TDIF/DA88 digitizing problems

[Katherine]

We are trying to use the TDIF connection to digitize into Pro Tools from DA88 and then layback from Pro Tools to DA88 (both with TC). We have no problem digitizing into Pro Tools, but have trouble doing the layback. We are sure our Pro Tools settings are correct. Is it possible there is a setting in the DA88 menu that we need to change?

Our syptoms are as follows: when we play the Pro Tools session all that registers on the DA88 is a blip at 2 second intervals, no audio signal. When this occurred we were not monitoring audio, but I imagine it sounds like a static pop. I suspect it is some kind of feedback loop.

Any ideas?

Thanks

K

[crizdee]

Hi,

This sounds like a clocking problem! you need to have your DA88 synced to your Digidesign interface with word clock. there is no mention of what interface you have!? but with my DA78 and HD192 interface the the word clock comes OUT from the 192 to the IN on the Tascam, and PT is always set to master(internal sync) and the Tascam is set to WORD on the clock menu.

Hope this helps

Chris

[Jeff_Francis]

Katherine,

Here's a solution I dug up from an old post of mine. You can clock several ways for getting audio into the 192 via TDIF from a DA-88, but this is the only way to have it work in both directions...

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