Chris

I am trying to bring in 16 (or possibly more) contact microphones into MAX/msp as separate audio channels and was wondering if it was possible to chain two of the Presonous VSL 1818s together through the optical digital. (I am looking at the Presonous because of the pre-amps on every channel which I need to for the contact mikes)

the set up would be 16 contact mikes into the 8 front inputs on the two 1818s

one 1818 chained into the other with the optical cable

then from that into the computer through USB

then out of the base 1818 through optical to a 5.1 amplifier.

will MAX then see 16 discrete audio tracks?

Or perhaps there is a more economical/easier way of doing this...?

the set up would be 16 contact mikes into the 8 front inputs on the two 1818s
one 1818 chained into the other with the optical cable
then from that into the computer through USB
then out of the base 1818 through optical to a 5.1 amplifier. 

is this possible?
will MAX then see 16 discrete audio tracks?
Has anyone tried this?

Or perhaps there is a more economical/easier way of doing this...? 

getting-multiple-inputs-with-two-presonous-1818

If by optical you mean ADAT then yes, you'll get those 16 channels input. (unless it disables some functions while ADAT is active, check your manual)

On OSX, another option is to connect both by USB and create an 'aggregate audio device', combining the 2 in 1 logical device. To Max it will then look like 1 device with double the I/O count. Not sure if there's an analogue of that in Windows.

Not sure if it's more economical but you could also get 1 USB/FW interface plus an ADAT pre-amp box like this Behringer: 

http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/ADA8000.aspx

Not sure if it's more economical but you could also get 1 USB/FW interface plus an ADAT pre-amp box like this Behringer: http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/ADA8000.aspx


Thanks, I am getting to that conclusion too about one USB interface and a preamp box.

thinking I can use the Presonus 1818 plus the Presonus DigiMax 8 (keeping it in the same manufacturer family.)

on the digimax page presonus says: "add a DigiMax D8 to a Lightpipe-equipped PreSonus AudioBox 1818VSL. This combination provides a two-rackspace rig with 16 XMAX-equipped recording channels"

my only concern would be how does MAX see this setup?

Thanks, I am getting to that conclusion too about one USB interface and a preamp box.
thinking I can use the Presonus 1818 plus the Presonus DigiMax 8 (keeping it in the same manufacturer family.)

my only concern would be how does MAX see this setup?
any ideas/experience on that?


Sure. Max sees it as 1 device. The [adc~] object lets you access the individual input channels.

Thanks for all the help.
I picked up an 1818 and a D8
can't wait for them to get here!

Are you on mac ? We've bought a presonus 1818 for workshops on Live and Max and we've had major problems on dec 2013 imacs running mavericks. According to presonus, this is due to hardware incompatibility on late 2013 mac...

Uh Oh, I am on a mac mini for this install...

I am borrowing it so i don't know exactly what model it is

I guess i will find out this week when things come in.

Uh Oh, I am on a mac mini for this install...
I am borrowing it so i don't know exactly what model it is
I was told it was "last years' model"
now i have something to worry about...
I guess i will find out this week when things come in.
thanks for the heads up


I have not been able to test it yet to be honest...

I just got the 1818 in the mail and the D8 should come today.

the 1818 has been recognized no problem on my MAC laptop (which is USB 2.0)

the mac mini (with 3.0 USB) is in the studio and i need to acquire a monitor and get into the studio to test it. Hopefully will be able to do that this weekend!

I have not been able to test it yet to be honest...
I just got the 1818 in the mail and the D8 should come today.
the 1818 has been recognized no problem on my MAC laptop (which is USB 2.0)
the mac mini (with 3.0 USB) is in the studio and i need to acquire a monitor and get into the studio to test it.  Hopefully will be able to do that this weekend!


the Presonous 1818 and D8 work well with MAX so far (have not tried with USB 3.0 yet)

have the 1818 connected by USB 2.0 to macbook pro 2.4G i5

the D8 is connected to the 1818 by optical cable (ADAT)

and the clocks are synched through another BNC cable

with this setup I have been able to easily get 16 discrete pre-amped XLR inputs into MAX and send out 5 discrete signals from the 1818's line outs to a Yamaha HTR-5830 amplifier's 6 channel inputs (I'm just ignoring the sub woofer channel)

the Presonous 1818 and D8 work well with MAX so far (have not tried with USB 3.0 yet)
have the 1818 connected by USB 2.0 to macbook pro 2.4G i5
the D8 is connected to the 1818 by optical cable (ADAT)
and the clocks are synched through another BNC cable
with this setup I have been able to easily get 16 discrete pre-amped XLR inputs into MAX and send out 5 discrete signals from the 1818's line outs to a Yamaha HTR-5830 amplifier's 6 channel inputs (I'm just ignoring the sub woofer channel)


working on Mac mini with USB 3.0 inputs, Max 6 and latest presonus drivers.

working on Mac mini with USB 3.0 inputs, Max 6 and latest presonus drivers.
:)


Nice to know it's running flawlessly for you . What's your OS ?

Ok, so the problem seems definitly related to Mavericks...

getting multiple inputs with two Presonous 1818?