S/PDIF Help
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Posted on Aug 19, 2008 01:25 am
blinkrocker3
Member Since: Aug 19, 2008
Hey, I'm pretty new to recording but I'm putting together a small studio soon and so I've been reading about recording gear and how it works, and one thing that I'm pretty confused about is S/PDIF. I know it has something to do with digital audio but other than that I'm clueless. If anyone has any idea of what it is or how it's used I would really appreciate it.
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Aug 19, 2008 02:28 am it's a digital input or output usually stereo, you can connect it to other gear with the same Spdif connector (RCA style or optical)
it's better than connecting analog ins and outs because you don't have to converte from digital to analog then back when interfacing digital gear.
the less conversions the better
welcome to HRC!
wyd
Aug 19, 2008 02:36 am K thanks. Another thing that i think has something to do with it is word clock. again i have no idea what it is or how it's used.
Aug 19, 2008 02:43 am it's used to sync up mutiple digital devices, it's real good if you have a bunch of digital autio connections....you can get a "master clock" which will keep everyone in time, sample accurate time (this is a real good thing)
Aug 19, 2008 02:46 am Alright thanks a lot.
Aug 19, 2008 10:37 am Sony/Phillips Digital Interface Format -- Simply a digital signal instead of an analog signal. Lossless PCM data from one device to another.
Without actually having a master clock in the chain, the clock of the sending device will dictate to the rest. Some of those devices will have to be set up for that -- You don't want two clocks fighting with each other - Neither will win the fight.
Aug 19, 2008 12:42 pm Its important to note that SPDIF in fact has 8 channel capability, meaning you can transmit 8 simultaneous channels on a wire eventhough most of the time its only used to transmit 2, it comes in different type of connectors, the most popular is the RCA type.
Theres one variant of this format called TDIF and thats Tascam Digital Interface Format, its old but still used in some Tascam gear and its the same as SPDIF but the connector is different, it resembles a computer serial port.
Its important to use good cables and an accurate word clock, because there is something called jitter which is digital distortion caused by imperfections or inestability on the sample rate clock and/or bad cables.
Top of the line word clocks are in fact very expensive, like the Apogee Big Ben, its advisable to have one when you run multiple digital equipment in your studio and you have to sync all your gear with only one master clock.
Having a dedicated master clock will make your life easier when you have multiple digital equipment, and speaking on audio quality, it will improve the sound of your recordings but in fact this is mostly appreciated only in paper, in audible terms it may be difficult to discern problems like jitter, so if you dont have a lot of digital equipment and you want a master clock just to "sound better" i recommend saving up the money.
Aug 20, 2008 12:50 am ok. i have a question about the 8 channel capability Dualflip talked about. I'm currently running a tascam us-1641 interface into cubase le4, and when I view the imputs I can select from, the only options I have are Digital in left and Digital in right.
First off there is only one digital input on the Tascam US-1641, and second if there are 8 channels, why can't I see them.
Aug 20, 2008 01:31 am 8 channel is ADAT (alesis digital something or other)
both must be ADAT compatable to do 8 channels.
Aug 20, 2008 01:33 am Ok so I can only record one channel?
Aug 20, 2008 01:39 am two channels digitial (L+R) along with your analog inputs.
Aug 20, 2008 01:41 am ok thanks a lot. you guys've helped a lot.
Aug 20, 2008 02:10 am glad to help man
Aug 20, 2008 12:13 pm BTW the SPDIF format may handle sample rates up to 192KHz/24 bits, and ADAT lightpipe may handle sample rates up to 48KHz/24bits when 8 channels are used, 96Khz/24 bits when 4 channels are used, etc. But, what bugges me is that i remember seeing some manufactures out there (cant remember now which ones) that offer A/D converters, analog to lightpipe, and they say that using "a new technology" they are capable of providing 8 channels of 96Khz/24 bits in ADAT optical format. Anyone knows anything about this?
TallChapAnswer:On a good day, lipstick.Member
Since: Jun 24, 2004
Aug 21, 2008 05:59 pm I have an old ("Old?") BOSS BR532 that I now use as a kind of pre-amp/guitar/vocal effects sometimes. I love that I can go straight into my soundcard using the S/PDIF optical cable. Makes for very clean recording. Digital to digital. All the analog is converted in the BR532 - which actually has very nice sounding converters (to these old ears). I also use an optical cable to the reference "hi-fi" I have. That way I get a very pure, unadulterated sound through my receiver (which does colour it a little), and allows me to A/B between my monitors and my 'stereo.' Helps with mixing/mastering.
