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SPDIF Inputs

theory028

theory028

Really Loud Hamburger.
Jul 4, 2007
1,291
16
Cedar Falls, IA
#1
Greetings!

I've been looking at getting a new interface that allows for more simultaneous inputs. One that has popped up is the TASCAM US1800. It's similar to the US1641 that people seem to be happy with. Given the feature set, it's a killer deal!

One thing that I was wondering about was how to utilize the SPDIF input. According to the TASCAM site, it's a stereo input. Would the left and right channels be able to be used as individuals tracks within REAPER? I'd consider adding something like the ART Digital MPA II to the rack with the US1800 if this is the case. I'm not set on that preamp but I like the price and the positive reviews.

I appreciate any information that you can offer. I've done some Google searches and haven't really found any definitive answers. Perhaps I'm using the wrong search terms but I thought I'd verify this before I even bother thinking about adding a digital preamp (which, honestly, is probably a long time away from ever actually happening).

Thanks!
 
#2
SPDIF is a 2 channel protocol, and it's a standard, meaning that pretty much any SPDIF devices can talk to each other, so the Tascam and ART should play nice together. The Tascam doesn't look like it has a word clock output, so you'll probably have to make the ART the clock master (not a big deal, but you'll have to always urn it on when you want to use the system). I'm not familiar with Reaper, but I can't imagine it wouldn't be able to see the 2 SPDIF channels as separate tracks.
 
#3
I'm not sure if we're saying the same thing or not, but for clarification, SPDIF does carry word clock info (it's part of any digital protocol). Since the Tascam doesn't appear to have a word clock output, it's clock would be slaved to the clock in the ART via the SPDIF output from the ARET to the SPDIF input on the Tascam.
 
#4
I erased my answer but you got it before !


What I meant was that you have to slave the receiving unit to the SPDIF clock and that's kinda what you said also.
 
#5
Seconding the info above and just to clarify....

SPDIF is 2-channel, rather than stereo. So in many cases it is used as stereo but those 2 channels don't have to be left and right, they could be one and two, for example. If you create a mono track in reaper then both the digital inputs should be available as individual mono sources. The only clause is that to use both you need a device that converts 2 stereo signals to spdif (like the one you suggest). If you have a single channel preamp to Spdif it will only use the first channel of the digi in.

What number the digi inputs appear as is dependant on software and the interface's specifics. For example if the interface has 6 analog ins then you can NORMALLY expect in's 7 and 8 to be the digi ones. But this is something you MAY have to set up in either the DAW's or the soundcards routing panel.

Its great to use the digi ins on soundcards, a lot of poeple just forget them. You can buy some very nice gear with digi outs these days so you can get a nice multi in soundcard, then add a stereo preamp with digi out on the spdif and you have a 'high end' path for overdubs etc.

Unless you need the 2 extra ins right now then I'd maybe suggest holding off before you upgrade your setup. the digi ins are a great way to get a quality pair of inputs going for overdubs etc. so you could buy something a bit nicer to plug into the digi ins and have a really killer path for recording any extra bits. The benefit is that you can bypass the converters on a cheaper interface by using a device with a digi out (the 'extra' device will take care of the conversion) so you can buy some great preamps with a nice converter and as such add a great path onto a normal interface for a lot less money than buying a fancy/expensive interface with that sort of quality to begin with! As long as you have a handle on clocking this can greatly upgrade the signal path of your overdubs.
 
#6
Thanks for all of the information, guys! It's exactly what I was looking for. :)

Charling said:
Unless you need the 2 extra ins right now then I'd maybe suggest holding off before you upgrade your setup. the digi ins are a great way to get a quality pair of inputs going for overdubs etc. so you could buy something a bit nicer to plug into the digi ins and have a really killer path for recording any extra bits. The benefit is that you can bypass the converters on a cheaper interface by using a device with a digi out (the 'extra' device will take care of the conversion) so you can buy some great preamps with a nice converter and as such add a great path onto a normal interface for a lot less money than buying a fancy/expensive interface with that sort of quality to begin with! As long as you have a handle on clocking this can greatly upgrade the signal path of your overdubs.
Click to expand...

I'm definitely not set on the ART preamp and am not in a rush to even buy one. I mainly asked this because I've been curious and wanted to ask before I ended up forgetting. It would be a nice option to have once I progress my recording skills. As of right now, I'm sort of just putting everything together and trying to learn as much as I can. I appreciate your tips and the knowledge that you've had to offer!
 

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