The Delta 1010-AI is an ADAT Optical (lightpipe) interface which is used in conjunction with the Delta 1010 rackmount audio interface. The 1010-AI allows the user to digitally input and output 8 channels of audio from any device, utilizing the ADAT optical format. Aside from an easy way to import ADAT tracks, edit them, and then store the tracks on relatively inexpensive S-VHS tape, this interface allows the user to connect to a wide variety of mixing consoles, effects processors and synthesizers which employ the ADAT optical format. In addition to these uses you can synchronize your computer to run along with any ADATs you may have adding another 8 digital tracks to the mix. Not bad for an interface that costs under $900.

Delta AI, front and back (click for larger image)

As with the Delta 1010, the 1010-AI will run with Windows 95/98, NT, and Linux as well as Apple Mac OS computers operating up to full 24 bit 48kHz quality. The package for the unit contains the ADAT interface module itself, a 25-pin male to female standard printer cable, a user manual, and a 9v-power supply. The front of the module contains four buttons which, when engaged, set different parameters for the interface. In addition to these four areas, the power switch is also located on the front panel. The first button is labeled ADAT to Host. By pressing this button the incoming ADAT signal is routed to the Delta 1010 "host" card in your computer. The second button is labeled ADAT to Analog Outs. By engaging this button, the incoming ADAT signal is routed to the analog outs of the Delta 1010-rack unit. The third button is labeled Analog Ins to ADAT. Pressing this button routes the analog inputs of the Delta 1010-rack unit to the ADAT out on the AI interface. The last button is labeled ADAT Thru. When pressed, the ADAT optical in on the interface is directly routed to the ADAT out of the interface.

On the back of the unit is the 9v DC power jack, an ADAT In jack, an ADAT Out jack, a 25-pin female D type connector, and a 25-pin male D type connector. Both the ADAT in and out jacks are standard TOSlink jacks accepting TOSlink plugs. They allow 8-channels of ADAT optical signal to be carried. The 25-pin female connector transfers information to and from the Delta 1010-rack mount unit using the cable supplied with the unit. The 25-pin male connector transfers information to and from the Delta 1010 PCI host card using the printer cable supplied with the 1010 AI interface.

Setting up the 1010 AI interface was a breeze. The entire operation took less than five minutes to complete. I connected one of the printer cables to the AI's host card port and the other end of the cable to the PCI host card in the computer. Then I connected the AI's converter box port to the Delta 1010-rack mount unit. For the mixing stage of this project I connected optical cables to the optical in and out ports of one of my ADAT XT's. By the way, if you are only transferring tracks optically you don't need to connect to the Delta 1010 rack mount unit. If you are using the MIDI functions of the rack mount unit for MTC synchronization however, you will need to connect the cable from the interface to the rack mount unit. The manual does a good job of explaining every aspect in a clear and concise manner.

There are five main configurations possible with the Delta 1010-AI interface, which can all be mixed and matched depending on your needs. If all the switches on the unit are in their "off" position, the Delta 1010 PCI card's hardware outputs 1-8 are routed to the ADAT Optical out of the AI in addition to the analog outs 1-8 of the 1010s' rack mount unit. This setting can be helpful in a mixing environment if you wish to send the ADAT out from the Delta AI to send audio to a digital mixer employing the ADAT digital standard. For example, the analog outs can be used as additional sends to effects units. If you want to digitally import 8 tracks of ADAT audio into your computer you will use ADAT to Host mode. The ADAT optical in of the unit receives the audio rather than the analog inputs of the rack mount unit. In order to properly use this mode, the master clock source must be changed in the control panel software to "Wordclock". This allows the master clock source to be received via the ADAT Optical input rather than the Delta 1010 rack mount unit. The third mode is ADAT to Analog out. In this mode the ADAT optical input is routed to the analog outputs of the 1010-rack mount unit. This mode is useful if you wish to convert the ADAT optical signal with the excellent sounding 24 bit D/A converters on the 1010-rack mount unit. To use this mode you once again would select "Wordclock" as the master clock source in the control panel software. The fourth mode is Analog Ins to ADAT. This mode routes the analog inputs of the rack mount unit and converts the audio to the ADAT optical output of the Delta 1010-AI. When this mode is selected the audio outs of the PCI card are no longer routed to the ADAT Optical out of the Delta 1010-AI. Additionally, powerful results can be obtained by using a variety of these modes together. Undoubtedly the combination of modes will be dictated by the needs of the project at hand.

As I previously mentioned, you can use the Delta 1010-AI without using the host computer. With the Delta AI connected to the Delta 1010 rack unit and the rack unit's power supply connected, turning on the Delta 1010-AI will also turn on the rack mount unit. In this mode the Delta 1010-AI receives its master clock signal from the ADAT optical input and transmits the data to the rack unit. "ADAT to Analog Outs", "Analog Ins to ADAT", and "ADAT Thru" are all modes which don't require the host computer to be powered up.

Go to Page 2