Apogee Rosetta 200, Presonus Digimax, Digi 002R

[EGS]

I am using a 002R with a Presonus Digimax (8 channel mic-pre via optical ADAT lightpipe to 002R) to get 16 simultaneous inputs. I am considering adding an Apogee Rosetta 200 to get all 18 inputs, and to provide a stable, high-end master clock. Apogee wordclock out to Digimax wordclock in, Digimax set to external clock. Apogee SPDIF out to 002R SPDIF in. What is the BEST way to slave the 002R to the Apogee master clock? That is, should I clock the 002R to the SPDIF input from the Apogee directly, or clock the 002R to the ADAT input (which would pass wordclock along the ADAT connection)? It seems to me that clocking to the Apogee SPDIF directly is a "shorter path", but I've heard that SPDIF does not pass clock as well as wordclock embedded in a lightpipe. Thoughts?

[Scotty_OiArT]

In my experience both will pass Digital Signals with embedded Clocking information equally well

I suggest clocking off the Apogee Rosetta for it is the most stable, and slaving your digi002R off of the s/pdif input... BNC wordclock via coax cable from the wordclock out on the apogee to the digimax wordclock in. with this you will only need one Optical cable connected to your digi002R (the data outputing from the digimax)

[gerax]

I second this opinion, even though there's a discussion about the stability of clock via Spdif signal in a topic above; IMO, it's best to have the Rosetta act as master and clock everything else straight to it: I guess that the clock going into the Digimax via BNC has to be looped back to the 002 via ADAT, and if the reclocking of the Digimax isn't up to snuff then the whole thing about clocking to an external source becomes pointless; I'd go with a straight SPdif line from Rosetta to 002, using a good quality 75 Ohm SPdif cble (the shorter the better), and WC out via BNC to the Digimax, then ADAT in to the 002R; now I belive there shouldn't be problems with Pro Tools accepting two digital signals from different sources, even if the clock is ste to Spdif/external.
If you could report back your results I'd appreciate it very much, as I'm thinking about getting something similar for my setup (the only exception is that I'm eyeing a PSX100 and I use the ADAT I/O for send return of my digital outboards).

Thanx

L.G.

[Scotty_OiArT]

Go Forum Go,

Its nice to see helpful people =)
By the way, Gerax hit a very important point when he mentioned use a high quality 75ohm coax cable for your S/PDIF Cable and BNC Wordclock Cable...

Shorter the better (extra foot or two won't hurt much but keep it as short as possible)

Most of the Users reporting clocking issues via spdif I am going to take a long shot guess (probably wrong) and say they could have been using a cheapo Basic RCA - RCA for their Precious Digital Information

Happy Recording

[Greg M]

gerax,

The clocking chain described by Scotty is exactly how I have my ISA 430 MKII, Octopre, and 002r set up. The digital card in the ISA 430 MKII is the master clock. The setup is very stable. I've been doing this for over a year with no problems.

Greg

[gerax]

Great to know, thanx for the info.

I have the ISA428 and the Octopre, and though I almost never use them to record with Pro Tools (I have them racked in my mobile rig for location recording gigs with the Mackie SDR2496) it could be useful should the necessity arise to set them up in my studio. Only thing is that the ISA428 has the digital card with ADAT out and WC, I may figure out a way to hook everything up.
Currently I have my outboard FX units hooked up via Spdif and ADAT (Lexicon MPX1 and Eventide Eclipse), but since I plan to get another pair of FX (like TC M3000 and PCM91) I could have them fed via an ADAT to AES converter and WC everything to the Rosetta 200/PSX100 hooking Spdif to the 002R. I guess it should work OK.

Cheers

L.G.

[RolandK]

I have a similar setup with the same configuration- 001, Rosetta AD as master clock, BNC going to Digimax LT. Works great, made a noticeable improvement.

[EGS]

RolandK and others,

Glad it's working for you, and I'm looking forward to getting my Apogee!!! So, back to my original question. The Apogee is to be the master clock for all 3 devices:

1) Apogee wordclock out to Digimax wordclock in (Digimax set to EXT clock), and then Digimax lightpipe connected to 002R.
2) Apogee SPDIF out to 002R SPDIF in, thus sending 2 more audio inputs to the 002R.

WHICH of these 2 digital inputs arriving to the 002R carries the BEST clock to the 002R, and therefore is the one I should use to slave the 002R to? SPDIF or ADAT optical? Some say SPDIF is not a stable carrier of clock, since it is an unbalanced, consumer-grade signal. Some say the Digimax might destabilize the clock as it throughputs the clock along. Which is best and why?

Thanx for all the comments and help!!

Gary

[RolandK]

I'm not a hardcore expert on this stuff, but IMHO:

The Apogee is the better clock. At least start out with it as master. I've never had a single problem with my setup and never heard of any problems with the s/pdf in general before today. I doubt the balanced vs. unbalanced cable is much of an issue. My Rosetta is right above the 001 and the s/pdf cable is only 18" long. If we were talking long distances, then maybe.

Get some good quality s/pdf and bnc cables (as short as possible), hook it all up in the different configurations and see which works best for you. I still think the Apogee as master will work great and you will be very happy with it.