I recently got a second element 88 interface so I could utilize all 16 ins and outs on the ferrofish (the element supports 8 in and out). Prior to that I had no trouble using the ferrofish and a single element 88 to run 8 channels of optical in and 8channel of optical out (via adat, which is all the element offers in terms of digital audio as opposed to the ferrofish which has madi as well). I used the anolog inputs of the ferrofish for pre amps and fx boxes, and the outputs for fx boxes as well as bussing all my channels in logic pro out to 8 inputs on an ssl six mixer (vocals on 1, bass on 2, guitar & synth on 3-4, drums on 5-6, and a stereo fx mix on the external 1).
After getting the second Element 88 I managed to get the 16 optical outs to work (by diasy chaining a bnc cable to all three units with termination at the end l). The odd thing is that now in the element control software the optical input don’t show up. Where as before there was little box to deselect in settings that said “analog in-optical out” there is nothing, and there are no “optical in/out format” boxes either. The other odd thing is that in the option for clock source, all i am offered is internal and word clock, as opposed to adat like before. And when I set it to word clock it errors out; it only works on internal setting but doesn’t matter the order of the bnc daisy chain. I’ve tried different configurations of the adat ports but the only one that works is running straight in/out from the ferrofish to each element, and no connection between the elements themselves. I am running on a 2020 mac just before the m1, so i can’t update to the latest software but other than that I am up to date and like I said it was working with just the one before. I have tried reinstalling software which helped me get the optical outs to work, just not the optical ins.