The AFI1 is a no frills digital only Firewire interface. 24 channels of digital I/O in a 1 HU unit. No A/D or D/A.

AFI1, a 24 channel Firewire Interface with eight channels of bidirectional AES/EBU interfaces and 16 channels of bidirectional ADAT interfaces. The AFI1 simultaneously supports the following conversions:

Firewire to AES/EBU (8 channels)
AES/EBU to Firewire (8 channels)
Firewire to ADAT (16 channels maximum)
ADAT to Firewire (16 channels maximum)

The sampling frequency can be generated internally of the unit or can be fed to the AFI1 via any of the inputs or via a BNC connector for word-sync input.

“Hey Daniel, I just wanted to let you know that Glenn and I listened to your AFI1 compared to a Lynx AES16 and the AFI1 sounded considerably better! Thought you’d like to hear the results of a real world test! Great software interface too! We will be using this with an Audiocube system.”

Glenn Schick & Colin Leonard at Glenn Schick Mastering, USA

Inputs
The inputs to the AFI1 consist of four XLR sockets for the AES/EBU signals and two TOSLINK sockets for eight channels each of ADAT format signals. The number of ADAT channels scale with the sampling frequency, i.e. the sixteen channels are there at 44.1 or 48 kHz, while at 88.2 or 96 kHz there are eight ADAT channels available and at 176.4 or 192 kHz there are four ADAT channels available. The number of AES/EBU channels stays constant for all sampling frequencies though.

Outputs
The outputs from the AFI1 follow the same connector scheme and restrictions as the inputs. There are two Firewire 400 sockets for connecting the computer and for daisy chaining more Firewire devices. In that manner the number of channels can be multiplied by adding more AFI1 interfaces to the bus.

Synchronization
The AFI1 is synchronized via an internal sampling frequency generator or via any of the input connectors. There also are BNC connectors available for feeding an external word-sync signal and for taking out the word-sync signal from the AFI1 to synchronize other equipment.

Configuration switches
Configuration switches at the back of the unit allow for setting the dual wire mode for the AES/EBU inputs/outputs (active at 176.4 or 192 kHz), for switching the ADAT interfaces off in case they are not used, which saves on Firewire bus bandwidth and for setting the synchronization frequency in the case of the dual wire mode.

Front panel controls
The front panel shows a power switch and three LEDs for power on indication, Firewire connection indication and synchronization lock indication.

Power

  • Mains voltage: 85…264 V with automatic switching
  • Fuse rating: 250 mA at 115 V, 500 mA at 230 V, slow blow
  • Power consumption: 10 VA max.

Size

  • Depth: 18 cm
  • Width: 43,3 cm (19″)
  • Height: 4,4 cm (1HU)

AES/EBU Input

  • Sampling frequencies: 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz
  • Maximum input word-length: 24 Bits
  • Channel Status Data: Input accepts professional or consumer format
  • Connector: Four XLR female (110 Ω)

AES/EBU Output

  • Sampling frequencies: 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz
  • Maximum output word-length: 24 Bits
  • Channel Status Data: Professional format
  • Connector: Four XLR male (110 Ω)

ADAT Input

  • Sampling frequencies: 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz
  • Maximum input word-length: 24 Bits
  • Connector: Two TOSLINK

ADAT Output

  • Sampling frequencies: 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz
  • Maximum output word-length: 24 Bits
  • Connector: Two TOSLINK

Firewire Input/Output
Two Firewire 400 sockets to allow for daisy-chaining of Firewire units
Word-sync Input/Output

  • One BNC connector for feeding a word-sync signal at TTL level, 75 Ω
  • One BNC connector for getting out a word-sync signal at TTL level, 75 Ω

Configuration switches

  • One switch for dual wire/single wire mode selection
  • One switch for ADAT interfaces on/off selection
  • One switch for word-sync frequency selection in case of the dual wire mode (88.2 kHz/96 kHz or 176.4 kHz/192 kHz)

Software
Firewire drivers for Windows™ and OSX™ operating systems are supplied