Weiss AFI1 - Excellent

Description

This is a rather specialised piece of equipment, but if you're running high-end standalone converters or other professional digital equipment with AES/EBU connections, you'll know exactly why something like the Weiss AFI1 is needed.

The AFI1 was designed by Weiss Engineering in Switzerland as a professional digital bridge between a computer and standalone digital equipment. There are no A/D or D/A converters inside it — its job is simply to move digital audio cleanly and reliably between FireWire, AES/EBU and ADAT.

This is classic Weiss professional engineering: extremely specialised, beautifully made and designed to do one job properly rather than trying to be an all-in-one audio interface.

The unit is in flawless working order and has been used very lightly in my clean, smoke-free studio. Cosmetic condition is excellent, with only very minor signs of normal use.

Tech Specs

• 24 Channels of Digital I/O: The AFI1 provides up to 24 channels of bidirectional digital audio connectivity — 8 channels of AES/EBU plus up to 16 channels of ADAT.
• 8 Channels AES/EBU In & Out: Four AES/EBU XLR inputs and four AES/EBU XLR outputs carry eight channels in each direction. Unlike the ADAT channel count, the full eight AES/EBU channels remain available across all supported sample rates.
• 16 Channels ADAT In & Out: Two optical TOSLINK inputs and two outputs provide up to 16 channels of ADAT at 44.1/48kHz, 8 channels at 88.2/96kHz and 4 channels at 176.4/192kHz using SMUX.
• FireWire 400 Connection: Two IEEE 1394 / FireWire 400 ports are provided, allowing connection to the computer as well as daisy-chaining additional compatible FireWire devices.
• Up to 192kHz / 24-bit: Supports professional sample rates of 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4 and 192kHz with word lengths up to 24-bit.
• Professional Word Clock I/O: Dedicated BNC word-sync input and output allow the AFI1 to be integrated into a properly clocked professional digital studio.
• Flexible Synchronisation: The AFI1 can generate its own sample clock or synchronise from its digital inputs or external word clock.
• Dual-Wire AES Support: Rear-panel configuration allows dual-wire AES operation at the highest sample rates where required.
• Simple Front Panel Status: Dedicated LEDs show power, established FireWire connection and successful clock synchronisation.
• 1U Rackmount Format: A compact professional 19-inch rack unit, built in Switzerland.

How I Used the AFI1

In my studio I used the AFI1 specifically to connect my Forssell MADC-8 and MDAC-8 converters to the computer. The MADC sent its eight channels of AES/EBU digital audio through the AFI1 into the computer, while in the opposite direction the AFI1 sent eight channels from the computer via AES/EBU to the MDAC.

It worked beautifully in this role and provided a very clean and straightforward way of integrating high-end standalone AES/EBU converters into a computer-based studio.

The AFI1 is not limited to Forssell equipment, of course. It can be used with compatible professional AES/EBU or ADAT equipment wherever a suitable FireWire-equipped computer system is being maintained.

Important — FireWire & Mac Compatibility

Please read this section carefully before purchasing.

The reason I am selling the AFI1 is that I upgraded my studio computer to an Apple Silicon M1 Mac, at which point I could no longer use it.

I contacted Weiss directly to ask whether there was an upgrade or workaround that would allow me to continue using the AFI1 with my new Mac, and unfortunately they confirmed that there wasn't. The Weiss FireWire system is not compatible with Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, M3 and subsequent Apple Silicon generations). Simply using a FireWire-to-Thunderbolt adapter does not overcome the driver compatibility issue.

The AFI1 was designed for an earlier generation of computer-based professional audio systems and remains potentially very useful for studios maintaining a compatible FireWire setup. Weiss still provides AFI1 documentation and legacy Mac and Windows FireWire drivers on its website, but compatibility depends on the particular computer, operating system and FireWire configuration being used.

Please check that your system is compatible before purchasing.

For the right setup, the AFI1 remains an extremely capable and beautifully engineered professional digital interface — 8 channels of bidirectional AES/EBU and up to 16 channels of bidirectional ADAT, with professional word-clock synchronisation and sample rates up to 192kHz.

It's a specialised piece of equipment today, certainly, but there are plenty of legacy professional studio systems still in service around the world, so I'm hoping this will find its way to someone for whom it's exactly the interface they need.

A Note About FireWire Connection

Weiss specifically recommends not hot-plugging the FireWire connection.

Their manual advises connecting the AFI1 to FireWire only while both the computer and the Weiss unit are switched off, because FireWire carries bus power and plugging or unplugging a live connection can potentially produce voltage spikes.

I've always treated professional FireWire equipment with this precaution, and I'd recommend the next owner does the same.

Power

The AFI1 has a universal 85–264V mains power supply with automatic voltage switching, so there is no need to open the unit or manually change its voltage configuration when moving between UK/European and North American mains supplies.

Price & Offers

The AFI1 is a highly specialised piece of professional digital equipment and doesn't appear on the used market particularly often.

It originally occupied a very different category from ordinary consumer audio interfaces: this was designed by Weiss specifically for professional mastering and high-end digital studio systems.

I appreciate that its FireWire connectivity makes it a more specialised proposition today, so I have priced it accordingly. For someone with the right system, however, this remains an extremely high-quality and unusual piece of Weiss engineering.