Tell me how you use your SPDIF ports!

Tone Deft · Post by **Tone Deft** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 4:58 pm

Sales Dude McBoob wrote:While AES is similar to SPDIF, they're not compatible. You'd have to buy a digital format converter box to use it. Like this one:

I don't think that's correct, could you check that on equipment in your store? I'm finishing my fourth AES/EBU design at work. SPDIF is single ended and runs half a volt lower than AES/EBU, has 75 Ohm impedence output as opposed to 110 for AES/EBU. I really don't think you need a converter.

Sales Dude McBoob · Post by **Sales Dude McBoob** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 5:24 pm

Tone Deft wrote:
Sales Dude McBoob wrote:While AES is similar to SPDIF, they're not compatible. You'd have to buy a digital format converter box to use it. Like this one:
I don't think that's correct, could you check that on equipment in your store? I'm finishing my fourth AES/EBU design at work. SPDIF is single ended and runs half a volt lower than AES/EBU, has 75 Ohm impedence output as opposed to 110 for AES/EBU. I really don't think you need a converter.

Unfortunately, I don't have the means to test this out. If anyone else can -please have a go. How would they do it exactly? Would a standard XLR to RCA cable work?

Tone Deft · Post by **Tone Deft** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 5:26 pm

Sales Dude McBoob wrote:Unfortunately, I don't have the means to test this out. If anyone else can -please have a go. How would they do it exactly? Would a standard XLR to RCA cable work?

A standard 'differential to single ended' of any kind to any kind will work in most cases. It won't work if the box was designed tight around the differences between the two, eg voltage levels, impedence.

randrohe · Post by **randrohe** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 9:04 pm

yeah, sales dude,
I bring it back into live on a return channel, and don't forget to run a midi cable to it.. gotta love synched delays. Rand

mikemc · Post by **mikemc** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 9:54 pm

Here is a question: I have an SPDIF jack on my PC (Realtek AC97 card). It is the size of an 1/8" jack and has the little "square wave" 001100 digital audio marking.

I've got the RCA-type SPDIF connections on my interface.

What kind of cable do I use to "mate" these? Is it an 'insert' type TRS cable, adapted down to 1/8" on the pc side and then RCA on the interface side?

Tone Deft · Post by **Tone Deft** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 10:02 pm

Some of those are optical, they look like electrical, what does the spec for the PC say about the port?

Pitch Black · Post by **Pitch Black** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 10:08 pm

I use SPDIF to transfer sounds from Live and Logic into my Akai S3200 for special filtering and effecting.

I also use the SPDIF stereo output from my Multiface from my old OS9 Powerbook into the Fireface400 on my MacBook Pro. That way I can still put up old projects with favourite plug-ins on the old system and hear them "cleanly" through the new system with no difference in the monitoring setup/path.

forge · Post by **forge** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 11:11 pm

I use it to plug my FW410 into my minidisc player so I can do realtime mixdowns - just the whole process of doing that makes you so much more critical than playing it through then rendering

then once I have a mix on MD I'm happy with I render

plus that way I have a mix I can playback without turning my computer on

I have also used it to link to computers and mix one through Live into the one output

4ace · Post by **4ace** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 3:09 am

I go into my Ultralite via SPDIF from my Apogee Mini-Me (Preamp/AD converter)..

I've also ran my POD XT Pro into the ultralite using a loop for dirty drum sounds and fx in general.....

mikemc · Post by **mikemc** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 3:21 am

Tone Deft wrote:Some of those are optical, they look like electrical, what does the spec for the PC say about the port?

I'll have to check the pc manual... it seems electrical.

Tone Deft · Post by **Tone Deft** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 4:10 am

mikemc wrote:
Tone Deft wrote:Some of those are optical, they look like electrical, what does the spec for the PC say about the port?
I'll have to check the pc manual... it seems electrical.

This is a good rundown
http://www.epanorama.net/documents/audio/spdif.html

I'd hate it if you fried your computer. It would probably be OK to hit it with too high of a voltage, it probably has catch diodes for overvoltage protection, but...

Dr. Zoiberg · Post by **Dr. Zoiberg** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 12:12 pm

I use the spdif input to record the main mix from the xone 3d.

kinkajou · Post by **kinkajou** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 2:35 pm

i'm using it with my Lexicon MX-200 as SEND/RETURN...

Novel · Post by **Novel** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 2:39 pm

randrohe wrote:I run spidif out of ultralite- into lexicon mpx 500 - back into ultralite. might as well forgo one ad/da conversion. on this note, can you daisy chain with s/pdif? Rand

This is a good use

epiphanius · Post by **epiphanius** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 3:31 pm

My Yamaha 5 cd changer has optical spdif out. My soundcard has optical spdif in. So if I feel the urge to 'sing along', I can do it right away.

Tell me how you use your SPDIF ports!

Do you use your SPDIF ports?