S/PDIF
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Posted on Jun 21, 2004 10:27 am
Jason H.
Jack of all trades master of ___
Member Since: May 28, 2004
Greetings all!
Saw a topic which mentioned S/PDIF. I have those in/out connections on my Echo MIA 24/96, but have never employed them. If anyone can view my gear profile and let me know what exactly I need to do (or buy) to utilize them, since it's considered a better quality connection.
As of right now I can recall messing with them in the sorts that I ran a RCA cable from my 'tape out' on my mixer, to that connection in the card. Dumb as it may seem but I gave it shot. I figured I need some sort of interface or whatnot, to get this to work.
Or to keep it even shorter, let me know where I can read up on. I am wondering if this routine is better than the 1/4" TRS's I am running in and out of that card now. Any help is obviously appreciated...
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el musicoFreeleance Producer/Engineer/GtrMember
Since: Aug 11, 2002
Jun 21, 2004 12:34 pm Well s/pdif isn't a higher quality, it's just Digital (some would argue that it sounds worse). So, to use this input (your echo card may have individual input/outputs) you need a device that will output its signal digitally in s/pdif format. For instance, my digi-001 has a s/pdif I/O on it and i use my POD pro's s/pdif output to record directly from it. If your soundcard has a s/pdif output too, then you can send your mix to a Mixdown recorder like DAT or Masterlink.
EdvoMember
Since: Feb 18, 2004
Jun 21, 2004 03:47 pm For example, I use it to connect my guitar amp simulator, which has s/pdif out.
Jason H.Jack of all trades master of ___Member
Since: May 28, 2004
Jun 21, 2004 04:06 pm I appreciate the replies. Basically what I do, is I run all my devices into my Behringer mixer channels. Then I run the two main 1/4"TRS to the Echo TRS input...Then I run two more 1/4"TRS from the Echo output to my Halfer amp then obviously to the monitors. I don't own any other devices that have S/PDIF. I record directly from the devices, thru the mixer, out the mains, into the Echo MIA.
The Echo MIA has 1 digital in and 1 digital out.
My Adobe Audition software "device order" is set to accept the analog ins/outs.
My mixer is not digital, therefore I cannot utilize the S/PDIF in my soundcard because there is not a digital signal being sent to it. Is that theory correct??
I will have to apologize...I am still learning some of the essential basics but all of what I know is from screwing around and reading on the net. Once something is explained to me I pick it right up and build on it. Thanks Again!!
HuePinnipedal Czar (: 3= Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004
Jun 22, 2004 07:13 am Sorry if I'm beating a dead horse on this one, and this may be one of the dumbest questions offered, but... what does one use to connect to those s/pdif connections ? A simple rca, or do I need something else ?
EdvoMember
Since: Feb 18, 2004
Jun 22, 2004 07:30 am RCA cable for video is ok
Jul 05, 2004 02:57 pm depends on if Its fiber optic or coax if its coax yes you can use a av/ cord if its fiber optic you need a toslink or fiberoptic cable
HuePinnipedal Czar (: 3= Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004
Jul 05, 2004 08:32 pm Thanks gents, I've never used the one on my CDX1, and think I will give it a try, hooking it to a M-Audio 24/96 . Should I expect a big difference in sound, or is this just another way to get the 0's and 1's to the medium ?
el musicoFreeleance Producer/Engineer/GtrMember
Since: Aug 11, 2002
Jul 06, 2004 01:50 pm "double post"
my bad
el musicoFreeleance Producer/Engineer/GtrMember
Since: Aug 11, 2002
Jul 06, 2004 01:54 pm hue - well, if you normally output from your card to the cdx1 (or vice-versa) via analog cables then you might notice a difference when going through s/pdif because of bypassing the extra D-A/A-D conversions which can degrade the sound. That would be the route i would take because the 1' and 0's on your CDX1 will stay in that form all the way to the PC or vice-versa.
HuePinnipedal Czar (: 3= Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004
Jul 06, 2004 07:31 pm Thanks el musico ! Thanks el musico ! he he
Gon'na give it a whirl this weekend .
Jul 10, 2004 05:03 pm Here's a piece of useless trivia you can impress girls with at parties. spdif stands for Sony Philips Digital Interface.
I try to keep my A/D & D/A conversions to a minimum to maintain the highest fidelity possible. Once I have my audio in the digital domain it stays there. Such as:
AT4050 mic to Bellari RP220 mic pre to Apogee rosetta A/D converter spdif out to spdif in on Roland 2480 spdif out to spdif in Alesis Masterlink for mix down. aahh.... hope that was clear.
www.karynwhittemore.com
TallChapAnswer:On a good day, lipstick.Member
Since: Jun 24, 2004
Jul 15, 2004 03:30 pm That's answered some questions I had too....
I have a BR532. If I use the COSM effects on there and send to the soundcard via optical, I should save the CPU a bit of work on the A/D D/A conversion....
Love it.
