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Hello folks, I purchased a Focusrite Scarlett OctoPre because I am a hardware junkie and I love recording and mixing with hardware and plugins. I needed a way to connect extra hardware as I ran out of channels with my Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 and so, the Focusrite Scarlett OctoPre justified the purchase and allowed the use of 8 more external connections. I had the hardest time getting this set up in Cakewalk By Bandlab because all of the videos I watched didn't say anything much about DAW Setup, but here is where reading is fundamental. The Audio Interface manual spells it all out if you just read it. It is important that you know the In and Out table for the mode being used for the Audio Interface you are using. Audio Interface connected to the computer via USB-C = Focusrite Scarlett 18i20. Expander unit being used to provide 8 extra channels of I/O = Focusrite Scarlette OctoPre Only have the Audio Interface on at this port for setup. ======================================== To expand your audio Interface, you will plug a Toslink (ADAT) cable into the primary Audio Interface (Scarlett 18i20) ADAT IN port on the back of the unit. Then plug the other end of the Toslink (ADAT) cable into the ADAT OUT port on the back of the Preamp you are using, (Focusrite Scarlett OctoPre). Open the audio configuration software for your Audio Interface. For my Scarlett 18i20, I use Focus Control. The simplest way of syncing the devices is to set the Clock Source of the Audio Interface to ADAT, next set the Sample Rate to either 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz. The Sample Rate used here will allow for 8 channels to be used within the Audio Interface from the Preamp. Finally, set the I/O Mode to S/PDIF RCA and Save and Close out of your Audio Interface Software and shut down your Audio Interface. Next, turn back on your Audio Interface and at least for the Focusrite brand, you should have everything already set up for you in the software. The ADAT digital format can carry up to 8 channels of audio and this depends on the sample rate you wish to use. 44.1/48kHz - 8 channels 88.2/96kHz - 4 channels 176.4/192kHz - 2 channels For Focusrite: In the Focus Control Software, set the following: (Monitor Outputs) select Playback 1-2 (Line Outputs 3-4) select Playback 3-4 (Line Outputs 5-6) select Playback 5-6 (Line Outputs 7-8) select Playback 7-8 (Line Outputs 9-10) select Playback 9-10 (S/PDIF Outputs 1-2) select Playback 11-12 ADAT Outputs 1.1-1.2 select Playback 13-14 ADAT Outputs 1.3-1.4 select Playback 15-16 ADAT Outputs 1.5-1.6 select Playback 17-18 ADAT Outputs 1.7-1.8 select Playback 19-20 Click Monitor Outputs, and it should now be highlighted black, now click the plus "+" symbol to the right and highlight Analog numbers 1-8 or click the number pairs if you want to add Stereo channels to Focus Control. If using S/PDIF click that also and then select ADAT channels 1-8 either as stereo pairs or as individual channels, If you want to add Loop Back, select that too . For the Software Playback, Click the "+" symbol and click the numbers 1-8, as individuals outs or as pairs. Next, save as a preset or just quit You can decide if you want the above to remain stereo or mono channels. Save and Close out of your Audio Interface software and shut down your Audio Interface. Now turn on your Preamp, for me I use the Focusrite Scarlette OctoPre. On the unit set the Clock Source to INTERNAL, set the SAMPLE RATE to 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz, and then turn on the Audio Interface to make sure they sync up. You should see GREEN lights or the word SYNC appear. For the Focusrite OctoPre, there is only a green dot on the front screen, the lock itself doesn’t turn green. In Cakewalk go to Edit > Properties and you will see the the Focusrite inputs and outputs. The have to be renamed in order to properly assign the correct input and output to the correct channel. INPUT DRIVERS: Set the Friendly Naming Convention in Cakewalk: Focusrite Input 1/2 Focusrite Input 3/4 Focusrite Input 5/6 Focusrite Input 7/8 Focusrite Loopback 9/10 SPIDIF 11/12 Focusrite ADAT IN 1/2 Focusrite ADAT IN 3/4 Focusrite ADAT IN |5/6 Focusrite ADAT IN 7/8 Apply, OK. When in the Track Pane, the IN’s and OUTs will work with the inputs and outs selected for the Focusrite 18i20 or the Focusrite Scarlett OctoPre. You will see when selecting inputs in Cakewalk Focusrite Input 1 L = Channel 1 L Focusrite Input 1 R = Channel 2 R Focusrite Input 1 S = (Stereo) 1L/2R Focusrite Input 3 L = Channel 3 L Focusrite Input 3 R = Channel 4 R Focusrite Input 3 S = (Stereo) 3L/4R Focusrite ADAT IN 1L = Channel 1L Focusrite ADAT IN 1R = Channel 2 R Focusrite ADAT IN 3 S = (Stereo) 1L/2R and so on...