SPDIF and Reamping All-in-One Solution with Apollo

Euji

Euji

Member
Don’t know if that’s been covered before, but here’s a quick tip about hybrid SPDIF/USB recording that I found out working with Apollo.

If your AFIII is connected via SPDIF to Apollo, you can monitor yourself, and that’s ok, everybody knows that.

BUT, what if you wanted to have a DI/reamping system always ready to go without needing to hook up additional cables?

If you connect the AFIII via USB ALONG with the SPDIF, you can then select the AFIII as your audio interface in your DAW (hence splitting the channels to OUT1 monitoring and separate DI track), but still have your audio run through the SPDIF out to your Apollo, which is hardwired to the speaker monitors.

Of course the entire DAW Out will be routed to your AFIII SPDIF out, but you can still use your DAW mixer to adjust the tracks’ volumes.

Basically USB will work as Audio In, while SPDIF will take care of the output signal, without the need to create aggregate devices.

I find it pretty useful when I want to record DIs and/or reamp, without needing to hook the monitor cables to the OUT jacks on my AFIII.

Hope somebody finds that useful.

Cheers!
 
Yes, that's configuration #2 in the recording guide. If you don't need any inputs in addition to the Axe-FX, for example microphones, that's all you need for a complete recording rig, including re-amping. There are some other details and some interesting variations on that to consider, and those are covered in the instructions for configuration #2.

However, if you need to record additional audio inputs and want digital signal paths and still be set up for re-amping, that's when you would use configuration #4 (aggregate). Or even configuration #5.

https://forum.fractalaudio.com/threads/axe-fx-for-the-recording-musician.177592/
 
Sorry for the little bit offtop but I have a problem with SPDIF input level in #5 config.

I have RME UCX II as my main audio interface. I record DI through it. The gain was setup with RME's AutoSet feature (set gain to max, play and it will auto reduce gain to the best level).
Axe-Fx III is connected to the card via SPDIF (IN and OUT). I tried to set SPDIF input level on Axe-Fx by the output level in OUT1 block, comparing the direct Axe-Fx front input signal with the SPDIF signal. Found that at -10dB the output levels are equal but SPDIF signal is more distorted with the annoying buzzing (I use only high gain sound). More or less acceptable SPDIF input level is between -18dB ~ -15dB depending on the amp model.

Am I doing something wrong? Why is there so big difference? And I think it's not right that I have to switch SPDIF input level back and forth depending on what amp model I want to use.
 
Fandorin said:
Axe-Fx III is connected to the card via SPDIF (IN and OUT). I tried to set SPDIF input level on Axe-Fx by the output level in OUT1 block,
Click to expand...
Be sure to follow the instructions in the recording guide. You need to match the input levels, not the output levels.
 
Finally I figured it out. FYI:

RME UCXII has 2 instrument input levels: +13/+19 dBu. Axe-Fx III has input level +16 dBu. So we need them to be the same.

Select +13dBu on UCX and set SPDIF input level on Axe-Fx to -3db to match them.
Or select +19dBu and add +3 input gain on UCX and set 0db on Axe-Fx.
The signal will be the same on the same level.
 
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