Explain ADAT and Card please...

I'm missing something here. I'm looking at a RME PCI card with ADAT. I understand that Adat is digital, and supports 8 channel at 24 bit. But If I tie this card to an ADAT interface that has Mic/Line inputs, aren't you doubling up on AD conversion? From the Mic to the ADAT internal to the interface, then ADAT to the PCI card which has AD/DA converters to record playback. Doesn't this affect the quality? Once digital I understand that conversion to a different format wouldn't necessarily affect the sound, but then the conversion in the interface would be most important for quality... Right? help me understand this process. Thanks!

Well, that seems to be my guess, but if so, the quality of the ADC at the front of the chain is the most important. What the RME card has, might not come into play. But then again, I saw this setup on a website and they guy is really pleased with it. Brandon @ recordingreview.com I think was the website. But it makes no sense to put a lower quality device (ADA8000)up front, with the RME in the box. That's why I think I'm missing something here.. Thanks!

I'm not quite sure what you're confused about... Perhaps telling us exactly which RME card you're talking about would help. If the card ONLY has ADAT/Lightpipe inputs, then it doesn't have any onboard A/D converters. So you have to have a mixer/pre with A/D conversion. The ADA8000 has A/D converters; that's why it has an ADAT/Lightpipe output. If the card has analog (XLR/line) inputs AND a Lightpipe input, then it has exactly as many channels of A/D conversion as it has analog inputs, but it can actually handle more than that through the PCI connection, which is why they offer the ADAT input.

The card is the RME HDSP 9652. ADAT and SP/DIF but no analog. I think the confusion is in my thinking that the card was the point of D/A conversion. But if it's just the method to get the digital into the PC and reaper, then of course the conversion has to take place somewhere.. Thanks for that info, helps put the boxes together...