Topic: Confused: L/R channels swapped

[Brian Skalinder]

Alright, so I'm gearing up to do some stability and bit-accuracy testing with my new Hosa ODL-312 digital format converter (AES/EBU coax <-> S/PDIF optical).  After a brief 1 hour test last night and this morning, no visible or audible glitches.  So far so good, though I obviously have a long way to go.

I'm running mics > V3 (16/44) and the following simultaneous digital outputs:

[1] Radio Shack coax > RCA barrel > Hosa coax > EgoSys Waveterminal 2496 > CEP2.0
[2] AES/EBU > Hosa ODL-312 > Hosa optical toslink w. toslink/mini adapter > JB3

I transferred the JB3 WAV over an Adaptec Fireconnect 4300 using Notmad Explorer.  V3 is powered by a 6v SLA and the ODL-312 is powered by a 9.6v RC battery.  FWIW, I wired up the AES/EBU cable per the V3 pinouts:

Pin 1: shield
Pin 2: (+) hot
Pin 3: (-) ground

In the process of trying to trim the WAVs to the same starting/finishing sample so I could do a WAV comparison, I noticed something odd:  one of the two sources is flipped L/R relative to the other: source [1]'s left channel = source [2]'s right channel (or vice versa).  WTF!!  

I haven't checked yet which source is flipped as I had to get into work this morning.  But regardless of which is flipped, I'm at a loss here.  How can the L/R channels be swapped during a digital transfer of data?!?!?  Maybe the Hosa ODL-312 flips channels in the course of converting AES/EBU > optical?  But that seems awfully odd to me.  Anyone?!?

[sexymexi]

unless the inputs are backwards.  that could be. i had an old stereo that was backwards.  i'd plug somthing in the left channel, and it played out of the right speaker, kinda weird.  thats the only explanation i can give ya, is that, kinda weird.  +t for your troubles..

matt

[Brian Skalinder]

unless the inputs are backwards.  that could be. i had an old stereo that was backwards.  i'd plug somthing in the left channel, and it played out of the right speaker, kinda weird.  thats the only explanation i can give ya, is that, kinda weird.  +t for your troubles..

matt

If the inputs are backwards, it would be consistent for both digital sources, since the inputs go to the V3 and both digital sources are derived from the V3 simultaneously.

The only inputs that could be backwards and have this effect are the digital outputs.  And the digital outputs each have a single cable, so...nothing to get backwards.  Which is why I'm confused!

[sexymexi]

oh... well i thought maybe the input to like the jb3 for instance when it decode the digital signal, it decodes them backwards.. i don't know..  it is pretty confusing.

[Brian Skalinder]

oh... well i thought maybe the input to like the jb3 for instance when it decode the digital signal, it decodes them backwards.. i don't know..  it is pretty confusing.

Yeah, I don't get it.  I figure I must've screwed something up in my haste to get some tests going.  I'll have to check tonight when I have more time.

[dklein]

I remember running into this before - it's likely in the digital realm.  I'm sure a quick little test will tell you which device it is.  You can also run headphones into the monitor of the v3, JB3 and PC to see what's going on.  Don't be surprised if it monitors correctly and plays back reversed!

I think when I experienced this, it was with a Nightingale soundcard and it wasn't consistent.  Even weirder.

[Brian Skalinder]

I remember running into this before - it's likely in the digital realm.  I'm sure a quick little test will tell you which device it is.  You can also run headphones into the monitor of the v3, JB3 and PC to see what's going on.  Don't be surprised if it monitors correctly and plays back reversed!

I think when I experienced this, it was with a Nightingale soundcard and it wasn't consistent.  Even weirder.

No doubt I'll figure out what's happening fairly quickly when I get home.  Only question will be *why* it's happening.  This oughta be interesting!

[Sean Gallemore]

mayeb it's the v3 , j/p

[Brian Skalinder]

Alright, after some additional testing, everything seems fine.  WTF.  I must've screwed something up.  Thread closed.

[zhianosatch]

I was wondering how this would play out. Good luck figgerin' it out!

[F.O.Bean]

did ya swap em in wavelab???

brian, cant wait to hear the converter results......can you see if bits are being dropped in wavelab or anything???

[cfbarlow]

Hey Brian,

I just ran into this same problem.  Channels on my JB3 have reversed.  First time was last fri the 11 of Feb at the STS9 show at the HOB in CHicago.  And the same thing happened tonight while recording some drums in my basement.  I've never had this problem before, been running the JB3 for about 9 months.  Yet the first time it happened was the first time I used a AD 500E with my rig.   I just used it tonight for the second time and it happened again.  Maybe the AD500E and the JB3 do not mix? Before I was running a AD20 behind it with no problems. BTW both times it happend while I was recording, pushed pause, and then resumed.  Before the pause, levels were correct, after the pause, swapped.  Any advise would be helpful.

Thanx for the great site

-Charlie Barlow

[leegeddy]

a stumper!

marc

[Brian]

my V3 has always been like this.  i've just ignored it and dealt with it by pugging my right microphone into channel 1 and my left microphone into channel 2.  kind of weird but i think the circuitry in the AD section could be switched at some point in some V3 models.

[hexyjones]

Ok - other users have reported that the JB3 will swap channels if you use the pause button.

I had this happen last week...I accidentally hit pause, and then unpaused...that set, the channels are reversed. All the other sets from that evening are fine...

Ya know...this is something that we really need to pay attention to - just imagine how many recordings out there are completely horked because the channels are swapped...

I think this needs to be raised to "hair on fire" level for the JB3 users...seems like a huge flaw in this recorder...not that big of a deal if you keep it in mind...who uses pause anyway?!!!

From now on jiggle your car keys in front of the left mic before each set...make sure that jiggle is on the left when you get home...