Connecting Five-Pin DIN to MIDI

MIDI  interface is not an analogue signal input but a digital input. And not spdif either. You need something that outputs to MIDI protocol.

Please don't do that!  MIDI is quite different, even though it uses a 5 pin DIN connector.

You should use whichever single-ended analogue inputs and outputs it provides.  Unfortunately many of these devices used balanced inputs or 1/4 inch jacks, which usually means a custom interconnect is required.

Thanks for the advice. It seems the Focusrite is simply the wrong product for my needs and I have been at least as foolish as I suspected. 

I want an interface that will take an output from my NAC 252 and allow me to record up to 24/192 on a Windows 10 laptop. Previously I had a Cakewalk UA-1G (good but gave up the ghost) and a DMX 6 Fire (good when it worked but drivers unreliable on Windows 10). Both of these had RCA inputs and I have a good quality DIN to RCA cable. I was able quickly to hook up a laptop by usb and record and listen at the same time which was all I wanted to do.

The Focusrite that I have bought has XLR inputs which I think would need a DIN to XLR cable and even then there would be issues (that I don’t fully understand) going from an unbalanced output from the NAC to a balanced input on the Focusrite. Otherwise it has only digital inputs MIDI (which I foolishly thought was analogue DIN) and optical.

So in conclusion I think I’m going to have to ditch the Focusrite and find something with 24/192 capability that will take RCA inputs and usb output. Any suggestions?

Plugs and their shapes are irrelevant. Don’t be fooled by that.

What you are looking for is an analogue to digital converter / interface. Most often used in pro applications like recording studios etc.
Most of the interfaces (e.g. made by Tascam) offer 96 kHz sampling rates and 24-bit depth. The reason I mention Tascam is that I’ve been using their soundcards and hand-held recorders for years, albeit for a different application (recording in the studio).

The 24/192 Terratec DMX 6Fire, which is probably the sort of thing you are looking for.  It uses RCAs for analogue input and output.  Connected via USB to a laptop running Audacity it makes really excellent recordings.

Another alternative is a stand alone digital recorder that records to a memory card and can then be edited on a computer.  Most are 24bit 96kHz capable and some, such as the superb Sony PCM-D100, will even do 24/192 and DSD.   If 24/96 is enough for you then the earlier Sony PCM-D50 and PCM-M10 are superb too, or else I can highly recommend the Marantz PMD661 and PMD671 - the last one in particular is a real favourite as it really can take the place of a tape recorder in a home system and has RCA inputs and outputs rather than the usual 3.5mm jack sockets.

Thanks.

I had a DMX 6 Fire and it was perfect except that the drivers didn’t work in Windows 10. Something similar that works with Windows 10 would be great. 

I will also investigate recorders but ideally I’d just like an interface that I can use with Audacity on a laptop. 

The Korg DS DAC 10R may be worth investigating though not cheap.

Surely I’m not the only one looking for a product like this?

You mean Terratec still haven't got 64bit drivers for the DMX6 Fire??

No and I have given up and sold it

Same is true for the Yamaha SW1000-XG pro audio board. I had this device for years and it replaced my Linn Mimik II CD player which just couldn't come close on sound quality.

But Yamaha never updated the drivers and beyond Win XP it became useless. 

It's still the best audio board I've ever used.

I have been able to swap the Focusrite for a Korg DS DAC 10R which so far appears to do everything that I want very well.

You can connect unbalanced to the Focusrite, by the way.

That said, your initial post suggests that reading more on audio is strongly recommended.