ADAT [solved] - 9-pin Sync vs Optical connections?

[Steve Fogal]

[solved] learned that the ADAT Sync type connection on my Aardvark Aark 24 cards do NOT carry audio as I had thought, rightly labled as 'sync'.

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Hello, continuing my experimenting from a while back...

The short story...

On the Aardvark Aark 24 sound card's, there are 2 types of ADAT connections on the rear. An ADAT 9-pin Sync & optical In/Out as shown in this link...

http://www.zzounds.com/item--AARAARK24

I was trying to use the 9-pin ADAT sync connection between 2 computers, each with their own Aark 24 card to send 8 channels of audio from a slave DAW computer, to my main DAW computer, but I never did get it working...no audio sound from it. On this particular Aark 24 card, the 9-pin ADAT connection labled 'Sync' ...is this ONLY a Sync & NOT designed to carry any audio??? There is of course, also the Optical I/O's...which I haven't attempted to try yet, which I know can carry audio. Is there a difference between the 2 types of ADAT connections for the intended purpose above is concerned? If the 9-pin Syn is indeed supposed to carry audio, maybe I didn't route it correctly?

The long story...

I had successfully sent several midi tracks from main DAW computer to slave DAW computer via the Aardvarks regular 5-pin midi where VSTi's are loaded, and just sent those VSTi sounds as a stereo analog signal back into my main DAW, though I could very well send multiple individual analong channels back, being I have 3 Q10's & 2 Aark 24's...plenty of Ins/Outs. But I wanted to try 8 digital channels...less cables, and hopefully better latency... (?)

[Split]

I think the 9 pin sync is for connecting multiple adats together so they work as one (as far as adats could ever work as one) and in your case should be ignored, no audio is transferred. The optical connectors are what you need for 8 audio I/O

[thinkingcap]

I was trying to use the 9-pin ADAT sync connection between 2 computers, each with their own Aark 24 card to send 8 channels of audio from a slave DAW computer, to my main DAW computer, but I never did get it working...no audio sound from it. On this particular Aark 24 card, the 9-pin ADAT connection labled 'Sync' ...is this ONLY a Sync & NOT designed to carry any audio???

Yep it´s for syncing several ADAT units.
EDIT: Of course that Split guy again...

[Split]

I was trying to use the 9-pin ADAT sync connection between 2 computers, each with their own Aark 24 card to send 8 channels of audio from a slave DAW computer, to my main DAW computer, but I never did get it working...no audio sound from it. On this particular Aark 24 card, the 9-pin ADAT connection labled 'Sync' ...is this ONLY a Sync & NOT designed to carry any audio???

Yep it´s for syncing several ADAT units.
EDIT: Of course that Split guy again...

[Steve Fogal]

Ah thanks No WONDER I couldn't get any audio from that damn thing At least I didn't spend all that much on that D-9 cable.

Before I totally dismiss this ADAT Sync connection...aren't there other devices that used an ADAT Sync 9-pin 'other than' those old ADAT machines? I have zero intentions of ever using those old ADAT tapes. Perhaps they can be useful to sync my two computers together via each Aark 24 card? ... No?

As for getting 8 channels of digital audio, I guess now I need to check out some optical cables

[Split]

I think the sync of the 9pin dat is proprietary, ie you cannot derive a wordclock from it.

If locking two computers together it would be best to use the wordclock from the master comp soundcard to lock the slaves soundcard to and then use MIDI timecode via a midi cable to provide a timebase for the slave computers sequencer.

[Steve Fogal]

Yeah, and I was also freshening up on ADAT Optical... apparently that also carries a sync signal. (ADAT Sync is out & N/A).

Also making ADAT Sync seemingly pointless, is that I 'already' have Word Clock, midi cables & s/pdif connected. Thus far, I have not neneccessarily needed to sync my computers together though (or so I think), being I'm only using the 2nd computer in the same way as outboard midi multi instrument device.

What I've done to this point actually works very well, I'm just exploring various possible better methods of doing the above, to sending midi from master to slave computer & audio back from slave to master computer...

For audio;
Stereo analog or s/pdif (what I'm doing now), vs 8 ch analog snake cable, vs 8 ch ADAT Optical (thinking best option now).

For midi;
5-pin midi cables (what I'm doing now) vs some 'other' means, mainly hoping for possible better/faster ways and more 16 channel ports...though 16 midi channels may already be enough. I already picked up a used 4X6 midi 5-pin I/O rack if I need more ports/connectivity. USB is out, too many issues with jitter & latency reported.

I know, I know, there's the Network Card option too, among otgers; and I will explore that too, but for now concentrating on my experimentation with what my Aardvark cards have to fully offer 1st.

[Steve Fogal]

Anyway, thanks I can move on now that the ADAT Sync connection question has been resolved, and it doesn't actually carry audio, I'm going to order a couple of ADAT 'Optical' cables....

Actually... I think I only need 'ONE' ADAT Optical cable, being I don't need to send any audio from my master to my slave computer, only sending audio from VSTi's loaded in slave, back to master.

[Split]

Cool...

Just remember if using digital audio you will need to clock one of the card from the other (best with word clock imo) otherwise you may get the odd click as the two soundcards clocks drift)

[Steve Fogal]

I do have Word Clock connected between my cards already & set up properly, regardless if they're actually needed. Besides, am I wrong above about ADAT optical already transmits Word Clock with it?

Oh, and I started thinking a little beyond...'what if' I decided to use TWO slave midi/audio slaves with my master computer I already have my master quad machine & almost finnished building my replica quad machine.... but I still have my old single core DAW machine - which is currently connected as my slave until my 2nd quad machine is ready. I believe I'd have to pick up another 3rd Aark 24 card & install in my master machine to take advantage of another ADAT Optical Input, allowing a total 16 possible incoming digital channels between 2 slaves.
My 2 Aardvark cards (Q10 & Aark 24) currently in my master already allow me 2 midi ports for a total of 32 midi channels ... adding another Aark 24 would give me a 3rd midi port for 48 midi channels... not that I 'need it'.

Ah, but I'm getting way___ahead of myself!

[Split]

am I wrong above about ADAT optical already transmits Word Clock with it?

No, I think the optical does contain clock, but IMO it's better to use the separate wordclock.

[Steve Fogal]

Done!

PS, I forgot that I 'have' an optical cable that I bought some years back for my Alesis QS keyboard to connect it to my Aark 24 card after I got it. Not hearing any difference between the analog outs and optical outs, I've been using the analogs. It's coiled up behind my keyboard sitting on my desk! Now I just don't know if ALL optical cables are equal...that is, all designed do 8 channels of audio, or some are only stereo...it's a very skinny cable.

[Split]

Don't see why one optical cable is any different from another, particularly over a short run. as long as the end bits fit

[Steve Fogal]

Actually split, I spent a while researching on line about any differences regarding optical cables, toslink, adat, light pipe, or whatever you want to call it .. can't say I learned anymore than I did before. I guess I can just plug it in & fumble around.