Adat and digital sync issues

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fraserhutch

fraserhutch

Flypaper for freaks
Hi all,

I need some help and advice on what I would hope is a simple subject for you. Sorry if I have posted a (similar) request before, I am not sure whereI should be posting it.

I an using a Lucid AD8824 as an AD/DA convertor into my Tascam DM24 via (8 channel) ADAT.
The Tascam DM24 is to send/recieve ADAT (8 channel) with my Emu Emulator X studio (1010 card).

The question I have is about ADAT and sync - my understanding was that ADAT can carry the word clock sync. Maybe I am confused about this. Who should be the master? Do I need a dedicated master clock? If so, what would be a good solution that doesn't break the bank?

The Tascam is in the middle of the chain, so I sort of assumed that it should be the master. Please advise - I am having little luck finding this information.

Thanks in advance!

Fraser
 
I don't know the particulars of your gear, but the basic rule for ADAT is that the master ought to be the furthest "upstream". In my setup the digital mixer is "master" and the sound card is "slave". The soundstream originates at the mixer and ADAT carries the word clock to the sound card. This is true even for playback, because the sound card senses the word clock as incoming. Of course, you have to TELL each device this is how it is. I formerly had a different sound card that was set as master and the mixer slaved to it. This worked fine as long as I didn't break the connection.

If you have more than 2 devices, it is worthwhile to get a clock distribution amp like a Lucid so you can be sure there is only one master and that everything else is seeing it to slave to even when the data streams are not connected, which can easily happen with an ADAT patchbay, for example.
 
Tape-based ADATs get their clocking from the ADAT sync connections - with the exception of the MP20, other models don't have word clock input. If you were using a BRC, however, you would run word clock to it and all ADAT clocking down-the-line would derive from it.
 
Thanks for the replies, guys.

These are not tape-ased adats, the first is an AD/DA converter, the second is a digital mixer, and the third is a soundcard.

What is BRC?

So I am getting that as I have 3 devices, you suggest that I get a word clock amp. How do those get connected?

Thanks in advance,

Fraser
 
An ADAT BRC is their Big Remote Control. If you wanted to clock a tape based ADAT externally, you'd need one to do that. The ADAT optical signal does contain clocking information as far as sync goes. The rule here is that the sending device will always be the clock Master and the recieving device is always the Slave (the Master always gets to put it into the Slave).And as far as an external clock goes, I use a Lucid GenX6. If the devices you are using have external Word Clock inputs, you can use one of these (highly recommended by the way).
 
Thanks for the info!

I had a suspicion I would need a work clock generator, so I'll look into the Lucid.

Thanks again!

Fraser
 
In order to use an external clock all your gear must have Word Clock I/O (usually a BNC connector). If you do have WC i/o then I would first try using the Lucid as the master clock. Chances are it has the best clock out of the stuff you mentioned.
 
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