Expanding RME UFX+ with Ferrofish A32

[Ggggg]

Hello,

I have an RME UFX+ interface and I'd like to expand the ins/outs. Has anyone got experience with a Ferrofish A32? It's top on my list. I'd likely connect them together via MADI.

Is that a good way to go or should I get something like the Neve 1073OPX even though it has fewer I/O?

Ideally, I need more ins to connect more microphones and instruments (outs for more hardware FX are welcome too).

Any other suggestions are welcome

Thanks

[Matt Houghton]

I'm using an A32 with an RME MADIFace USB. Works very well, sounds nice, and has some nice features too, even if there are converters available with better specs. Obviously no preamps, though the A32 also acts as a MADI<>ADAT converter, not just analogue<>MADI, so (depending on sample rate required) it's very easy to add, say, a Focusrite or Audient preamp with ADAT if you want, and still use the analogue connections for something else. (I'm using a 500 series rack and a console for preamps, hooked up to the A32's analogue I/O via a patchbay so I can access the I/O for other things.)

[Matt Houghton]

p.s. if using for instruments, I'm not sure where things are at with the latest version of the A32, but some of the Ferrofish converters have DC-coupled outputs, which means you can use them to deliver CV signals to modular synths etc. Might be worth looking into if you do that kind of thing much!

[jaminem]

I have that exact same setup - RME UFX+ and A32 (admittedly the older 'silver' version)

I can't say whether it suits your requirements better than the Neve - only you can answer that, but what I can say is that the biggest compliment I can give about the A32 is that I never think about it. It does exactly what it needs to do, never missed a beat. it sounds great - no 'character' just basically what you put in is what you get out.

I appreciate that in the 'using dynamic range as a typical measure of how good a converter is' it doesn't score that highly but I would say that as we know that's not the only measurement that determines how a converter sounds, and this one is a case in point. I have all my nice outboard running through it and have never once thought an upgrade would be necessary.

Having 32 additional inputs is an absolute luxury, and makes navigating the studio really practical.

Of course it does mean that you end up with more outboard (well it did in my case) but YMMV.

all round its great. I'd buy another one.

[Ggggg]

Thanks, yes I think that's exactly what I'd like. Just something quality that works without any hassle. (including a ton of the extra ins )

I think the problem with the Neve 1073opx, is that I'll probably end up needing more INs at some point... doesn't seem like enough

[Luke W]

I'm running an A32 Pro now and I love it, although at the moment it's got a comically low amount of its I/O actually connected to anything. I've been bitten by the "I'll only ever need X inputs" approach before, so decided to over-spec this time around.

I've got some decent monitors in a pretty well-treated room and to my ears it sounds great, no complaints here. Little things like level control on all of the inputs and being able to monitor any of the inputs or outputs on headphones are nice to have, too.

[Ggggg]

Thanks everyone

Just one question, do the Ferrofish A32 INs appear on your TotalFX software? As it it connected by MADI I'd think that it is like a natural expansion on your existing I/O on TotalFX

[Matt Houghton]

Yes, they appear as MADI channels on your RME (Totalmix has the option to show/hide MADI and other digital channels — you can check that out before acquiring the A32)

[Matt Houghton]

p.s. the RME driver gives you the option to enable/disable additional channels such as MADI, ADAT, S/PDIF etc. They have to be enabled there for you to be able to see them in Totalmix.

[Drew Stephenson]

If I recall correctly The Elf also uses an RME / Ferrofish combo and he's very happy with it.