Re: [linux-audio-dev] Happy about MADI - Linux-audio-dev

28 Jan 2003

...
  >Argh, what's the great thing about standards
again. I still prefer mLAN, as 
 >it uses generic, consumer i/o cards, and firewire is fitted to almost all 
 >laptops without needing expensive audio only hardware. 
A single firewire standard would be great, but it hasn't happened yet. 
MOTU, Digi, Metric Halo, and Yamaha all have incompatible proprietary
implementations.  Plus there is the minor 4 or 6 conductor thing
courtesy of Sony.  Starting to look like a mess to me.

...
  it all still sounds pretty dubious to me,  
Me too.

...
  hopefully, this should echo the fact that i'm with
steve: MADI is an 
 audio-only system, its expensive, and i don't think it has any 
 particular technical benefits over mLAN. its sole advantage at this 
 point is that anyone (as i understand it) can implement it without the 
 licensing and other uncertainties that surround mLAN at this time.  
The gear that uses it is expensive, but it isn't.  RME will sell theirs
for the same price as a hammerfall.  There is no reason why budget gear
can't use it.  Audio-only systems are all that's available right now. 
MADI and adat optical exist as open solutions right now.  S/MUX support
for adat is spotty.  mlan, and 1394 in general, doesn't exist as an open
solution.  Sure I would like midi and audio on the same cable, but it's
not available right now.  6 months from now I will go with mlan if it is
openly available.  If not then I will go with madi if I can afford it. 
Otherwise I will go with adat optical.  I have been postponing new gear
purchases for a long time waiting for an open 1394 solution.  Eventually
I will have to stop being a cheerleader and actually acquire some gear. 
The current favorite, adat optical, simply doesn't impress me.  If
development stays on course, and I am ready to start using ardour in 6
months, mlan will be the only solution of the three that will *not* be
available.

Tom