Need help in hooking up an AD/DA converter to my Digi001 please???

[cradlefish]

I recently just purchased the M-Audio Flying Cow AD/DA converter to hopefully get a better sound from my Digi001. But, I'm really sure how to hook it up properly. Does anybody know how to hook up external converters to the Digi001?

[tubedude]

S/pdif? Just use an S/pdif cable and you're done.

[Track Rat]

As Tube said you need a S/PDIF cable which is a standard 75 ohm video type of cable that's terminated in RCA connectors. You'd set the Digi to clock to S/PDIF and you're off to the races.

[Teacher]

Originally Posted by cradlefish

I recently just purchased the M-Audio Flying Cow AD/DA converter to hopefully get a better sound from my Digi001. But, I'm really sure how to hook it up properly. Does anybody know how to hook up external converters to the Digi001?

i seriously doubt the flying cow is a step up from the Digi001 ADA, might even be a step down....

[cradlefish]

Originally Posted by Teacher

i seriously doubt the flying cow is a step up from the Digi001 ADA, might even be a step down....

Really??? Is the Flying cow that bad???? What would be a better alternative without breaking my wallet. I've heard of Benchmark, Lucid, and Apogee. But, ehhh they're quite pricey and alittle out of my price range. What would you suggest?? If I don't like what I hear from the Cow, then i'll return it back to MF and reconsider something else better.

[Teacher]

To get significant better results with your DIGI 001 the only alternatives are lucid apogee mytek benchmark etc....Maybe the RME stuff, but i'm not sure how much better it is then the 001

You may want to consider picking up a stand alone clocks, supposedly impoves the sound of the 001

but the 001 isn't so bad that you couldn't use it. It sucks that it maxes to 48 only though

[cradlefish]

Originally Posted by Track Rat

As Tube said you need a S/PDIF cable which is a standard 75 ohm video type of cable that's terminated in RCA connectors. You'd set the Digi to clock to S/PDIF and you're off to the races.

I did use a S/PDIF cable...i believe it's the one that is white and Red on both ends of the cable? I hooked it up to the back of my digi001 S/PDIF jacks to the Flying cow S/PDIF. I then went to launch my pro tools, Setups, Hardware, Sync mode, change from Internal to S/PDIF RCA

Then i went to the Setups again, Playback Engine, Sync Mode is set to S/PDIF RCA then i click on Other Options, Should I disable the S/PDIF Enable Mirroring???


With that being said. I open uped on of my recorded songs there and Pro Tools said that the I/O Setup has been changed. Then it says "A clock source could be not detected on the external sync input. Internal sync mode will be used until Pro tools auto detects the presence of a valid external sync source" Does this mean that didn't sync it up correctly or did i use the wrong cable????

[cradlefish]

Originally Posted by Teacher

To get significant better results with your DIGI 001 the only alternatives are lucid apogee mytek benchmark etc....Maybe the RME stuff, but i'm not sure how much better it is then the 001

You may want to consider picking up a stand alone clocks, supposedly impoves the sound of the 001

but the 001 isn't so bad that you couldn't use it. It sucks that it maxes to 48 only though

what kinda stand alone clocks would you suggest?

I do hear good stuff from RME. They have some AD DA converters that aren't overly priced. Could I use their Multiface with my Digi001 as a converter?

[MOFO Pro]

Make sure you don't have your goesintas and goesoutas mixed up... Pro Tools isn't seeing clock on the SPDIF input... which is most likely no digital signal present.

SPDIF cables are 75 ohm with RCA connectors on both ends (coax). Sounds like you've got the correct cable...

Don't use an audio cable. Video cable cable will work fine... (I've got a few $60 SPDIF cables that perform no better than a Video cable from the Rat Shack...)

[MOFO Pro]

Make sure you don't have your goesintas and goesoutas mixed up... Pro Tools isn't seeing clock on the SPDIF input... which is most likely no digital signal present.

SPDIF cables are 75 ohm with RCA connectors on both ends (coax). Sounds like you've got the correct cable...

Don't use an audio cable. Video cable cable will work fine... (I've got a few $60 SPDIF cables that perform no better than a Video cable from the Rat Shack...)

[cradlefish]

I certainly got the wrong cable...it was just one of those audio cables. I'm an idiot...lol


Now just to make sure i'm connecting it correcting to each other. THe out from the Digi001 is going to be in the OUT of the FLying cow and the IN From the Digi001 going to the IN of the FLying cow. IS that correct?

[cradlefish]

I just picked up a pair of Coax cables with the RCA on the ends from Radio shack. I'll hook it up and see if all goes well.

Thank you all for your help!!



Does anybody know a site where they point me too to read up more on AD/DA converters?

[Teacher]

not so expensive clock would be the Lucid GenX stuff around 575 new for the 96Khz version

[Raw-Tracks]

Originally Posted by cradlefish

Now just to make sure i'm connecting it correcting to each other. THe out from the Digi001 is going to be in the OUT of the FLying cow and the IN From the Digi001 going to the IN of the FLying cow. IS that correct?

That sounds like your problem right there. You need S/PDIF OUT of the Digi to go the S/PDIF IN on the Cow, and the Out on the Cow to go to the IN on the Digi.

[cradlefish]

Originally Posted by Raw-Tracks

That sounds like your problem right there. You need S/PDIF OUT of the Digi to go the S/PDIF IN on the Cow, and the Out on the Cow to go to the IN on the Digi.

Yes that was my problem...i reverse it just like you said and it's working fine now. the D/A LED light is on now. THanks!


And also i had to go to the I/O setup from Pro tools to configure one of the channels to SPDIF. As far as I know it seems to be working. I'll have to do some test on it to see if the Flying Cow is worth keeping.

I was wondering could I take a previous song that i've recorded using the digi001 converters and have it sent to the flying cow? or do I need to just record something new using the flying cow to hear comparisons? Sorry for the dumb questions....i'm learning more about ad/da converters as i go along not even sure if i really do need one...but, i was just curious to hear if it would be a big difference in sound quality.

[Teacher]

Originally Posted by cradlefish

Yes that was my problem...i reverse it just like you said and it's working fine now. the D/A LED light is on now. THanks!


And also i had to go to the I/O setup from Pro tools to configure one of the channels to SPDIF. As far as I know it seems to be working. I'll have to do some test on it to see if the Flying Cow is worth keeping.

I was wondering could I take a previous song that i've recorded using the digi001 converters and have it sent to the flying cow? or do I need to just record something new using the flying cow to hear comparisons? Sorry for the dumb questions....i'm learning more about ad/da converters as i go along not even sure if i really do need one...but, i was just curious to hear if it would be a big difference in sound quality.

you can take one of your favorite professional CD's...send it through the 001 converters then record back with the Ad of the flying cow and 001

then use the flying cow's d/a and record again

compare sound files

[cradlefish]

That sounds like a great test to compare the differences between the two...but...eehhh...how do I go about doing that? Sorry for sounding like a mule. I need to learn and understand more on how ad /da converters work. I usually just plug my sytek or GT Brick mic pre to the Digi001, select my mic for the application and record. You wouldn't by anychance know any site on explaining more on converters would you?

[Markd102]

OK, you need to plug your preamp outputs into the Cow inputs.
Then use inputs 17 & 18 in PTLE.
That's the AD

Now for the DA.... because the Cow doesn't have an output level control, you'll have to run from the Cow's analogue outputs into a small mixer, and from there to your amp/speakers.

If you use any of the 001 box's ins or outs, you are not taking advantage of the new converters. all signal must pass through the Cow.


All that said... i'm with Teacher. I'd doubt you'll be getting a big improvement. I have a Mindprint DI-port, and while there is an improvement ofer the001 converters, it's very slight.

So to do the above test, get a CD player and record a track first going into the Cow, and then going direct into the 001.
Then listen to both track (one at a time) and see if you can pick the difference. Then listen to the tracks first through the Cow, and then throughthe 001 main outs to see if you can pick a difference in the DA.

Good luck.

[Teacher]

FYI you don't need a preamp for Line Level stuff you can just connect the AD to the DA

[cradlefish]

Thank you very much Markd102 for your very insiteful help. As well as Teacher and the rest of you. I've had a chance to do a comparison between the 001 and FLying cows converters. And doing a few recording test one going through the cow and the other the 001. I've come to the conclusion that the they sound just about the same and there's not really a big difference between the two like the two of you mentioned. I will return the FLying Cow back to Musicians Friend and for the time being stick with the 001 Converters.


Thanks again!