An Avid 192 I/O Question

[michael c]

I have a ProTools/Avid 192 I/O. I hook up our Late 2013 Mac Pro's optical digital audio out to the 192's Optical [S/PDIF] In, so I can listen to other things on the Mac Pro etc. through ProTools.

Is there a way I can also hook up something through the S/PDIF[Encl] input on the back of the 192 and monitor BOTH digital inputs at the same time in ProTools?

Thanks.

[BScout]

Yes.
Just assign the input channels in Pro Tools hardware setup. Channels to enclosure, channels to the input cards. You get 16 inputs to do what you want. And the (4) cards' side is different from the enclosure digital options.

[michael c]

Originally Posted by BScout

Yes.
Just assign the input channels in Pro Tools hardware setup. Channels to enclosure, channels to the input cards. You get 16 inputs to do what you want. And the (4) cards' side is different from the enclosure digital options.

The digital optical input and the S/PDIF input are both on the 196 backplate chassis. They are both [Encl] I think (?) When you are in the PT hardware set up, it seems like I have to choose between one or the other but not both at one time.

I have the usual analog inputs and also an AES card on the 196. Any idea how in the PT hardware set up I can use both the 'S/PDIF optical' input and the regular built in S/PDIF input on the back of the 192 at the same time and hear both of those inputs?

Thanks for any help.

[Darryl Ramm]

I'll chicken out here based on BScout's restatement

[BScout]

Originally Posted by michael c

The digital optical input and the S/PDIF input are both on the 196 backplate chassis. They are both [Encl] I think (?) When you are in the PT hardware set up, it seems like I have to choose between one or the other but not both at one time.

I have the usual analog inputs and also an AES card on the 196. Any idea how in the PT hardware set up I can use both the 'S/PDIF optical' input and the regular built in S/PDIF input on the back of the 192 at the same time and hear both of those inputs?

Thanks for any help.

Let's try this again.
The enclosure connections, you only get one set of connections (whether that is the AES, SPDIF or ADAT) to use.

If you have an AES card in one of the 4 slots (and they all came with at least 1), you have additional optical inputs. That would be your other optical to select (you select that format on the additional tabs).

[michael c]

So I am using the optical enclosure input to hear sounds from our Mac Pro, so that finishes off our enclosure inputs allowed on the 192. That is what I was hoping to find out. Thanks so much.

We have an analog input and balanced output card in the 192 and also an additional AES digital card for 3 total cards in the 192. When you say "If you have an AES card in one of the 4 slots, you have additional optical inputs.", I'm a little lost on that. They are AES inputs and that tab I see in the Hardware page.

I'm hoping to find a way to still use the optical out of the MacPro into the 192 and also hookup a S/PDIF input from a new piece of gear I just got that only has a S/PDIF digital out. I have the additional AES inputs from the card but was hoping to avoid having to get a S/PDIF to AES convertor box in possible.

Thanks for your help with this BScout. You helped me out with a video issue earlier in the year and it was much appreciated.....

[BScout]

Originally Posted by michael c

We have an analog input and balanced output card in the 192 and also an additional AES digital card for 3 total cards in the 192. When you say "If you have an AES card in one of the 4 slots, you have additional optical inputs.", I'm a little lost on that. They are AES inputs and that tab I see in the Hardware page.

I'm hoping to find a way to still use the optical out of the MacPro into the 192 and also hookup a S/PDIF input from a new piece of gear I just got that only has a S/PDIF digital out. I have the additional AES inputs from the card but was hoping to avoid having to get a S/PDIF to AES convertor box in possible.

Breaking down your sources:
Mac Pro -> optical spdif -> 192 enclosure inputs
New Hardware -> spdif (what type?) ->

If the spdif on the new hardware is coaxial (RCA or BNC), you need a simple transformer to hook it to the AES inputs. Any (one -- only need one) of the below will do:

• Neutrik NADITBNC-F
• Neutrik NADITBNC-FX
• Canare BCJ-XJ-TRC

For the BNC connector, cheap adapters from RCA to BNC are like two dollars
https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=4121
Put it on your RCA cable coming from the hardware and lock the BNC end to one of the adapters above. Then take an AES lead off of the 192 and plug to the otherside.

The AES input card on the Digi192 also has TDIF and optical connectors; but that optical is ADAT only (not switchable).

Any one Digidesign 192 has only 2 optical SPDIF connectors no matter what.
That's the simplest statement I can put together on the 192. There was never a way to add optical SPDIF anywhere but the enclosure connection.

(PS, those adapters are cheap on ebay because broadcast houses go through tons of them and they sell them off. I've picked up a pack of 20 for $40 so though they retail near $40/each, you can easily get them near $5 on the used market. The Canare can also be the TRB instead of the TRC -- same adapter just different generations. I prefer the Neutrik because the metalwork is better -- I've had the spring release on the AES side of the Canare snap off before.)

[michael c]

I have 4 or 5 of those Neutrik transformers (male and female) over here and was trying to remember why I used them 10 -15 years ago. The BNC connectors threw me off. I now remember I had some S/PDIF runs to AES connections long ago. The new piece of gear I have has an RCA Coax connection, so I can use the BNC to RCA adapter and use the open AES inputs I have on the 192 AES card.

As always, thanks for the help BScout. Much appreciated.