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Ferrofish Pulse 8 AE 8 x 8 AD/DA Converter with ADAT

Name: Ferrofish Pulse 8 AE 8 x 8 AD/DA Converter with ADAT
Brand: Ferrofish
Rating: 5 (4 reviews)

8-in/8-out AD/DA Converter with ADAT and SMUX, USB-C Connectivity, MIDI I/O, and Front-panel Display

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Item ID: Pulse8AE

Ferrofish Pulse 8 AE 8 x 8 AD/DA Converter with ADAT

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Ferrofish Pulse 8 AE 8 x 8 AD/DA Converter with ADAT

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A Stellar AD/DA Converter with a Minuscule Footprint

The Ferrofish Pulse 8 AE equips you with eight channels of superior AD/DA, rock-solid clocking, and a space-saving form factor that integrates seamlessly into myriad studio and live setups. Moreover, the Pulse 8 AE’s stellar signal conversion is deftly bolstered by high-quality balanced analog I/O, along with SMUX-equipped ADAT I/O for easy higher-sample-rate expansion. The Pulse 8 AE houses a top-shelf 4-stage headphone amplifier with digital-precise volume control and a fantastically lucid ESS DAC. Robust clocking options are also on tap, enabling you to accommodate the gamut of professional workflows. Furthermore, you’ll appreciate the comprehensive visual control afforded by this unit’s high-resolution front-panel display, which makes real-time monitoring and configuration an incredibly intuitive affair. You also get a USB-C port for simplified remote software configuration and MIDI I/O for easy firmware updates. Engineers searching for reliable AD/DA in a flexible, compact unit will find everything they’re seeking in the Ferrofish Pulse 8 AE.

Packed with plentiful I/O

Here at Sweetwater, we've found the Pulse 8 AE to be a prime choice for countless applications, thanks to its plentiful selection of I/O. For starters, this flexible 8-in/8-out converter includes eight channels of balanced analog I/O on TRS connectors. You also get two ADAT inputs and two ADAT outputs, along with SMUX support for higher sample rates, providing up to eight channels at 96kHz and up to 16 channels at 48kHz. Word clock I/O is also included, reinforced by a digitally controlled PLL with active jitter reduction. To top it off, the Pulse 8 AE includes a headphone output with a 4-stage amplifier, digital control with 1dB resolution, and a dedicated monitoring path supported by a separate ESS DAC.

Ferrofish Pulse 8 AE Features:

8-in/8-out AD/DA integrates seamlessly into myriad studio and live setups
8 channels of balanced analog I/O on TRS connectors
ADAT I/O with SMUX provides easy higher-sample-rate expansion
Top-shelf 4-stage headphone amplifier with digital-precise volume control and a dedicated ESS DAC
Robust clocking options accommodate the gamut of professional workflows
High-resolution front-panel display yields comprehensive visual control
USB-C port facilitates simplified remote software configuration
MIDI I/O allows for easy firmware updates
Compact design is suitable for rackmounted or desktop deployment

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Tech Specs

Type: AD/DA Converter
Channels: 8
Simultaneous I/O: 8 x 8
A to D: Yes
D to A: Yes
Analog Inputs: 8 x 1/4"
Analog Outputs: 8 x 1/4"
Digital Inputs: 2 x Optical (ADAT)
Digital Outputs: 2 x Optical (ADAT)
USB: 1 x USB-C
MIDI I/O: In/Out
Clock Inputs: 1 x BNC
Clock Outputs: 1 x BNC
Rack Spaces: 1U
Power Source: External 12V power supply
Height: 1.73"
Depth: 5.31"
Width: 8.66"
Weight: 2.2 lbs.
Manufacturer Part Number: Pulse 8 AE

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Reviews

4.9

Customer Photos & Videos

It's like they made this device just for me. I am kind of a gear snob, but I'm not saying that to brag, gloat, or to act like I'm better than anyone else. I actually admire people who do more than me with less. I want you to know that because I do appreciate quality. I'm using the Pulse 8 with a Neve 88m so that I can use my outboard gear more easily. I have an API lunchbox that the Pulse 8 sits perfectly on top of and lets me use all the ins and outs with two DB25 to TRS snakes from the lunchbox. It has made my life much easier to re-amp or print my recordings through my outboard gear. It's quick to do now and is a huge quality of life improvement for me. I was going to wait for the SSL Alpha 8 like a lot of people seem to be doing, but the Pulse 8 actually suits my needs better. It's a lot smaller and I think that Ferrofish was thinking of my exact use case scenario when they built this box. So in other words it fits perfectly on top of the API lunchbox, it doesn't even block off the vents, and it's like it was made to sit there.

The sound quality seems to be excellent and I'm rather picky. Nothing is bothering me about the signal I'm getting. It sounds very good. I have no regrets going with the Pulse 8 rather than waiting for the Alpha 8. The Ferrofish is super nice with a lower price and better financing options.

Plugged this into my Audient ID24 interface, and it worked instantly. Sounds great. Using mine to mix with outboard gear now, but will use it for converting external preamps too. Sounds just as good as my Audient. Not really done clear comparisons, but I can't tell a difference, really, in conversion quality.

Converters max out a +20dB, instead of +24, so it is hard to run gear really hot, if you like to do that.

Interface on front is great for making sure levels are consistent and clean.

Haven't tried headphone jack yet, but I'm certain it will be great.

This is an overall a great mid-tier 8 in 8 out ADDA converter. It will stay in my rack for years (and is future proofed with the DSP slot, a great idea)!

I have had this unit for a while. Same setup as the other user. Through the Neve 88 interface. Match made in heaven by the way.

I was on the Apollo platform for ten years. I own a Neumann MT48 as well. I too am a gear snob.

The best way I can put it with this unit is, it's transparent. The Apollo and the Neumann have their own sounds. They both impart their own character on the conversion. The Apollo is more "analog" and tape like. The Neumann is so pristine it's actually difficult to get analog outboard gear's character through the sheen, it's an overpowering type of pristine.

This unit lets your analog gear shine. The character of each piece of analog gear shines through without getting overpowered by the character of the converters like the Apollo and the Neumann.

We are splitting hairs at this point. Great recordings can be made on any of the mentioned units, but if it's transparency at a price point that I quite frankly can't believe, don't hesitate.

Top marks. Especially for the price.

I use the Pulse 8 AE with a MOTU UltraLite-mk5 and it's been fantastic. The software and firmware are no-frills and solid, the display is bright and easy to read, and the converters are top-notch for this price. It's class having everything in my growing synth collection (addiction?) fully-patched and normalled at all times; I haven't touched a patch cable since adding the Pulse 8 AE to the setup.

The only gripe I have is the lack of DC-coupled outputs (like Ferrofish did with the Pulse 16 CV). With my kit, this isn't a huge issue because I use the MOTU's 10 DC-coupled outputs for CV, but for folks with smaller desktop interfaces, it would be nice if the Pulse 8 were made with CV support.

See also: Converters, Ferrofish, Ferrofish AD/DA Converters