What is S/PDIF?
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Posted on Apr 13, 2003 10:26 pm
Bruno
The Quiet Minded
Member Since: Jan 01, 2003
What is S/PDIF?
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LokiCone PokerMember
Since: Apr 07, 2002
Apr 13, 2003 11:04 pm Bruno,
We have a nifty little feature on this site called the glassary. It defines a lot of the terms common in recording. So next time before you post asking what a term means please give that a look. :)
But, since I'm nice, I won't tell ya to go look for it now. S/PDIF Sony/Phillips (as in the company) Digital InterFace. It was created by Sony/Phillips to be a standard in digital audio data transfer.
Hope that helps. If not post back I'll try to clear it up for you
BrunoThe Quiet MindedMember
Since: Jan 01, 2003
Apr 14, 2003 10:56 am Is it the only language in digital audio data transfer?
Apr 14, 2003 10:58 am Nope, there is also optical lines, like the ones commonly found on DVD players, TDIF, which is a S/PDIF that supports 6 channels so it can ahndle 5.1 surround...
There are also a few more as well. S/PDIF, TDIF and Optical I would say are the most common in studios today
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Apr 14, 2003 10:01 pm And lets not forget AES/EBU, and the all seeing ADAT LitePipe, Both of those are proprietary to the manufacturers gear, although AES/EBU is found on some other gear, but compared to S/PDIF and T/DIF it is archaic now. There is also TOS/link which os common on things like the Sony MiniDisc Players, but is limited to 2 channels.
Apr 15, 2003 07:58 am TOSlink's not the same as optical?? I guess that would explain why my DVD player and minidisc won't talk to each other. It just makes a scary rabid square wave pulse type sound that I plan to sample some day.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Apr 15, 2003 07:45 pm Nope its not the same as optical. It is another one of those proprietary digital links. And the sound sounds like not such a good thing for your gear. Although it probably isnt hurting anything. I ended up using their converter to USB from the MiniDisc and it works pretty slick. but I still output via analog since the USB will only work to input to the dang thing. They are so backwards in their designs.
juesContributor
Since: Dec 30, 2002
Apr 15, 2003 08:17 pm Hmmm
All these proprietry digital audio formats reminds me of the mess that used to exist before MIDI 1.0 was implimented in the '80s.
Seems like they all need to just settle on a bloody format and stop all this arsing about. - ADAT LitePipe gets my vote.
jues.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Apr 15, 2003 09:14 pm I would like to see Sony and Tascam combine their S/PDIF and T/DIF and build a really stout system. But as you stated jues, it seems Alesis had something with the LitePipe. Transfering multiple channels quickly and without any loss, and not to many hicups along the way.
juesContributor
Since: Dec 30, 2002
Apr 15, 2003 09:24 pm Litepipe does 8 channels (so just enough for 7.1 surround sound) and has been around for a fair amount of time.
I personally don't see the need for any other standard apart from maybe Spudiff which would be good for simple 2 in / 2 out circumstances.
jues.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Apr 15, 2003 09:35 pm True, and Tascams T/DIF has also been here for awhile and is multi-channel capable. But the LitePipe thing is something I think they can expand for even more channels.
Apr 16, 2003 05:39 am Actually, most S/PDIF jacks do double as T/DIF anymore, the Audiophile 2496 can ship 5.1 surround from it's digital jacks...and ya can't do that with typical S/PDIF...
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Apr 18, 2003 04:05 pm Indeed, and then you have the Creative labs people who through in their version of the 5.1 digital out that is on an 1/8" TRS jack. I am curious why they didnt just go with the same proven setup as T/DIF.
Apr 18, 2003 05:08 pm 1/8" jacks are probably cheaper to manufacture and more familiar to the "gamer" family of users.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Apr 18, 2003 11:41 pm I must agree with you on that one dB. And it would be out of Creatives character to go with the flow, onless its their flow. That said, they must be doing something right for their market, as they have survived longer then any of the others.
