Tranfering via SPDIF on D-160, Help

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kiwisegg

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Howdy All,

I am reading so many conflicting reports on this matter. I have a Fostex D160 , and want to tranfer the files (tracks) to my PC for editing. I have been doing this via analog connections, but now want to go completely in digital format, via the SPDIF in/out on the D160.

My question is this, if I have a sound card in my PC that has SPDIF in/out, will I be able to transfer the tracks, then read and edit them as WAV? Is that a possible file format coming from an optical connection (I have never tried this)?

Also, will I be able to send them back to the D160 for mixing?

The manual says you can do this via a SCSI device, but says the SPDIF is just for backup...but so many people report this working fine, and others have enormus trouble...what's the lowdown on this type of transfer.



Pat.
 
my 2 cents...

I don't have a D-160, but I do have a VF-16 (with both S/PDIF and ADAT optical I/O). That said, take the following advice with a grain of salt.

You won't be able to perform a hi-speed "transfer" of the tracks on your D-160 to/from your computer (like you would when transfering an mp3 file to/from your computer to/from your USB-compatible mp3 player). You will, however, be able to record 2 tracks at the same time on your computer using a soundcard that has S/PDIF I/O and some recording software (SoundForge, Pro Tools, etc., etc.), using the S/PDIF output from your D-160. Once recorded on your computer, most recording programs will allow you to save the track(s) as wav files.

However, a few things to keep in mind:
1) Just remember that this is a "real time" process - you hit "record" on your computer, and then you hit play on your D-160. It will be a slow process, but you will be able to get your music from your D-160 to your computer (and vice versa);
2) You'll probably have to manually align/sync up all the tracks once they are on your computer;
2) Since I don't own a D-160, I don't know how you assign which tracks you want to route to the S/PDIF output;
3) Remember to pan track 1 hard left and track 2 hard right, since the S/PDIF output is stereo (I assume).

Anyone else with some first-hand experience?

And didn't the D-160 have ADAT output?

-ray
 
Thanks for the reply.

Yes, the D-160 has an optical connection, an ADAT interface. Would that be better? I've been recording analog for close to 15 years, and have never gone fully digital , so excuse my ignorance in these matters.
 
Wait...I thought SPDIF was an optical connection. Maybe I am missing something, as in A CLUE...

The D-160 has DAT, ADAT, and SPDIF. What would be the best way to get the tracks to PC. I still have to purchase a sound card, or interface with these connections for my PC. I just want to make the best choice for my situation.

Thanks.
 
ADAT is the best option for what you want to do. The ADAT option will allow you to "transfer" ("record" is the better word) 8 tracks SIMULTANEOUSLY Into your favorite multi-track recording software. If your D-160 is the same as my VF-16, the ADAT and SPDIF options share the same physical port on the back of the machine. And you can use the exact same TOSLINK optical cable when using either SPDIF or ADAT. You just have to go thru the menu system on your D-160 and select the ADAT option instead of SPDIF.

However, if you want to use the ADAT option, its means you will need to purchase a soundcard or an external interface that supports ADAT. There are several products on the market that can do this, but I'm unfamilar with them. I primarily only use the ADAT interface on my VF-16 to input/output 8 additional channels of audio via my Behringer ADA8000.

HTH,

ray
 
Thanks a lot. That's the kind of advice I was looking for.

Now, does anyone have some experience attempting this with the D-160? I have read this unit is a little fussy when it comes to transfers...Am i right?

...and if anybody has suggestions for sound cards with ADAT I/O, I am looking at the E-MU cards...price range 300$-500$, or can I get good results with a less expensive card. Do ADAT connections vary immensily in quality (like A/D converters for example), or are they more or less the same in various products.

Again, thank you to anyone who would like to input their 2 cents...

Pat.
 
I can heartilly recommend the REM Hammerfall Light which has two ADAT inputs and outputs as well as S/PDIF coax i/o and can be expanded with various daughter boards to give you more i/o options in the future...
 
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