Word Clock

[Bob's Mods]

I've read that plugging in a decent quality word clock generator can cause an improvement in sonics. Does anyone have any experiences they wish to share regarding the viability of a switch to an external Word Clock generator and improvements in sonic output?

[xfinsterx]

ive been wondering this too.
Between a 002 and a octopre am i gonna see much improvement?
If so...What improvements?

[tubedude]

Cheap converters are where you will see the most improvement (Motu, M-audio, etc) by adding something like a Big Ben.
THe effects are supposedly not even noticible on something nice like Lavry or the newer high end Apogees

[Track Rat]

A Lucid GenX6 made an audible inprovement to my HD24/MOTU 2408 system.

[xfinsterx]

in terms of resolution? Better high end? More clarity?

How is the sound better??

Has anyone else used a clock with the digidesign stuff and heard improvements?

[Tonio]

i though tit(I mean It) ha ha LOL
was advantageous if you had various(as in +2 ) clock sources?
e.g. I be running MOTU 2408mkii, 1224, & Lexi 550 outboard & occasionally ADAT's.

T

[xfinsterx]

Originally Posted by Tonio

i though tit(I mean It) ha ha LOL
was advantageous if you had various(as in +2 ) clock sources?
e.g. I be running MOTU 2408mkii, 1224, & Lexi 550 outboard & occasionally ADAT's.

T

Huh?..........

[Track Rat]

Originally Posted by xfinsterx

in terms of resolution? Better high end? More clarity?

How is the sound better??

Better stereo image, tighter low end, more of a focused sound. On single tracks it's hard to hear, it's with multiple tracks the effect is more dramatic.
I used to run a Pro Tools system but I didn't have the clock then so I can't comment there. BUT, I'd imagine it would offer some improvement.

[Hornplayer]

I'll second track rat's experience. I run a Lucid Genx6 to clock an Alesis HD24 and a Tascam FW1884. No jitter or flutter. Stereo image has more presence, and clearity throught the mid and high freguencies. I highly recommend one clock source for the entire studio. Helps with a lot of interface issues

my $.02

John

[Bob's Mods]

I was able to perform an experiment on my rig. I use a modded Behringer DEQ2496 as my external convertor plugged into my soundcard's digital port. My soundcard is an Ego-sys WT2496. I have had the capability to switch the clock source for some time but never tried it. I had alway used the WT2496 as the master clock source for my rig for both recording and playback.
I recorded a multi-track demo using the DEQ2496 as the master clock source and there is in fact a noticable improvement in definition and imaging and clarity. The DEQ2496 definantly has the better clock between the two sources.
There appears to be no doubt that the clock quality plays a role in overall quality. Is it worth the many hundreds of dollars to fix the problem? That's a very tough question to answer as there does not appear to be a low cost solution for most budget home recordist. It's only luck that I have the capability to switch clock sources as simply as I did to perform this experiment. There were no other boxes to buy or wires to connect. It simply was available by changing a few software defaults.

[xfinsterx]

thanx track rat i appriciate it.
I think ill get one.
Any recommendations on a good brand/type?

[Track Rat]

Lucid GenX6

[Hornplayer]

Bob

I think what the Genx6 brings to the table is clock stability, and 6 outputs, so you can be sure all digital devices are slaved to the same clock. All devices marching to the same drummer so to speak. (although this drummer has a rock solid tempo. <smile>)

John

[Tonio]

over gearsluts, there was a discussion about word clock benefits more if you have(or utilize) 2+ digital interfaces e.g. in Rats case he's got the 2408 tracking to HD24. Each has its own configurable clock. VS> if you just mix in the box using only one clock you won't see much of a difference.

How much are the Genx's goin for these days 500?, Is the Big Ben much better value/performance wise?

T

Originally Posted by xfinsterx

Huh?..........

[tmix]

I just picked up a new/used Gen-x for $290 delivered on Sleazebay.

It was not the 96k capable, but I only record at 44.1-48 anyway.

For what is worth, I'll try to post when I get a chance to install everything.
I'll be running 2 Delta 1010s. I have been recording with a single 1010 and a gadget Labs card for years so I am very familiar with its sound.

Tom