Arturia AudioFuse X8 In and Out are two new flexible ADAT expansion boxes that give you additional jacks without mic pre-amps for a good price.
The more synthesizers you have in the studio, the better it is to have a comprehensive audio interface. If you do reach your limits, you have to upgrade. Not necessarily to a new pricey interface if your current ADAT connections. Then, you can simply upgrade the inputs and outputs via expanders.
Arturia has introduced two ADAT boxes that allow you to level up your existing audio interface. Also, your non-Arturia interface!
Arturia AudioFuse X8 In and Out
The new AudioFuse X8 In and Out are two new products in its growing AudioFuse lineup. These flexible ADAT expanders offer 8-line-level inputs/outputs directly manageable from the front panel.
Flexible because Arturia, unlike other ADAT expanders, has separated the inputs and outputs into two standalone products. One is suitable for people who need more inputs, the other if you need more outputs. This way, you can choose exactly what you need.
The AudioFuse 8Pre could also act as an ADAT expander, but unlike the 8Pre, the new X8 In and Out devices have no mic pre-amps. They have just instrument line-level jacks.
Arturia AudioFuse X8 In
Both devices have different specs. Let’s start with the AudioFuse X8 In which hosts eight line-level analog inputs. One of them can also be used in HiZ with guitars using the switch at the backside.
On the front panel, you can also find a pad button for lowering hot signals, link functionality for making stereo pairs, and a dedicated clock button. The latter has various sample rates (44.1, 48, 88.2, and 96kHz ) available. It also features a Word Clock input and a sync button to synchronize the devices digitally.
Handy, there is also a built-in VU meter for visually monitoring your signals.
Arturia AudioFuse X8 Out
The counterpart to the X8 In is the Arturia AudioFuse X8 Out. Unlike the first device, it features eight line-level DC-coupled analog outputs, giving you more routing flexibility for your existing audio interface. The DC-coupled option is great so you can use the 8 outputs also to route CV signals to your analog gear.
It also has a Word Clock input for sample-aligned digital to-analog conversion and a front-panel sync button, allowing one to choose the right mode (Word, ADAT, or ADAT SMUX).
Further, both models feature dual ADAT connectivity, allowing you to use all eight channels in the dedicated ADAT SMUX mode for high-quality D/A conversion. Cool, the new AudioFuse X8 series can be mounted together in a single, 1U 19-inch rack space.
First Impression
At first glance, the new AudioFuse X8 In and Out are handy ADAT expansion boxes for audio interfaces. Separating the inputs and outputs is clever and allows you to take exactly what you need.
If you want more inputs and outputs in a single device, the Audient EVO SP8 is also an excellent alternative but suitable for modular signals, according to the Modwiggler forum.
Arturia AudioFuse X8 In and Out will be available in July 2024 for $349/339€ for the Input and $299/289€ for the Output version.
More information here: Arturia
Available at my partners
Too bad there is no ADAT input for the X8 in, with audio interfaces without BNC clock output (most of the small ones) it must act as the master.
Less features than currently available similar ADAT devices. Pretty much twice the price.
lol
You can’t be more wrong, it’s a very welcome edition to an almost non existing price range for such a device.
the only comparable device in that price range is from audient and its new. most adat converters cost 4-8x that price or more.
others are preamps based or old sm pro, aphex, alesis…
as far as features, it covers most of what converter needs to be and the IN version have a pad for modualr hot signal and the OUT version is DC coupled.