AES to SPDIF and back again

[Moran, Doug - Denison]

I need some help in converting AES/EBU to S/PDIF and back again. I need
to have the format converter support up to 24 bit, 48k.

The Hosa CDL-313 looks like the perfect box, but Hosa indicates 16 bits
maximum. (http://www.hosatech.com/hosa/products/cdl-313.html)

The Digital Domain FCN-1 Format Converter or the M-Audio Co3 Format
Converter both indicate the ability to handle 24 bits, but they are one
way only - meaning I would have to buy two of them.

Anyone know other solution out there I've not come across? Would the Hosa
box work for 24 bits, but they won't guarantee it?

Thanks,

Doug

[Mike Rivers]

In article > writes:

> I need some help in converting AES/EBU to S/PDIF and back again. I need
> to have the format converter support up to 24 bit, 48k.

Maybe you have your reasons, but are you sure you really need to
convert the format? Particularly both ways? Most things nowadays
ignore the bits that make the difference and will work just fine with
either a hardwired adapter between XLR and RCA (or do you need
TOSLink?) or a transformer such as the ones Canare makes.


--
I'm really Mike Rivers )
However, until the spam goes away or Hell freezes over,
lots of IP addresses are blocked from this system. If
you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring
and reach me here: double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo

[Bob Olhsson]

"Moran, Doug - Denison" > wrote in message
...
> I need some help in converting AES/EBU to S/PDIF and back again. I need
> to have the format converter support up to 24 bit, 48k.

Depending on the gear you are interfacing, a simple transformer such as the
ones made by Canare will often do the job.

--
Bob Olhsson Audio Mastery, Nashville TN
Mastering, Audio for Picture, Mix Evaluation and Quality Control
Over 40 years making people sound better than they ever imagined!
615.385.8051 http://www.hyperback.com

[Moran, Doug - Denison]

On 20 Feb 2004, Mike Rivers wrote:

> > I need some help in converting AES/EBU to S/PDIF and back again. I need
> > to have the format converter support up to 24 bit, 48k.
>
> Maybe you have your reasons, but are you sure you really need to
> convert the format? Particularly both ways? Most things nowadays
> ignore the bits that make the difference and will work just fine with
> either a hardwired adapter between XLR and RCA (or do you need
> TOSLink?) or a transformer such as the ones Canare makes.

Thanks Mike. I am looking to get a Digidesign 002R and I want to
interface a Sony DPS-V77 with it. I have an AES input/output for the
Sony, the 002R is S/PDIF.

I could have another cable made (Sony's part is no longer available the
tell me after many phone calls) for the S/PDIF, but it is sometimes good
to have other adapters around, so I was checking the format converter
option out. Thanks again!

Doug

[Moran, Doug - Denison]

On Sat, 21 Feb 2004, Bob Olhsson wrote:

> > I need some help in converting AES/EBU to S/PDIF and back again. I need
> > to have the format converter support up to 24 bit, 48k.
>
> Depending on the gear you are interfacing, a simple transformer such as the
> ones made by Canare will often do the job.

Great idea. I checked these out. Is it acceptable to get an RNC to RCA
adapter and use it with these? (Markertek carries some by TecNec for $2 a
piece.)

Although, at $60 or a pair of these, and then adapter and then the
shipping ... I need to take Scott's suggestion and make up an adaptor for
the Sony unit. Thanks for your help.

Doug

[Scott Dorsey]

In article >,
>
>Thanks Mike. I am looking to get a Digidesign 002R and I want to
>interface a Sony DPS-V77 with it. I have an AES input/output for the
>Sony, the 002R is S/PDIF.
>
>I could have another cable made (Sony's part is no longer available the
>tell me after many phone calls) for the S/PDIF, but it is sometimes good
>to have other adapters around, so I was checking the format converter
>option out. Thanks again!

You don't need to convert formats. The V77 pretty much ignores all
the subcode data (it does NOT pass Start-IDs), and the Digidesign will
accept either format.

So, all you really need are the little $50 transformer adaptors, not
a real format converter.

I am surprised the Sony cable is unavailable, but I do recall that for
a while the cables were available only from the consumer division, even
though the product was sold by the professional folks. And dealing with
the consumer division is like beating your head against a wall. Did you
hear about the new cure for AIDS? They're going to put a Sony part
number on it, and then nobody will be able to get it.

If I were you, I'd just make the cable. It's a bit of a pain because
the mini-DIN connector is so small and you need to wedge the termination
resistors inside the connector, but it's not all that bad. The real
problem is finding high quality mini-DIN types.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Mike Rivers]

In article > writes:

> I am looking to get a Digidesign 002R and I want to
> interface a Sony DPS-V77 with it. I have an AES input/output for the
> Sony, the 002R is S/PDIF.

There's no reason why either a hard-wired adapter or a transformer
shouldn't work just fine for this. Get the gear. You can make it work.


--
I'm really Mike Rivers )
However, until the spam goes away or Hell freezes over,
lots of IP addresses are blocked from this system. If
you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring
and reach me here: double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo

[Mike Rivers]

In article > writes:

> Is it acceptable to get an RNC to RCA
> adapter and use it with these? (Markertek carries some by TecNec for $2 a
> piece.)

You mean XLR-to-RCA? For two bucks (that's awfully cheap) it's
certainly worth a try. You may have to open it up and rewire it if
it's wired weird but that's easy. You just need to be sure that pins 2
and 3 on the XLR end go to the RCA jack's tip and shield respectively
(it's OK if pin 1 also goes to the shield). Some of these adapters are
wired with pin 1 going to the shield, pin 2 going to the RCA tip, and
pin 3 going to nothing.

--
I'm really Mike Rivers )
However, until the spam goes away or Hell freezes over,
lots of IP addresses are blocked from this system. If
you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring
and reach me here: double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo

[Moran, Doug - Denison]

On 21 Feb 2004, Mike Rivers wrote:

> > Is it acceptable to get an RNC to RCA
> > adapter and use it with these? (Markertek carries some by TecNec for $2 a
> > piece.)
>
> You mean XLR-to-RCA? For two bucks (that's awfully cheap) it's
> certainly worth a try. You may have to open it up and rewire it if
<snip>

Sorry Mike. I have a typo here. I meant to say "BNC" not "RNC". I must
have been thinking about my compressor. :-)

I might try the Canare converter with the BNC to RCA adapter. I need to
figure out if I can built a box instead first.

Doug

[Moran, Doug - Denison]

On 21 Feb 2004, Scott Dorsey wrote:

> I am surprised the Sony cable is unavailable, but I do recall that for
> a while the cables were available only from the consumer division, even
> though the product was sold by the professional folks. And dealing with
> the consumer division is like beating your head against a wall. Did you
> hear about the new cure for AIDS? They're going to put a Sony part
> number on it, and then nobody will be able to get it.

But first they talk to you, put your info into the computer, then look up
your unit. After they can't find anything, you are given another 800
number to call. After three iterations of this, you are back to te first
800 number you called.

> If I were you, I'd just make the cable. It's a bit of a pain because
> the mini-DIN connector is so small and you need to wedge the termination
> resistors inside the connector, but it's not all that bad. The real
> problem is finding high quality mini-DIN types.
> --scott

Well, I have the resistor info in the manual, and I'll try it. Any
recommendations for a mini DIN? I'm thinking about using an old Mac
serial port cable end and a little project box, mounting the RCA for the
S/PDIF in the box.

Doug