Aes/ebu S/p Dif

[4ever]

Can someone explain what is(are) AES/EBU S/P DIF?
Since my system has it I just wanted to know if I could take advantage of it.
-Thanx

[Track Rat]

They're both stereo digital formats. S/PDIF has been thought of as consumer grade and AES/EBU more pro but now that line has become very blurred. The issue with S/PDIF was that it carried the SCMS bit (seriel copy management system) but that's no longer a problem as damn near all newer gear and software will ignore it. S/PDIF uses a 75 ohm video type cable terminated in RCAs. Even though AES/EBU connections are on an XLR type connection, they do not use mic cables for transport. They use a 110 ohm cable and the characteristic impedence of the cable is extremely important.

[Rochey]

I'd just like to add, that AES-EBU is also balanced cable. Balanced cable is handy when transporting analogue signals, due to it's wonderfull noise cancelling properties.

Now start cancelling this noise on a digital signal!!!

AES-EBU is usually the select of the very rich, as it really *Really* keeps the digital signal clean from the standard crap. The cable itself isn't really all that expensive - what really costs are the converters required to take advantage of them.

at the end of the day, the actual factory price of the extra parts required really aren't that high. But, we all know that $1 in the factory ends up as $10 on top of the shop price - now multiply that accross each channel....

now you see one of the issues?

Cheers

R

[4ever]

Thank both of you.

So I gather this connection is only for transferring digital data from one device to another -- nothing you can use live while recording.

Can you please describe how you use it in your situation. Your connections and devices, instruments, at what time, etc.

[Track Rat]

For one example, I have a couple of mic preamps with digital and analog outputs (a DBX 386 and an Envice MindPrint). I can record directly into my DAW via S/PDIF and also send the analog output to the console for no latency monitoring. Also sending either my DAT or Minidisc in and out of the DAW. I'm also using Lightpipe between a MOTU 2408 mkII and an HD24 to transfer tracks in and out.

[SPINSTERWUN]

Originally posted by Rochey
.... what really costs are the converters required to take advantage of them....

That is definitely the truth.

[TexRoadkill]

You can use digital connections on just about every link in your chain after the mic preamp. Preamps, effects processors, mixers, recorder can all have them. They don't neccessarily guarantee a perfect transfer but that is the idea in theory. Although that is a subject of some debate.

If you are going to start relying on digital connections it is advised that you get a better Word Clock generator. Unfortunately many home recording devices don't have word clock i/o.

[Track Rat]

All of mine do. I use a GenX6.