could use those TDIF inputs... Apart from buying an old Tascam or Yamaha console fitted with TDIF option cards, there were a few multichannel digital preamps with TDIF outputs... And you might find some on fleabay or other outlets for ancient obsolete gear...

Tascam certainly made an 8-channel preamp/converter called the MA-AD8. And I think Apogee did an eight channel TDIF converter too (Rosetta 800 maybe).

But you'll be looking at gear that is around 15-20 years old...

There is the old RME ADI-8 Pro as well. We have a few of these still in use and working well with ADAT and TDIF.

Fair point that a huge ugly old mixer is not the most sensible way of getting 8 signals in!

Michael, I’ll PM you regarding rhat deleted message anyway.

[andy cross]

Is there any reason why you can't use the 3x 8-channel ADAT i/o on the MOTU?