M-Powered & Sample Rates

[Julia B]

I just started using SPDIF. I know I'm real late to the game. I haven't needed it until recently. But ran into a bunch of problems with getting M-Powered to create files at certain sample rates, let alone create new sessions with them. I spent about 6 hrs yesterday trying to get this to work properly, two on the phone with someone in the know about this stuff (the first two, and we couldn't figure it out). So considering all the b****ing I've done lately I'll post my findings.

First off I'm perfectly aware the source and the interface have to be set for the same sample rate. There may be more ideal solutions, and if you've got easier ones, please post them.

I'm using the four input (two front + SPDIF) and two out. It says I can use up to 24 bit, 48 kHz in the manual.

Sample Rates for Fast Track Pro:

Using SPDIF input: you must use 48 kHz. Make sure the SPDIF input box is checked in the control panel. You cannot create a 44.1 kHz session with SPDIF, even with the SPDIF source set to 44.1 kHz, without Pro Tools getting grumpy -- sometimes it opened and ran for a while but then encountered a "fatal error". So I figured this wasn't going to work.

48 kHz Session without SPDIF: you must uncheck SPDIF in the control panel to create a 48 kHz session.

44.1 kHz session and not use SPDIF: you must uncheck SPDIF in the control panel. This doesn't seem to be optional.