192 I/O TDIF Connection to DA88
 

Hey All,

Running Mac Dual 2.0 G5 w/ OS 10.4.1, with PT 6.9.2 on an HD rig. Having trouble with a TDIF hookup to a DA88 machine. When using the TDIF connector on the 192 I/O connected to the TDIF on the DA88 we are unable to get a clean signal on the input of the DA88. When we assign the first 8 outs in the Output assignment, to digital, it appears as if the 192 is feeding back internally. This overloads the meters on the 192 and the DA88 This occurs even with 0 tracks record armed or even active within protools. However, when we use the 9-16 outs as digital (software out assignment) the 192 I/O is able to get the correct INcoming signal from the DA88, however, the output signal is still overloading the DA88 and 192 meters. Leaving us completely perplexed. We have tried all applicable clocking options,and are using a Tascam TDIF cable and nothing seems to solve the problem. Anyone else out there with this problem...any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.
Matthew

Re: 192 I/O TDIF Connection to DA88
 

Matthew,

This is a problem with the implementation of TDIF and WC on the DA-88.

It has been discussed a few times over the years and I hope I'm not telling you something you've already tried. Here's a solution I dug up from an old post.

1) Connect TDIF from the 192 digital card to the DA-88.

2) ProTools can be master clock (internal) or locked to something else (except the DA-88)

3) Connect Word Clock from the 192 External Clock out to the DA-88 Word Clock In. Terminate at the DA-88 input with a BNC 'T' and 75 ohm terminator. I know this seems wrong to double terminate, but the Tascam WC input circuit is part of the problem.

4) In the Hardware setup window, set the Ext. Clock Output to Word Clock (tdif). This is in the lower right hand corner of the Main page of the hardware setup. This changes the timing of the clock output by 90° to make it work.

Problems:
-Cannot use legacy peripherals, because they force the 192 Ext Word Clock out to be 256x fs.

-Cannot lock the DA-88 to something else, like video.

You should also check out this Answerbase entry.

I've gone back to my IF-88AE, a Tascam box that makes AES out of the tdif.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you have further questions.
Jeff