Fostex VF-16 & ADAT (Lightpipe?)

[mark4man]

If anyone out there has a VF-16; & can answer this inquiry, it sure would be appreciated. I know that the Optical SP/DIF connection is used to save & load data to & from ADAT compliant machines in 8-Channel data blocks. I am about to purchase a sound card that has ADAT outputs (M-Audio 1010 or Wavecenter PCI.) The Fostex user guide mentions pilot signals sent to & from connected equipment. My question is, is the VF-16 only used for data transfer with ADAT equipment, or can the Optical SP/DIF connection be used for "lightpipe" compatible tasks? (since the VF-16 is obviously transferring 8 channels of data through that port.) What I want to be able to do is assign 8 tracks of digital audio [from a computer-based sequencing program (Cakewalk)] to the sound card's ADAT output; select that as my input source & record that as 8 separate tracks into the VF-16 (& vice versa.) I don't know that I necessarily need sync right now (in the form of a pilot signal) since I am working with 8 tracks or less. I don't know if the ADAT pilot signal is generated by sound cards that have ADAT outputs; and the only sync signals generated from Cakewalk are MIDI Sync & MMC. Right now all I can do is transfer two tracks at a time from the VF-16 into my computer using MTC (all 8 tracks are synchronized in Cakewalk, but it takes forever.) If I can't record/move 8 tracks at a time back & forth via Optical SP/DIF, can I use MMC to record them from the computer to the VF-16 the same way I use MTC to record them from the VF-16 to the computer (2 tracks at a time?...I hate it.) Thanks.

Sincerely,

MF

 

[jcorliss]

I have had my vf-16 only a week and don't have an answer f1or you yet.. I will get a sounblaster live with S/pdif I won on e-bay this week. So If you find an answer or I do lets post it. The
vf-16.com didn't have anyone who was using this... Is there anyony out there who can say what works with s/pdif ?
I have a question ... what are th MTC AND MMC ? I don't have a cluee how you are transgering two tracks at a time ...
Thanks , Jim

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

Sorry, no.... S/PDIF doesn't carry 8-channels, it is a 2-channel digital protocol.

And Lightpipe is an 8-channel format that is INCOMPATIBLE with S/PDIF without a converter - and even with a converter you can only do 2 channels at a time.

Bruce

 

[rbw87]

I just bought the VF16 16-Track Digital Audio Workstation+ and I need to know what Kind of Digital Sound Card I need ,to Mix-Down to my computer hard drive(for CD Burning)from the Fostex VF16 16-Track Digital Audio Workstation+.
Will any Sound Card with an Optical Digital In (S/P DIF) work?Is this how you mix down to a Computer with this recorder?
Thanks for your time.

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

Sorry, no.... S/PDIF doesn't carry 8-channels, it is a 2-channel digital protocol.

And Lightpipe is an 8-channel format that is INCOMPATIBLE with S/PDIF without a converter - and even with a converter you can only do 2 channels at a time.

Bruce

But in answering rbw87's question - I saw that the VF-16 CAN output 8-channel lightpipe digital out, I didn't look, but I assume the S/PDIF output is a TOSLINK (optical) output then, since that's the Lightpipe's connection format.

You can certainly transfer 8-channels at a time without the sync - IF you are not trying to keep the VF-16 in sync with whatever you're transferring to/from! In this case, ADAT sync is not necessary. If you were trying to use the VF-16 as an additional 16-tracks to sync with Cakewalk - THEN you would need adat sync.

Also - keep in mind that the VF-16 is a 16/44.1 unit - meaning if you try and send 20-bit digital I/O (from LX20/XT20 adats), the signal will get truncated (not good...)

Bruce

 

[dragonworks]

We are using my buddies VF-16 and fostex technical support told him to buy a
Fostex CR300 cd burner for archiving. In the 16 manual it states that if you are using adat lightpipe it will take 4 times the time of the track to download, if using s/pdif it will take 8 times as long. If you use scsi it will take a much shorter time but doesnt state how much time. It is also not clear if you can drop the track ofs a program individually or if they need to be mixed. We are now in the process of trying to get answers from fostex (lame tech support) to these questions. I dont know why we bother since my buddie bought a 700.00 cd burner on their advice that seems not to do what they told us it would do? If I get any answers from them I will post them in my thread.

 

[PapaJack]

Fostex CR300

I have one of these units. It is an excellent unit but is not ideal for backing up the vf16. I say this only because it is slow. It is the only method I have at this time to backup. The CR300 has about every I/O connector you can think of. The S/PDIF optical is what I am using and the vf16 save pgm operates two tracks at a time, with a minimum of 8 tracks. By that I mean if you only have recorded to tracks 1-4, when you save, your options are 1-8, 1-16, 1-24. It then saves two tracks at a time. I learned quickly that if I want to save time, don't record on 1-4 then have something on 10. Move 10 to 5 to save 20 minutes on a 5 minute song. It does backup in the fostex fdms3 format but does not back up scenes or other settings. The only 'data' it backs up is the name of the pgm. One advantage of backing up pgm's to CDRW's on the CR300 is you can back up more than one per CDRW. Again, its not the best for backups, you have to keep a notebook of all the settings per pgm. I have recorded to the CR300 a realtime mixdown, not mastered by pressing play on the vf16 after setting up record on the CR300. The result is cda files on a CDRmusic CD. The CR300 does have a lot of features and seem to be heavy duty. Looks good too. Keep in mind that the only media it will accept is the CD's with the Digital Audio logo. Data CD's will not work.