Ferrofish A32pro

Overview - The Future of Audio Conversion

The Ferrofish A32pro and A32pro Dante are the latest in a long line of professional AD/DA converters from German pro audio manufacturer Ferrofish.

Continuing the company's successful tradition of designing high-quality, cost-effective AD/DA converters for studio, live audio and broadcast production, the A32pro and A32pro Dante are the natural successors to the popular Ferrofish A32 and A32 Dante models, packing more functionality than ever before into a single 1U frame.

In addition to the completely revised front-panel design, the four TFT screens and highly-intuitive operation of previous models are now supplemented by a touch-screen interface and large encoder knob. Changes to device settings can be made directly from the front of the unit simply by tapping the functions - it couldn't be easier!

Packed with analogue and digital audio features, the Ferrofish A32pro is an incredibly flexible and space-saving tool, offering up to 32 analogue inputs and 32 analogue outputs in only 1U of rack-space! Two independent headphone outputs (and an additional TRS stereo output) offer further flexibility for monitoring and routing in recording studio, live audio and broadcast applications.

Redundant MADI and power supplies (optional) provide important fail-safe options -especially useful in live operations. Powerful on-board routing also allows for format conversion between the different digital interfaces, and the new DSP-STICK slots provide an upgrade-path for planned future DSP-based expansions.

Ferrofish A32pro - Front Panel

32 x 32 A-D/D-A Conversion with ESS

The Ferrofish A32pro series feature the latest generation of converter chips from ESS, for high quality sound recording and audio playback. In addition a stereo TRS Main Out delivers a simple and fast way to connect stereo monitors or recorders.

Dual Headphone Outputs

With the Ferrofish A32pro, Ferrofish say they've 'broken the Highlander rule of "there can be only one"', doubling the number of headphone outputs. Both headphone outputs are driven by TPA6120A from Texas Instruments, with adjustable gain stages for headphones and IEMs of various impedances. The Highlander would be envious - if he owns headphones.

Highest Feature Density

• 32 x 32 analogue I/O channels, fully balanced on DSub25 (Tascam pinout)
• 32 x 32 ADAT I/O channels on TOSLINK jacks with 96kHz support
• 64 x 64 MADI I/O channels on LC SFP module, user exchangeable, coax SFP module optional available
• 64 x 64 DANTE I/O channels on dual Ethernet ports with redundant functionality*
• Wordclock I/O on BNC connectors with proprietary jitter reduction circuit
• MIDI I/O on 3.5mm TRS connectors (MIDI 2.0 pinout)
• GPIO port for remote preset switching and alert monitoring on DSub15
• Dual stereo headphone 1/4" TRS outputs with high-end amp modules and dedicated DAC
• Latest generation ESS A/D and D/A converter chips with 192kHz and 24Bit data path
• Highly intuitive four screens multitouch user interface
• Illuminated touch sensitive high-res encoder
• Flexible routing matrix
• MIDI-over-MADI
• Dedicated dual headphone monitoring matrix
• Dual power input redundant system with monitoring and alert system
• SHARC DSP for internal signal processing
• Dual expansion slots for optional DSP sticks
• Simple MIDI CC mode for remote control by simple MIDI commands
• Remote controllable via RemoteFish app for Mac & Windows (USB, MIDI, MIDI over MADI and Dante*), or via GPIO

*A32pro Dante only

Intuitive TFT Touchscreen User Interface

Combining the highly intuitive user interface of the A32 Pro with a large, multi-touch overlay covering all four high-res TFT screens, control of the A32pro couldn't be easier.

Ferrofish A32pro Dante - Back Panel

GPIO Port - Remote Control & Monitoring

The newly added GPIO port allows remote control of important parameters of the A32 Pro via simple electronic signals, whilst simultaneously providing monitoring of device statuses at any time.

Modular Expansion Ports

For the highest possible degree of flexibility, the MADI I/Os have been designed as a dual SFP slot bay for a maximum of 256 I/O channels. The SFP slots can accommodate both optical and coaxial SFP modules.

A dual QSFP slot bay is also available for future expansion modules.

Remote Control via USB, MIDI, MADI and GPIO

The Ferrofish A32pro provides a variety of remote control options, ensuring maximum flexibility for a wide range of professional audio applications.

Software Control with RemoteFish (Mac/PC)

Full remote control of the Ferrofish A32pro Dante is available via USB, MIDI, or MIDI over MADI via the RemoteFish software application, available as a free download for both Mac and PC.

RemoteFish provides an extended user interface for control over all input and output gains, channel routing, settings adjustments, and the saving and loading of presets.

Download RemoteFish from the Ferrofish website

Optional: Additional UK Power Supply

The Ferrofish A32pro ships with a single UK power supply.

If you'd like to add a second power supply (for redundancy), additional PSU's are available here.

Optional: Ferrofish MADI Coax SFP Module

The Ferrofish A32pro can be upgraded with an official Ferrofish MADI Coax SFP, providing MADI I/O on BNC connectors.

If you'd like to MADI coaxial I/O to your Ferrofish A32pro, the SFP module is available here.

MADI I/O (AES10)


• Dual SFP Slots for MADI: Multimode or Singlemode SFP module as default configuration, optional second SFP module optional

• 64 channels @32kHz, 44.1kHz, 48kHz

• 32 channels @64kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz

• 32 channels @128kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz*

* both MADI ports are used to achieve full 32+32 channel transmission


• Support of MIDI over MADI.
• Latency: 3 samples
• Redundancy: Automatic switching between optical <-> coax MADI when signal lost.

Analogue Inputs (AD)

• Latest generation of Analogue / Digital Converters from ESS Tech.


4 x DSub25 (Tascam format)

• Digital gain: +20dBu … -8 dBu, 1dB steps

OpAmps


• OPA1604 / OPA1664

Level indicator


• TFT screen, 28 levels

Analogue Outputs (DA)

• Latest generation of Digital / Analogue Converters from ESS Tech.


4 x DSub25 (Tascam format)


• Digital gain: +20dBu … -8dBu, 1dB steps

OpAmps


• OPA1604 / OPA1664

Level indicator


• TFT screen, 28 levels

Headphone Outputs

• 2 x ¼” (6.3mm) TRS jack, stereo with HQ amp section and dedicated DAC path

• Provides an independent stereo channel

• Selectable mono/stereo or M/S decoded source of all inputs and outputs

• Digitally controlled volume level

ADAT I/O

• 4+4 optical interfaces (8 channels each with 48 kHz)

• 32 channels @32kHz, 44.1kHz, 48kHz

• 16 channels @64kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz

• n/a @128kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz

• Latency: 3 samples

GPIO Port


• 4x General Purpose Inputs for switching Presets #1-4.

• 4x General Purpose Outputs for monitoring Lock/Power/MADI/Temp alerts.

MIDI I/O

• 2 x 1/8″ (3.5mm) TRS connector for remote control

• Conversion MIDI <> MIDI-over-MADI possible

• MIDI 2.0 pinout

Wordclock I/O

• BNC: 1 x input, 1 x output

• 75 Ohm Termination switchable for input

Power Supply

12V, 3A

• 2 x input jacks with screw lock for redundant power.

• Voltage supervision, warning message on screen when PSU input fails

• Internal resettable polyfuse

• 1 x Power Supply included, second PSU optional

USB Port

• 1 x USB 2.0 for Remote/Updates

Additional Features

• 192 kHz operation (S/MUX up to 192kHz).

• GPIO Port for remote preset switching and alert monitoring

• DSP Plugin-ready

• A/D and D/A converters with switchable filters

• Dual Headphone output for easy monitoring

• MIDI over MADI Preset Management

• Extensive routing/mixing possibilities.

• Redundancy (MADI I/O, Dante I/O, Power Supplies).

Internal Clock

• Temperature compensated oscillator, with high accuracy.

• Initial accuracy: +/-1.5ppm

• Over temperature range: +/-2.5ppm

• Aging: +/-1ppm

PLL

• Digitally controlled PLL / Jitter reduction system

• Output jitter: 50ps … 100ps typ.

LCD Displays

• 4 x TFT Multitouch Screen User Interface

• Two-layer illuminated touch-sensitive high-resolution encoder

• Highly intuitive control of the unit

Audio Core Processor

• SHARC ADSP-2148x series DSP

• Routing and processing of all 384 audio channels.

• Source to headphone output.

• Calculation of upcoming audio processing algorithms.

Dimensions

• 1RU, fanless design

• Depth: 31cm (12.6”) (including connectors)

Weight

• 4.1kg (9 lbs)

Ambient temperature

• 41°F up to 113°F (+5°C up to +45°C)