What is word clock and when do i need it?

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NoFO

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I think the subject heading says it all,, but i'll reiterate.... what is word clock and what does it do? all i was told is that you hook it up to digital processors and it makes the sound cleaner... does it synchronize the wavelenghts or something?

thanks
 
word clock is the most accurate way of syncin' hardware .... makin' the sound clearer ? nope - but if you're lucky you'll be playin' in time :D
bizz
 
Yo NOFo & BIZ:

I have a word clock setting on my Yam 2816; BUT, since I'm not using any other digital devices, just recording straight into the 2816, I don't have to worry about it.

If I run my drum machine directly into the recorder, it will record that patch or program.

That's my understanding of word clock. If I'm wrong, let me know.

Green Hornet:D :p :cool:
 
I've been checking that thread .... eeh ... a bit quick :) what sjoko2 is makin' comments on, is the computers clock, it has nothing to do with word clock
here's a definition of word clock :
WORD CLOCK: The precise and accurate timing of digital audio samples is critical to the correct operation of interconnected digital audio equipment. The 'metronome' that governs sample timing is called the Word Clock (sometimes conjoined to 'Wordclock', or abbreviated to 'Wclk'). However, word clock does more than merely beat time; it also identifies the start and end of each digital word or sample, and which samples belong to the left or right channels. Digital interfaces such as the AES-EBU and S/PDIF embody clock signals within the data stream, but it is often necessary to convey a discrete word clock between equipment as a square wave signal running at the sampling rate. Dedicated word clock inputs and outputs on digital equipment generally use BNC connectors (the kind of terminals commonly used for video).
and here's the link for it
http://www.sospubs.co.uk/sos/regular_htm/glossary.htm
bizz
 
Ehhhh :confused: I was talking about synchronisation clock ;) , word clock, super clock, all clock effecting audio

LOL yup, you read it a bit to quick :)

For a very simple explanation:

Everything computer / digital is governed by clocks. If you examine the way a computer works toy'll find multiple clocks doing all kinds of things.
Most of these clocks govern plain data. Of cause, their job is to keep everything going in some kind of order. However, this quality / speed in which data clocks work is less essential.
For example - you pull up an intenet page stored in your computer, and the data will start appearing. Some of it fast, some slower, until the whole page is completed, after which, you'll be done and happily reading the page.
Now take audio. If this was treated in the same manner, some pieces appearing slow and others fast - it would not sound like music.

So, music needs highly accurate clock, with every bit / sample delivered at its designated space in the sequence with great accuracy.

Also, as a direct result, clock accuracy directly effects sound quality.
 
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yep, its in there...but there I go again echoing one of the pros without any real knowledge how anything works......:rolleyes:
 
:cool:
think I'm gonna go for the book of records in the disciplin " fast reading "
bizz
 
Gidge said:
yep, its in there...but there I go again echoing one of the pros without any real knowledge how anything works......:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Gidge is the local neigborhood provider of links. I think he would have nothing to say if people actually used the search function. :)
 
So, and please correct me if I am an idiot, when NoFo asks when to use word clock, the answer is this (again correct me if I am wrong): When you have 2 or more digital devices communicating digitally, with one as master and the other (or the rest) as slave(s), they must be set to the same word clock in order to communicate effectively - so that each unit understands the sample length that will be coming down the cable towards it and vice versa. So to the extent that it keeps the music sounding like music, and all the little bits are on the same page, it affects the sound - but if I use a higher word clock, it won't neccessarily affect the sound quality as much as it does the headroom?

Is that right?

Or am I high on solvent fumes again?
 
ok, so here is the potential situation...

Brad,

I think you hit the nail on the head. I guess.

So here is my current setup- Lexicon LXP-15, Alesis Micro-Verb, Tascam US-428 Digital Audio Workstation, Hafler Amp and Tascam PBM 6.5's.

1)I have on order the Behringer 8024 Parametric EQ, just for monitoring room compensation EQ. I wanted to get the optional AES/EBU I/O and go directly from the S/PDIF outs of the Tascam into the AES/EBU input of the Behringer (the manual for the 8024 says it is possible, but should i do that?) then into the Hafler.

2) I am also considering getting the ART DI/O that will allow me a stereo pair of mic pres directly into the Tascam S/PDIF input, therefor bypassing the shoddy mic pres on the tascam.

3) I'd like to use the Lexicon for some effects as well, even though i have some nice plug ins, the lexicon is nice. it does not have a digital I/O.

So here is my question(s)-

Since none of these units have a Word Clock sync input, am i totally stupid to run them via digital connections?

or would it be better to just use the behringer with analog connections and get something other than the ART DI/O (like the new FMR mic pres) .

do you still run into sample timing problems if your signal is being transmitted via analog connections, or does it only happen when you are contained within the digital domain?

sorry this is so multi-faceted... thanks in advance, but the guys at Guitar Satan don't really know what i'm talking about and answer with "uh, yeah that should work"

:D :D :D :D

chris
 
Brad said:
So, and please correct me if I am an idiot, when NoFo asks when to use word clock, the answer is this (again correct me if I am wrong): When you have 2 or more digital devices communicating digitally, with one as master and the other (or the rest) as slave(s), they must be set to the same word clock in order to communicate effectively - so that each unit understands the sample length that will be coming down the cable towards it and vice versa. So to the extent that it keeps the music sounding like music, and all the little bits are on the same page, it affects the sound - but if I use a higher word clock, it won't neccessarily affect the sound quality as much as it does the headroom?

Is that right?

Or am I high on solvent fumes again?
Click to expand...

The fumes are a'workin! But they are gooooooood fumes!!!

First, accurate clock is a prerequisite to good sound regardless of the number of digital audio devices you have / use. As important to 1 as it is to 20.
Vital is clock distribution, which ensures all devices get accurate clock at precicely the same time (which is why daisy-chaining via AES or other means does not produce good results).
Higher wordclock??? Is that wordclock on fumes?

Clock effects the quality of sound - period. Give this quality any name you like, spectrum, headroom, dynamic range, whatever. Clock will effect it. If you mean "higher" clock different kHz rates - yes.
 
Nufo - don't take this the wrong way - its just reality. You get what you pay for, if your gear does not allow for external clock, the "master" in your case the 428, will provide clock embedded in the digital signal to the other gear. Nothing you can do about that.


I wouldn't go with a stereo pair into the S/PDIF input, you just go pre - line level input into the 428.

You are not totally stupid to run your system like that at all, until a year or so ago everyone did, as knowledge about what and how clocks work was limited to some high end pro's and mastering facilities. I still have an $8000 plus clock somewhere that is many times worse than a 500 bucks new Lucid GEN6 is now.
 
A side note. I'm buying a bunch of recording gear tomorrow and one of the questions I had for the sales people was if I needed to terminate the word clock connections. I'm thinking of old 10base2 ethernet that used the same kind of cabling and you always had to use t connectors and on the two ends of the bus youhas to put the terminator caps. Does this have to be done with word clock lines or can I just take a BNC cable and plug from the master out to the slave in? As you can see, the sales guy didn't give me a really strong answer. :)
 
First - you are totally right in assuming that word clock HAS to be terminated.

However, there is no definate answer to your question, as some gear's clock inputs self-terminate, and others don't.
You should be able to find it in the specs of the equipment concerned. If you don't, tell me what type of equipment it is, I've got a lot of those answers hidden in my grey matter for some stupid reason :)
 
Okay, I'm gonna take you up on your offer. :)

I have a Motu 2408mkII and a tascam dm-24. I know that the dm-24 has termination settings and they are documented well. I am condering about the Motu 2408 though. They make no mention of termination fo word clock in their manual as far as I can tell. There are also no switches or anything on the box itself. Any help on this device would be appreciated.
 
DM-24 and Mackie HDR WordClock/TimeClock/MTC

Trying to get Mackie HDR and DM-24 working over optical in/outs.

I heard Wordclock is embedded in the optics.

What about timeclock?

What about Midi control?

I want to control the Hard drive recorder from the mixer (DM-24).


I think I need Optical for word clock.
Time Clock?????
Midi Control (RS422 maybe)?


Confused?
 
As far as I can remember this one is slightly controversial. It is SUPPOSED to terminate with just a clock feed, but MOTU wouldn't confirm it did or not, so I'd definately use a temination plug.

tnt - to control the Mackie from a digital console you need either MIDI machine control (MMC) or RS422-P2 control, which is a 9 pin format. I think both the Mackie and the later DM2424 have 9 pin as standard. Your DM and Mackie manuals will have all the detail on remote control.

Wordclock is as a standard embedded in a digital signal, of any format, in your case optical (ADAT).
You can however feed all you digital gear from an accurate external clock, which results in an immediate and very audible sound quality improvement.
 
I am lacking a few brain cells today.

Does the WordClock work with both say a drum machine being put thru the MOTU and say an guitar amp being recorded by mic>preamp>MOTU>computer?
 
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