Optical vs. Coaxial
Home > Home Recording Forum > Recording Techniques > Optical vs. Coaxial
Posted on Mar 18, 2006 12:29 am
Goldenmean87
Conjurer of Emotion
Member Since: Jan 14, 2006
For recording from an external synth with the option of either digital coax or optical, I wonder which is best. So far I know of very small differences which are debatable. I have heard that optical connections can lose some signal with jitter during the electron to photon conversion. Also, Coaxial is said to have problems with noise and hum around many other cables which optical does not.
Other than these talking points, the only other differences I have found in my research have had to do with sturdy connections in high traffic areas concerning home theater systems and maintaining quality with longer distance cables.
Just interested to see if anyone has something to add or any experience with jitter in either coax or optical connections.
[ Back to Top ]
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Mar 18, 2006 03:43 pm Well, you are correct on the possibility of jitter in the optical cable. Though that is normally inherent in longer cables, which for a keyboard you may be running.
Coax on the other hand has been around a lot longer, and usually if good quality cables are purchased you can run trouble free. Cable runs can easily be made keeping them away from high interferance area's. And if you must cross another cable you think might emit noise, cross it like a T rather then running alongside it.
Mar 20, 2006 03:20 pm yeah i prefer coax to optical purely from a money perspective, coax is more durrable and cheaper, whereas optical cables are real sensitive and if you get one kinked (or smashed by a desk leg) they're done for...not to mention the pricetag.
i think optical is accualy 'better' quality-wise but it's just not worth it to me.
Mar 20, 2006 10:36 pm I already have a high grade cable for both connections so its just a matter of quality for me :)
I have noticed some small noise in my system and I believe that the optical will get rid of that annoyance for me. And the distance from the synth to the PCI card is about 2 feet.
