Description
Upgrade your Ferrofish Pulse 16 to a Pulse 16 MX (MADI I/O Upgrade via MADI SFP module)
The Ferrofish Pulse 16 can be upgraded to the new Ferrofish Pulse 16 MX with an optical MADI SFP module. With this module equipped all 16 x 16 channels can be used with sample rates up to 192kHz.
The Pulse 16 MADI Upgrade consists of two parts:
- The Ferrofish MADI SFP Module. Only genuine Ferrofish MADI SFP modules are supported.
- Unlock Code (sold separately).
This upgrade turns the Ferrofish Pulse 16 into a Ferrofish Pulse 16 MX.
Installation Guide
Ferrofish SFP Guide - How To Install
What is MADI?
MADI is a professional audio interface format which can transfer 64 discrete audio channels over a distance of up to 2 kilometers in multi-mode. Several MADI devices can be connected in series by daisy-chaining, connecting the output of the first device to the input of the second device. The output of the second device is then connected to the input of the third device, and so on.
Up to four Ferrofish Pulse 16 MX units can be daisy-chained, allowing for the transmission of up to 64 analogue inputs and 64 analogue outputs at 48 kHz. When using sample rates higher than 48kHz, the maximum number of transferrable channels is reduced. The following chart shows the amount of digital audio channels for a single MADI port:
| Frequency | MADI Channels |
| 32kHz | 44,1kHz | 48kHz (SMUX/1) | 64 (56) channels |
| 64kHz | 88,2kHz | 96kHz (SMUX/2) | 32 (28) channels |
| 128kHz | 176,4kHz | 192kHz (SMUX/4) | 16 (14) channels |
The original MADI standard utilised a maximum channel count of 56 channels for a single MADI connection (shown in brackets in the above chart), and allow for a sample rate variation of +/- 10%.
Today, most hardware is optomised to support 64 channels via MADI, as rate variations are rarely used anymore. The Ferrofish Pulse 16 MX automatically detects if 56 or 64 channels are received. The amount of channels being sent from the Pulse 16 MX (56 or 64) can be set via the device's onboard setup menu.
Ferrofish SFP Modules - Frequently Asked Questions
The new Ferrofish devices, the AD/DA converter Pulse 16 and the Dante format converter VERTOMX, use so-called SFP modules as a MADI interface. The answers to the most frequently asked questions about the SFP modules and the upgrade possibilities of the Ferrofish devices can be found here.
Q: What is an SFP module?
A: SFP (Small Form-factor Pluggable) is a specification for modular optical or electrical transceivers. These modules come from the network technology and are available in different versions depending on the line type (multimode or single mode) and data rate.
The specification is defined for up to 5 Gbps (gigabit/second). The LC plug is used as standard. Modules for multimode fiber have a black, sometimes beige release lever, modules for singlemode fiber have a blue one.
