This is an Excellent Tutorial. I saw this video and laughed because I needed this video tutorial 5 months ago!! I was pulling my hair out trying to connect these two devices together. First, I thought since the icon of a green lock appeared on the 18i20 when syncing, then the lock on the OctoPre should turn green as well. Boy was I wrong, only a green dot on the OctoPre appears, the lock icon will not appear green for the OctoPre. Second, when I finally got them synced together, I kept speaking into my mic, which was connected to the OctoPre in channel 5 and the incoming signal was not appearing in my DAW. This was because I didn't know about Channels 9-12 being used for SPDIF and Loop back only. Once I read the manual fully, I got it all worked out. Here's a Tip folks, “Read The 18i20 Manual First” for the ADAT Information and setup in the DAW.👍👍UPDATE*** the Scarlett WILL NOT allow hardware processers to be used because there is no DA for the inputs. CAUTION, The Scarlett OctoPre will ONLY work with MICRPHONES. For hardware expansion, you will need the Scarlett OctoPre Dynamic
@@Sleep_lab_studios thank you so much for your comment, it is really encouraging and helpful find it rewarding. I am glad you found it helpful, please consider subscribing.
I'm so glad that I found your video! I just got an Octopre within the last week and this was the PERFECT tutorial. I appreciate you explaining the "why" behind the "what" that you were doing. It helps to get my head fully wrapped around the whole thing! Keep it up! Brilliant content, especially for those just learning this!
Thank you my friend, and I appreciate that you liked the why behind just the mere steps, . Tank you for your kind and encouraging comment. Good luck, and please do subscribe.
Thanks for the video. Very useful. I have the Scarlett 18i8 and this tutorial has been super helpful in setting up the ADAT side of things in Reaper (my DAW of choice rn)
You are very welcome and thank you so much for taking time out to comment and appreciate my work. Please do subscribe if you haven't already, thank you.
Great and helpful video! I'll try to install my Focusrite 18i20 and my OctoPre tomorrow for future drum recording using multichannel. Until now I recorded just Stereo from my Behringer X2442 USB Mixer. Thanks to your video I know everything what I've to do tomorrow. Keep up your great work🤘🤘🤘Merry Christmas🎄
you are very welcome my friend, I was stuck for a while too, therefore I wanted to make it easy for other who stumble on my video. Please do subscribe, good luck.
Your explanation was very clear and helpful in improving my understanding of ADAT connections. I did notice something that I'm uncertain about, though. When setting up my Scarlett 18i20 and Clarett Octo Pre in Pro Tools, instead of displaying SPDIF or ADAT 13 in the inputs, it simply shows as digital 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. Upon exploring the Focusrite Control panel, I found that selecting DUAL ADAT in the Digital I/O mode allows me to configure inputs 11 and 12 (or digital 1, 2 in my case) as well. While this seems straightforward for me, I'm unsure if it's correct or if it might cause any issues. For my setup, connecting input 1 on the Octo Pre results in Pro Tools showing it as DIGITAL 1. However, switching the Digital I/O mode to SPDIF optical forces me to use input 13 (or DIGITAL 3). I conducted a mic check using both setups, and the recordings sounded identical. Could you please clarify if there's any significant difference between the two configurations? Thank you!
Great video and great explanations. Does anyone use FL Studio? My audio inputs still only show 8 inputs, 2 loops, and 10 digital which is still only seeing my Scarlett 18i20. I can't for the life of me figure out how to see the 8 additional ADAT inputs? Both 18i and Octo are set to 48K, Octo is set to "Internal" and 18i set to ADAT.
@@dragonbornthuum4278 I am happy that you found the video helpful, having said that, I am afraid I have no experience with FL studio , sorry can’t help. But do a lil research, which I am sure you are already and you should be able to crack it. Good luck and plz consider subscribing
@@aqeeljohn-johnnyb3433 Well I feel stupid! Turns out there never was a problem and the digital channels which are normally the 1/4" plugs on the back of the 18i actually become the XLR inputs for the OctoPre. Digital 3 through 10 have now become the 8 inputs from the OctoPre! I was expecting the names of the channels to change to resemble more like "Input" or "ADAT" instead of remaining "Digital". Anyway, I'm up and running with 16 inputs available!!
Its always a good idea to match them, having said that, you can try keeping a diff sample rate. You can set the sample rate for 18i20 in software and Octpre on the hardware. Thank you for your comment, please consider subscribing. Thank you.
Is there any reason you used the clock from the octopre instead of the clock from the 18i20? Is the octopre clock more reliable..does this configuration take some of the burden off the 18i20?
thanks for watching the video and commenting, both clocks are equally reliable, to make 18i20 as main clock I would have needed 1 more ADAT cable; if you bring another cable the routing and setting within the software will be slightly different, that is all there is.
Great video and explanation. How would you do it the other way round? 18i20 - octopre? Still haven't downloaded a DAW..what are you using? Also,if i go out of OctPre into my 18i20 via ADAT as described in your vid,theres 2 ADAT ports on octPre..which one do you go out of? Can i just use a world clock BNC cable instead? Sorry for all the questions
I use Logic Pro X my friend, as far as the other way around goes, I haven't done the set up for the other way around, but I know for a fact that you will need "World Clock Cable" that will take out from 18i20 "IN" to the Octapre. DO give it a shot. Good luck.
Thanks man, but How about all outputs? If you want to use both 18i20 and Octorpre out for sending audio to outboards? And the samplerate, when should you use higher than 44.1?
Hey pal, if you got your question right here is my reply: I have never used my interfaces for live setup where I had to send the the outputs to the outboard, all I can tell off the top of my head is that there are 8 outs at the back of both the units and those, when aligned with Focusright Control, can easily send the outs to the outboard. As far as hrtz go, I would keep it at 44.1.
So if im using the octopre in Ableton will i need to worry about the inputs being preassigned or will Ableton just recognize them as normal inputs? If not do you think you would know how to reassign them through Ableton?
Thanks for your comment, Abelton being an industry standard DAW, I would assume that it would automatically recognize the inputs. I have never tired the unit with Ableton, so you will have to try it to find it. Good luck.
Hi Buddy! That's a nice explain video. I have a quick question about it. Does is work with the output setting? Let say I want more than 12 outputs from both of them.
hey buddy thanks for your question, this is something that I never needed to do, I am afraid I do not have an answer for that, but I can tell you will have to adapt setting in the focusrite software and you might be able to attain what you are looking for. Good luck.
Thank you and I am glad you found it helpful. If I understand your question right, do you mean is there any advantage of using OctoPre as main? We can have 18i20 as brain , the only did is that we will have to use two adat cables, and the routing might be a little different
Thanks and I am glad it helped out. For the question you have asked, do you mean to ask if I connect monitors with 18i20 or Octopre? if that is the question, yes, my monitors are connected in output 1 & 2 of 18i20. Good luck, and please do subscribe, thank you.
What about if you turn off the octopre as a slave device but with adat set as source clock. Can you still use the 18i20 and record part time with the octopre, i dont need all 16 all the time and dont want to burn the electric bill.😂 i’m actually trying to the same but with two 18i20s
New sub!!! I’m enquiring buying these units for my hardware keyboards without having to buy a patch bay!!! And so my wife can stop saying that I’m not using all my boards!!! Side note!!!😂😂😂 but my question I saw few clips on how to hook other interfaces with this device!!! I have the Appolo Twin and LPX & AL as my DAW of choice!!! Is the connection the same set up applies?🤔
Hey buddy, good luck getting wife to saying stop to the use of boards, or anything for that mater ;) As far as connecting the Octopre with another unit, I have no experience doing that, but I am sure that the unit would be compatible with other units as well. You will have to do some research. good luck.
From what I understand, using 2 ADAT will not give you anything extra, and there isn't even a need if you do the set up that I have done, but if you would make your interface the brain, then you might have to use 2 ADAT cables.
@@aqeeljohn-johnnyb3433 the 2nd ADATs should be for 8x channels at 96hz or higher. The missing aspect is how to setup a 3rd interface. After setting up the audio in each mixer, looks like each needs to then be plugging so the interfaces you want to go into Standalone mode...switch over and clock from the correct source.
Hey thanks for reaching out, I have never tried to hook two 18i20s together. I know 18i20 is expandable, but can the two of them be connected together, I don't know. Do you already have two 18i20s?
10 месяцев назад+1
Soooo.... I bought octopre, and it seems that it add only 8 inputs, but *not* 8 outputs from DAW :(
Thank you for your comment my friend, I haven't yet had a need to use the outputs on Octopre., so can't say much about it. Why are you having to use the outputs of Octopre, what are you trying to achieve here?
10 месяцев назад+1
@@aqeeljohn-johnnyb3433 I'm using DAW as a multitrack only, with analog mixer to actually mix. So I need output for each input. I was pretty sure that it has adat in and out, as it have 2 sockets. But it turned out that it's for higher sample rate input only.
@ I like how you are trying to use the analog mixed to do hands on real time mixing, and I can see why you would need O/P to come into the analog mixer, try routing the outputs from octopre and 18i20 via Focusrite Control; you will have to do some investigative work, but Focusrite Control would be a good starting point. Wish I had a straight answer for you, but you have a unique setup. Good luck.
10 месяцев назад+1
@@aqeeljohn-johnnyb3433 thank you, I should have read manual before buying. These are only analog outputs from preamps, there is no option to custom route it. It's also implied by ADAT connections. These are one direction only. Also, what's surprised me, the 18i20 allows only 6 custom output routings. So for my setup I would have to constantly switching between analog or daw outputs. So I started to build custom unit to mix playback and analog source for each channel. This setup is straightforward on small interfaces, didn't expect it to be so convoluted on 18i20.
@ Jeez man, the things we musicians an d producers have to learn and go through. Then people say people at NASA are smart, what about us;) Good luck man. I am subscribing to your channel, hope you can return the favor. Cheers.
This is an Excellent Tutorial. I saw this video and laughed because I needed this video tutorial 5 months ago!! I was pulling my hair out trying to connect these two devices together. First, I thought since the icon of a green lock appeared on the 18i20 when syncing, then the lock on the OctoPre should turn green as well. Boy was I wrong, only a green dot on the OctoPre appears, the lock icon will not appear green for the OctoPre. Second, when I finally got them synced together, I kept speaking into my mic, which was connected to the OctoPre in channel 5 and the incoming signal was not appearing in my DAW. This was because I didn't know about Channels 9-12 being used for SPDIF and Loop back only. Once I read the manual fully, I got it all worked out. Here's a Tip folks, “Read The 18i20 Manual First” for the ADAT Information and setup in the DAW.👍👍UPDATE*** the Scarlett WILL NOT allow hardware processers to be used because there is no DA for the inputs. CAUTION, The Scarlett OctoPre will ONLY work with MICRPHONES. For hardware expansion, you will need the Scarlett OctoPre Dynamic
I struggled to when I had to connect these two, therefore I decided to make the video.
Super super super helpful! You're making it look easy ;) Thanks man!!!
@@jeroenvansanten you are very welcome pal, good luck and plz consider subscribing
Thank you for making this video. The DAW setting is where I went wrong with my setup. Thank you for pointing out the assignments for the DAW.
@@drumheadpirate you are very welcome my friend, I am glad that my video helped. Good luck and please consider subscribing, thanks
Thank you very much for your detailed explanation of these two devices. Your video was a tremendous help.
@@Sleep_lab_studios thank you so much for your comment, it is really encouraging and helpful find it rewarding. I am glad you found it helpful, please consider subscribing.
watched a 100 video trying to accomplish this but this video was perfect. THANK YOU
you have no idea how encouraging your comment is Chris, thank you and please consider subscribing.
I'm so glad that I found your video! I just got an Octopre within the last week and this was the PERFECT tutorial. I appreciate you explaining the "why" behind the "what" that you were doing. It helps to get my head fully wrapped around the whole thing! Keep it up! Brilliant content, especially for those just learning this!
Thank you my friend, and I appreciate that you liked the why behind just the mere steps, . Tank you for your kind and encouraging comment. Good luck, and please do subscribe.
Best explanation yet. You get a big thumbs up.
Thank you so much Chuck for such appreciative words. Also I am glad it helped. Do consider subscribing please.
Thank you so much finally I set up mines today.
You are very welcome my friend, glad I could help. Please do subscribe.
Thanks for the video. Very useful. I have the Scarlett 18i8 and this tutorial has been super helpful in setting up the ADAT side of things in Reaper (my DAW of choice rn)
I am super happy my friend that the video helped you even though your DAW is different. Good luck, and please consider subscribing.
Loved the recaps thank you for your video
thank pal, and I appreciate you commenting on the video. Please do subscribe thank you.
Dude!!!
Excellent tutorial - I really appreciate you taking the time to do this.
10/10
You are very welcome and thank you so much for taking time out to comment and appreciate my work. Please do subscribe if you haven't already, thank you.
This is a super helpful video. Off to get the octopre to expand my 18i20. Thanks so much!
Thanks man for the comment, I am so happy it helped you out. Good luck, and do subscribe please. Thank you.
One Love!
Always forward, never ever backward!!
☀☀☀
💚💛❤
🙏🏿🙏🙏🏼
@@Appleloucious thank you so much, please do subscribe
@@aqeeljohn-johnnyb3433 I would have already if it was intetesting to me (:
Extremely well explained..(Taking Notes to add to my book.)!
hey David, thank you for your encouraging comments, best of luck setting it up for you. Please do subscribe .
Cleanest explanation I’ve watched and the clocking breakout great. 👍 good stuff. Would love to see your explanation of routing in focusrite control.
Thank you so much pal, your words are encouraging and kind. Would soon do a video on Focusrite Control.
Hey man great tutorial…. Super clear to understand… much appreciate this!! 😊
You are very welcome my friend, and thank you for your comment. Good luck. And please do subscribe.
Great and helpful video! I'll try to install my Focusrite 18i20 and my OctoPre tomorrow for future drum recording using multichannel. Until now I recorded just Stereo from my Behringer X2442 USB Mixer. Thanks to your video I know everything what I've to do tomorrow. Keep up your great work🤘🤘🤘Merry Christmas🎄
Dude you made my day, thank you and happy recording. Appreciate he feedback. Merry Christmas. Do consider subscribing.
Perfect tutorial!
Thank you so much Alex for watching and commenting, please do consider subscribing, thank you.
Stuff I didn't know but needed to know, thanks
you are welcome my friend, good luck, please consider subscribing. thanks.
Thank you for giving the best explanation..
You are very welcome, and thank you for leaving the comment. Please do subscribe if you haven't already, and good luck.
Excellent explanation, thank you.
thank you so much for your comment, its really encouraging, and you are very welcome. please do subscribe
Good job man! I feel you, I’ve also recently started youtubeing. Youre doing great, thanks for the demo! Cheers
Thank pal, and I appreciate you commenting and liking. Do consider subscribing, and I have already subscribed to yours. Merry Christmas.
@@aqeeljohn-johnnyb3433 Sure thing, have done so!
And thanks for the demo again. Merry 🎅🏻
@@jonatanbergmusician Merry Christmas dude.
dude thank you sm! I was really stuck on this
you are very welcome my friend, I was stuck for a while too, therefore I wanted to make it easy for other who stumble on my video. Please do subscribe, good luck.
Great video🏆 Thanks soooooo much!!!
You are very welcome , good luck and please do subscribe.
Excelent tutorial thank you very helpfully.
You are very welcome sir, good luck. Please do subscribe if you haven't already. Thank you for your comment.
Thank you for your education video it is perfect
Your comment means a lot, thank you and good luck. Please consider subscribing.
Very helpful! Thank you
You are very welcome, please do subscribe if you haven't already, that would be highly appreciated. Thanks you.
Your explanation was very clear and helpful in improving my understanding of ADAT connections. I did notice something that I'm uncertain about, though. When setting up my Scarlett 18i20 and Clarett Octo Pre in Pro Tools, instead of displaying SPDIF or ADAT 13 in the inputs, it simply shows as digital 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.
Upon exploring the Focusrite Control panel, I found that selecting DUAL ADAT in the Digital I/O mode allows me to configure inputs 11 and 12 (or digital 1, 2 in my case) as well. While this seems straightforward for me, I'm unsure if it's correct or if it might cause any issues.
For my setup, connecting input 1 on the Octo Pre results in Pro Tools showing it as DIGITAL 1. However, switching the Digital I/O mode to SPDIF optical forces me to use input 13 (or DIGITAL 3).
I conducted a mic check using both setups, and the recordings sounded identical. Could you please clarify if there's any significant difference between the two configurations? Thank you!
Great Tutorial!👏
Thank you for your time to watch it, and thanks for subscribing.
Thank you so much!! Very helpful👍
You are very welcome :), glad you found it helpful.
Great job
Thank you so much
amazing man . Thanks I needed this :)
You are very welcome my friend, Glad you found it help ful. I saw a video on your channel, love your set up.
Hey thanks man its evolved a lot since then and going to do a studio tour update coming up @@aqeeljohn-johnnyb3433
@@KirkyDrums Look fwd to the tour, just subscribed to you, hope you wont mind returning the favour ;)
This works on 1 cable if I use 44.1 or 48, but I need to use both cables to use 96k, right?
It's the same setup, same routing etc?
Great video and great explanations. Does anyone use FL Studio? My audio inputs still only show 8 inputs, 2 loops, and 10 digital which is still only seeing my Scarlett 18i20. I can't for the life of me figure out how to see the 8 additional ADAT inputs? Both 18i and Octo are set to 48K, Octo is set to "Internal" and 18i set to ADAT.
@@dragonbornthuum4278 I am happy that you found the video helpful, having said that, I am afraid I have no experience with FL studio , sorry can’t help. But do a lil research, which I am sure you are already and you should be able to crack it. Good luck and plz consider subscribing
@@aqeeljohn-johnnyb3433 Well I feel stupid! Turns out there never was a problem and the digital channels which are normally the 1/4" plugs on the back of the 18i actually become the XLR inputs for the OctoPre. Digital 3 through 10 have now become the 8 inputs from the OctoPre! I was expecting the names of the channels to change to resemble more like "Input" or "ADAT" instead of remaining "Digital".
Anyway, I'm up and running with 16 inputs available!!
i am changing my octopre, and will do this set up again soon, and wen I do, I will keep and eye for any solutions. Good luck though.
Do the kilohertz sample rates need to match between the interfaces? Thanks you!
Its always a good idea to match them, having said that, you can try keeping a diff sample rate. You can set the sample rate for 18i20 in software and Octpre on the hardware. Thank you for your comment, please consider subscribing. Thank you.
Is there any reason you used the clock from the octopre instead of the clock from the 18i20? Is the octopre clock more reliable..does this configuration take some of the burden off the 18i20?
thanks for watching the video and commenting, both clocks are equally reliable, to make 18i20 as main clock I would have needed 1 more ADAT cable; if you bring another cable the routing and setting within the software will be slightly different, that is all there is.
Great video and explanation. How would you do it the other way round? 18i20 - octopre? Still haven't downloaded a DAW..what are you using? Also,if i go out of OctPre into my 18i20 via ADAT as described in your vid,theres 2 ADAT ports on octPre..which one do you go out of?
Can i just use a world clock BNC cable instead? Sorry for all the questions
I use Logic Pro X my friend, as far as the other way around goes, I haven't done the set up for the other way around, but I know for a fact that you will need "World Clock Cable" that will take out from 18i20 "IN" to the Octapre. DO give it a shot. Good luck.
@@aqeeljohn-johnnyb3433 thanks for your reply and help👍I'll definitely give it a go.
Thanks man, but How about all outputs? If you want to use both 18i20 and Octorpre out for sending audio to outboards? And the samplerate, when should you use higher than 44.1?
Hey pal, if you got your question right here is my reply: I have never used my interfaces for live setup where I had to send the the outputs to the outboard, all I can tell off the top of my head is that there are 8 outs at the back of both the units and those, when aligned with Focusright Control, can easily send the outs to the outboard. As far as hrtz go, I would keep it at 44.1.
thank you
You are welcome, thanks for the comment, please do subscribe.
So if im using the octopre in Ableton will i need to worry about the inputs being preassigned or will Ableton just recognize them as normal inputs? If not do you think you would know how to reassign them through Ableton?
Thanks for your comment, Abelton being an industry standard DAW, I would assume that it would automatically recognize the inputs. I have never tired the unit with Ableton, so you will have to try it to find it. Good luck.
@@aqeeljohn-johnnyb3433 thanks man. Plan to get this thing soon and just want to know all I need. Appreciate your tutorial.
well done mate! thx
Hi Buddy! That's a nice explain video. I have a quick question about it. Does is work with the output setting? Let say I want more than 12 outputs from both of them.
hey buddy thanks for your question, this is something that I never needed to do, I am afraid I do not have an answer for that, but I can tell you will have to adapt setting in the focusrite software and you might be able to attain what you are looking for. Good luck.
@aqeeljohn-johnnyb3433 Thanks for the reply, man! I think I will ask our local store the demo Octopre than use your technique to see if it might work.
@@YongB.Tixarr good luck my friend. Please do subscribe if you havent already.
Great tutorial. Is there any advantage to using an Octopre as opposed to using two 18i20's?
Thank you and I am glad you found it helpful. If I understand your question right, do you mean is there any advantage of using OctoPre as main? We can have 18i20 as brain , the only did is that we will have to use two adat cables, and the routing might be a little different
This was very helpful🙌
Quick question.
Do you monitor through 18i20? or Octopre?
Thank you 🙏
Thanks and I am glad it helped out. For the question you have asked, do you mean to ask if I connect monitors with 18i20 or Octopre? if that is the question, yes, my monitors are connected in output 1 & 2 of 18i20. Good luck, and please do subscribe, thank you.
Got it👌
Thanks again 🙏
You are very welcome my friend. Good luck@@toshikasuga
What about if you turn off the octopre as a slave device but with adat set as source clock. Can you still use the 18i20 and record part time with the octopre, i dont need all 16 all the time and dont want to burn the electric bill.😂 i’m actually trying to the same but with two 18i20s
thanks for the question pal, i guess you can try, but I am pretty sure if you brain is off i.e. Octopre, 18i20 wont record, but give it a shot.
New sub!!! I’m enquiring buying these units for my hardware keyboards without having to buy a patch bay!!! And so my wife can stop saying that I’m not using all my boards!!! Side note!!!😂😂😂 but my question I saw few clips on how to hook other interfaces with this device!!! I have the Appolo Twin and LPX & AL as my DAW of choice!!! Is the connection the same set up applies?🤔
Hey buddy, good luck getting wife to saying stop to the use of boards, or anything for that mater ;) As far as connecting the Octopre with another unit, I have no experience doing that, but I am sure that the unit would be compatible with other units as well. You will have to do some research. good luck.
Is there an advantage to using 2 ADAT cables?
From what I understand, using 2 ADAT will not give you anything extra, and there isn't even a need if you do the set up that I have done, but if you would make your interface the brain, then you might have to use 2 ADAT cables.
So which one is suppose to be plug in to the computer? The 18i20 or the Octopre?
Not bad, you did not discuss how to setup for 7.1 ( the trick is mono on the FR control app I discovered
I definitely dint cover that as it wasn't the focus of the video, perhaps in another video. But thank you for bringing it up, goes on my list.
Is it possible to run 2x OctoPres for 24x total channels?
@@westbrad6808 I believe we can because there are 2 ADAT in/outs at the back of 18i20 and octopre
@@aqeeljohn-johnnyb3433 the 2nd ADATs should be for 8x channels at 96hz or higher. The missing aspect is how to setup a 3rd interface. After setting up the audio in each mixer, looks like each needs to then be plugging so the interfaces you want to go into Standalone mode...switch over and clock from the correct source.
Where can I find that cable. Great tutorial by the way.
You should be able to find at at a musical store near you or definitely on amazon. Thank you for the comment and appreciating my work.
ace tutorial!
I need help hooking a 18i20 t0 an 18i20 to make 16 tracks
Hey thanks for reaching out, I have never tried to hook two 18i20s together. I know 18i20 is expandable, but can the two of them be connected together, I don't know. Do you already have two 18i20s?
Soooo.... I bought octopre, and it seems that it add only 8 inputs, but *not* 8 outputs from DAW :(
Thank you for your comment my friend, I haven't yet had a need to use the outputs on Octopre., so can't say much about it. Why are you having to use the outputs of Octopre, what are you trying to achieve here?
@@aqeeljohn-johnnyb3433 I'm using DAW as a multitrack only, with analog mixer to actually mix. So I need output for each input. I was pretty sure that it has adat in and out, as it have 2 sockets. But it turned out that it's for higher sample rate input only.
@ I like how you are trying to use the analog mixed to do hands on real time mixing, and I can see why you would need O/P to come into the analog mixer, try routing the outputs from octopre and 18i20 via Focusrite Control; you will have to do some investigative work, but Focusrite Control would be a good starting point. Wish I had a straight answer for you, but you have a unique setup. Good luck.
@@aqeeljohn-johnnyb3433 thank you, I should have read manual before buying. These are only analog outputs from preamps, there is no option to custom route it. It's also implied by ADAT connections. These are one direction only. Also, what's surprised me, the 18i20 allows only 6 custom output routings. So for my setup I would have to constantly switching between analog or daw outputs. So I started to build custom unit to mix playback and analog source for each channel. This setup is straightforward on small interfaces, didn't expect it to be so convoluted on 18i20.
@ Jeez man, the things we musicians an d producers have to learn and go through. Then people say people at NASA are smart, what about us;) Good luck man. I am subscribing to your channel, hope you can return the favor. Cheers.