888/24 in Standalone mode

[Jantzen]

a friend who was using pt|mix just got an 003 and an imac because he couldn't stand how slow the g4 was. But first thing he discovered the 888/24 sounds better than the 003..he asked me if he can link the 003 to the 888/24.

I know 888/24 can be in standalone mode, but it doesn't seem it can do AD/DA simultaneously. According to Digi,

To use your 888/24 as a ‘stand alone' 24 bit Analog-Digital or Digital-Analog converter:

• Quit Pro Tools if it is launched.
• For Analog-Digital conversion, be sure to disconnect or turn off any external digital devices (DAT machines, effects processors, etc.) that may be providing word clock information to the 888/24's AES/EBU or S/PDIF channel 1 & 2 inputs.
• An AES/EBU (or S/PDIF — see below) word clock signal is necessary for Digital-Analog conversion in Stand Alone mode. Be sure to have a digital device providing word clock connected to the AES/EBU inputs 1 & 2 of the 888/24 interface.

??? Anyone know more ?

Jantzen

[JFreak]

888|24 and LE hardware do not work very well together, because the mix flagship outputs AES or SPDIF and LE hardware only has two channels of SPDIF i/o (plus optical ADAT which the 888 does not have).

[Jantzen]

I'm just wishing to use two channels of conversion, but it doesn't state whether in standalone mode it can function both ways. Will it be happy taking a clock form the 003? (easiest)

Jantzen

[JFreak]

Now I must say I don't know for sure. Usually digital devices are able to lock to whatever digital input they are fed, but this time... not worth it. 888|24 converters are not that much better than 003, and IMO 003 converters outperform the Mix hardware when clocked at 96k which the legacy hardware cannot do. And I'm not sure the 888 sounds any better if it would be clocked to LE hardware to begin with!

If you need to get better DA converters for LE system, I'd recommend an Apogee Rosetta 200 for DA converter and clock master.

[the dude]

Originally Posted by Jantzen

But it doesn't state whether in standalone mode it can function both ways

sure it does in the very first post

stand alone' 24 bit Analog-Digital or Digital-Analog converter