How to Expand the Apogee Symphony Desktop with Cranborne 500ADAT Want to expand your Symphony Desktop beyond two inputs? Whether you're tracking a full drum kit or looking to integrate analog hardware into your mix, the Cranborne 500ADAT lets you turn Symphony Desktop into a modular 10-in/10-out setup with powerful 500-series options.
This guide walks you through exactly how to connect, configure, and avoid common pitfalls.
Why Expand the Apogee Symphony Desktop? By default, Symphony Desktop gives you two world-class line inputs, great options for mic preamps, multiple options for DI inputs, input DSP processing via 6 plugins, 2 independent headphone outputs and two line level outputs. That covers a lot of ground! For overdub recording, frequently that this covers all needs, but when you need more channels or want to tap into analog gear for hybrid mixing, ADAT is a great way to scale what's already built in.
Use cases:
Tracking drums with more than two mics
Hybrid mixing with 500-series EQs, compressors, and more
Line-level integration for synths, mixers, or outboard gear
With the Cranborne 500ADAT, you can unlock up to 8 additional channels on both input and output via optical audio cables, thus expanding your Symphony Desktop for all kinds of additional uses.
Step-by-Step Setup Instructions Step 1: Make the ADAT Connections
alt=Photo shows Symphony Desktop ADAT Connections used for expanding the interfaces channels using devices such as the Cranborne 500ADAT class=wp-image-291236 data-lazy-srcset=https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-31-at-4.14.44-PM-1030x547.png 1030w, https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-31-at-4.14.44-PM-300x159.png 300w, https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-31-at-4.14.44-PM-768x408.png 768w, https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-31-at-4.14.44-PM-1536x816.png 1536w, https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-31-at-4.14.44-PM-2048x1088.png 2048w, https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-31-at-4.14.44-PM-450x239.png 450w data-lazy-sizes=(max-width: 1030px) 100vw, 1030px data-lazy-src=https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-31-at-4.14.44-PM-1030x547.png>
Use two optical (TOSLINK) cables:
Cranborne ADAT OUT 1 Symphony ADAT IN
Symphony ADAT OUT Cranborne ADAT IN 1
These carry up to 8 channels each at 48 kHz. At 96 kHz, ADAT uses SMUX, reducing available channels to 4 in and 4 out.
(More Info)
Step 2: Set Clocking and Sample Rate On the Cranborne 500ADAT, set the DIP switches:
alt= class=wp-image-291237 data-lazy-srcset=https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-31-at-4.15.35-PM-1030x558.png 1030w, https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-31-at-4.15.35-PM-300x163.png 300w, https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-31-at-4.15.35-PM-768x416.png 768w, https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-31-at-4.15.35-PM-1536x832.png 1536w, https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-31-at-4.15.35-PM-2048x1109.png 2048w, https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-31-at-4.15.35-PM-450x244.png 450w data-lazy-sizes=(max-width: 1030px) 100vw, 1030px data-lazy-src=https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-31-at-4.15.35-PM-1030x558.png>
Set the clock source of the Cranborne Unit to ADAT In (Symphony Desktop must be the master clock')
Match the sample rate of your DAW Project, interface and expander (48 kHz = max channels; 96 kHz = higher fidelity)
Step 3: Configure Apogee Hardware and Software Open Apogee Control 2, or navigate to Settings on the touchscreen of Symphony Desktop. Under Optical I/O Format':
Select ADAT if using 44.1/48 kHz Sample Rates
Select SMUX if using 88.2/96 kHz Sample Rates
alt= class=wp-image-291239 data-lazy-srcset=https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-31-at-5.01.28-PM-912x1030.png 912w, https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-31-at-5.01.28-PM-266x300.png 266w, https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-31-at-5.01.28-PM-768x867.png 768w, https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-31-at-5.01.28-PM-1360x1536.png 1360w, https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-31-at-5.01.28-PM-450x508.png 450w, https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-31-at-5.01.28-PM.png 1500w data-lazy-sizes=(max-width: 912px) 100vw, 912px data-lazy-src=https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-31-at-5.01.28-PM-912x1030.png>
This ensures your optical channels data matches and correctly coordinates across both devices.
Step 4: Routing and Settings on the Cranborne 500ADAT expander Connect your Outboard Gear or 500 series modules into the unit.
On the Cranborne 500ADAT front panel:
Choose Analog if passing the analog output of the channel to the Symphony Desktop's Analog inputs
Choose ADAT if audio is passing to the Symphony Desktop over Optical Cables
alt= class=wp-image-291240 data-lazy-srcset=https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-31-at-4.29.38-PM-1030x553.png 1030w, https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-31-at-4.29.38-PM-300x161.png 300w, https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-31-at-4.29.38-PM-768x412.png 768w, https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-31-at-4.29.38-PM-1536x825.png 1536w, https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-31-at-4.29.38-PM-2048x1100.png 2048w, https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-31-at-4.29.38-PM-450x242.png 450w data-lazy-sizes=(max-width: 1030px) 100vw, 1030px data
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How to Expand the Apogee Symphony Desktop with Cranborne 500ADAT Want to expand your Symphony Desktop beyond two inputs? Whether you're tracking a full drum kit or looking to integrate analog hardware into your mix, the Cranborne 500ADAT lets you turn Symphony Desktop into a modular 10-in/10-out setup with powerful 500-series options. 
