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Gear / Technical Help => Battery Boxes, Preamps, Mixers, ADCs, and Processors => Topic started by: One Cylinder on October 16, 2011, 06:16:06 PM

Title: Question on s/pdif output on A/D
Post by: One Cylinder on October 16, 2011, 06:16:06 PM
>>> Does there exist a (small/portable) digital converter that would make this signal path possible: 

Apogee Mini-Me or Lunatec V3 > digital out via digi-coax cable > converter unit > digi out via digi-optical cable > Sony D10 or D50  ??

I know you can have the V3 modified to send a digi signal via optical, but that's not of interest at the moment.


TIA
Title: Re: Question on s/pdif output on A/D
Post by: audBall on October 16, 2011, 06:26:39 PM
A Hosa ODL-276A would do the trick.  You might be able to find one used here or on ebay.  They come with a AC adapter, but can be run on battery power also. 
Title: Re: Question on s/pdif output on A/D
Post by: kirk97132 on October 16, 2011, 07:58:05 PM
Sound devices USBPre2 has coax & optical output
Title: Re: Question on s/pdif output on A/D
Post by: JasonSobel on October 16, 2011, 08:07:55 PM
A Hosa ODL-276A would do the trick.  You might be able to find one used here or on ebay.  They come with a AC adapter, but can be run on battery power also. 

I'll second the Hosa ODL-276A recommendation.

However, I'll go one step further and question your use of optical at all.  As far as I know, the Sony PCM-M10 does not have optical S/PDIF input.  However, the Sony PCM-D50 does have the optical input.  While the D50 is a great deck, for a similar price, you might as well get the Marantz PMD-661.  That has S/PDIF input via a coax cable (among many other inputs), so you don't need to deal with optical cables at all, nor another box to convert from coax S/PDIF to optical S/PDIF.
Title: Re: Question on s/pdif output on A/D
Post by: One Cylinder on October 16, 2011, 10:26:35 PM
........ Thanks for the responses. I was just curious if that coax>optical was possible, and it sounds like it's actually pretty simple. Regardless, I'd prefer to stay away from using an optical cable and will likely end up running a recorder that accepts digital coax or AES/EBU.


Title: Re: Question on s/pdif output on A/D
Post by: johnw on October 19, 2011, 10:07:15 AM
FWIW the Hosa ODL-312 is a much better choice for the Mini-Me as the AES is a much more reliable output than the Coax.

Also if you go the Hosa route, it requires battery power, so you need a 9V power source (can be split off the battery running the preamp, but you need a splitter cable).

I'd definitely recommend either getting the V3 changed if you want the D50, or just going the 661 route.
Title: Re: Question on s/pdif output on A/D
Post by: One Cylinder on October 19, 2011, 03:10:31 PM
How is the coax s/pdif output less reliable than the AES? I would think the digital coax output either passes the signal along, or it doesn't.  Are you saying the coax output periodially craps out in mid-stream? I ran both the Apogee A/D500 & 1000 when I was taping via DAT, and never had an issue w/ the digital output suddenly dying in the middle of a recording session.  Is he mini-me notorius for this problem?

Title: Re: Question on s/pdif output on A/D
Post by: bhadella on October 19, 2011, 03:25:33 PM
How is the coax s/pdif output less reliable than the AES? I would think the digital coax output either passes the signal along, or it doesn't.  Are you saying the coax output periodially craps out in mid-stream? I ran both the Apogee A/D500 & 1000 when I was taping via DAT, and never had an issue w/ the digital output suddenly dying in the middle of a recording session.  Is he mini-me notorius for this problem?

AES have a locking mechanism that insures the connection cannot be easily jostled and lost.
Title: Re: Question on s/pdif output on A/D
Post by: twatts (pants are so over-rated...) on October 19, 2011, 04:22:00 PM
FWIW the Hosa ODL-312 is a much better choice for the Mini-Me as the AES is a much more reliable output than the Coax.

Also if you go the Hosa route, it requires battery power, so you need a 9V power source (can be split off the battery running the preamp, but you need a splitter cable).

I'd definitely recommend either getting the V3 changed if you want the D50, or just going the 661 route.

The Hosa Convertors use minimal battery power, a regular 9v alkaline will last you an entire show EASY...

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=29289.msg369923#msg369923

Terry
Title: Re: Question on s/pdif output on A/D
Post by: johnw on October 19, 2011, 04:28:14 PM
I used a Mini Me for a long while. The coax is notoriously flaky on it. If you have doubts, do a search on this board, you will find plenty of people that have reported similar problems. I only used it to patch out and had a high rate of the thing cutting off a signal after locking on. Some people have had a new connection soldered on, so maybe look into that route if you want to use SPDIF. Personally I just liked the locking connector and reliability of AES and never had any problems going AES>312>JB3.

As far as battery life on the Hosa goes, it is great - but it still requires a battery.

My advice would be to use a 661 if you want a digital in on a small, relatively cheap recorder. And if you want to make complete recordings on a stock Mini-Me going digital out to your 661, get an AES>coax SPDIF cable and forget about the coax out.
Title: Re: Question on s/pdif output on A/D
Post by: One Cylinder on October 19, 2011, 06:41:22 PM
...... Thanks for the heads up on the sketchy coax connection!   ;D

Title: Re: Question on s/pdif output on A/D
Post by: runonce on October 19, 2011, 11:04:46 PM
I used a Mini Me for a long while. The coax is notoriously flaky on it. If you have doubts, do a search on this board, you will find plenty of people that have reported similar problems. I only used it to patch out and had a high rate of the thing cutting off a signal after locking on. Some people have had a new connection soldered on, so maybe look into that route if you want to use SPDIF. Personally I just liked the locking connector and reliability of AES and never had any problems going AES>312>JB3.

As far as battery life on the Hosa goes, it is great - but it still requires a battery.

My advice would be to use a 661 if you want a digital in on a small, relatively cheap recorder. And if you want to make complete recordings on a stock Mini-Me going digital out to your 661, get an AES>coax SPDIF cable and forget about the coax out.

Just for clarity - "locking" on to a signal - and a "locking" mechanism (XLR) are two different ideas...one is electrical, the later mechanical....
Title: Re: Question on s/pdif output on A/D
Post by: johnw on October 19, 2011, 11:25:19 PM
I used a Mini Me for a long while. The coax is notoriously flaky on it. If you have doubts, do a search on this board, you will find plenty of people that have reported similar problems. I only used it to patch out and had a high rate of the thing cutting off a signal after locking on. Some people have had a new connection soldered on, so maybe look into that route if you want to use SPDIF. Personally I just liked the locking connector and reliability of AES and never had any problems going AES>312>JB3.

As far as battery life on the Hosa goes, it is great - but it still requires a battery.

My advice would be to use a 661 if you want a digital in on a small, relatively cheap recorder. And if you want to make complete recordings on a stock Mini-Me going digital out to your 661, get an AES>coax SPDIF cable and forget about the coax out.

Just for clarity - "locking" on to a signal - and a "locking" mechanism (XLR) are two different ideas...one is electrical, the later mechanical....

Absolutely correct and my apologies if that wasn't clear. The XLR termination of my AES cable coming out of my Mini-Me and going into my 312 always attached mechanically without a hitch and was very sturdy. I had many instances of people patching out of my Mini-Me using a coax cable out of the SPDIF that would show on their deck that they had signal but at some later point, they would lose that signal and get an incomplete recording.
Title: Re: Question on s/pdif output on A/D
Post by: capnhook on October 20, 2011, 05:53:46 PM
Yep.

Apogee won't admit to sourcing a shady female RCA digi connector, either.  Won't fix it (even under warranty), OR admit to either.
Title: Re: Question on s/pdif output on A/D
Post by: hi and lo on October 20, 2011, 07:46:14 PM
Yep.

Apogee won't admit to sourcing a shady female RCA digi connector, either.  Won't fix it (even under warranty), OR admit to either.

I think the fact that then the Mini-Me was discontinued years ago speaks for itself (not to mention their used value has plummeted over the years). I bought a Mini-me just within the first 2-3 months of being released and fully remember the debate that took place between how it would fare against the V3. Both were revolutionary 2-channel units at the time, but the V3 is still a workhorse of the hobby and the Mini-me is now an antique. There were so many design elements to the Mini-me that are just not good for what we do. I still love the sound of the MME, but can easily do without it's many inconveniences.
Title: Re: Question on s/pdif output on A/D
Post by: DSatz on October 27, 2011, 12:27:21 AM
AES/EBU digital audio connections tend to be reliable across far longer distances, and also at higher sampling rates, than S/P-DIF (either coax or optical) connections are, particularly if cables of appropriate characteristic impedance are used (as they should be for any cable lengths that are more than trivial). It is a balanced type of connection, and thus resists noise from interference better than S/P-DIF, which is single-ended.
Title: Re: Question on s/pdif output on A/D
Post by: F.O.Bean on November 04, 2011, 12:46:41 AM
Yep.

Apogee won't admit to sourcing a shady female RCA digi connector, either.  Won't fix it (even under warranty), OR admit to either.

I think the fact that then the Mini-Me was discontinued years ago speaks for itself (not to mention their used value has plummeted over the years). I bought a Mini-me just within the first 2-3 months of being released and fully remember the debate that took place between how it would fare against the V3. Both were revolutionary 2-channel units at the time, but the V3 is still a workhorse of the hobby and the Mini-me is now an antique. There were so many design elements to the Mini-me that are just not good for what we do. I still love the sound of the MME, but can easily do without it's many inconveniences.

Not to mention is odd dimensions/size ;)
Title: Re: Question on s/pdif output on A/D
Post by: capnhook on November 04, 2011, 08:41:10 PM
r-44, now THAT's an odd dimension/size.......but me likey  ;D  (proud half-owner of one)

Hey y'all, I want to connect to the minime......Should I get an AES/RCA SPDIF  cable made, or should I go through a Impedance attenuator first?  Boy, that really makes it long!  If I could find it, I know I have the right one.  I never could find a proper answer to this..
Title: Re: Question on s/pdif output on A/D
Post by: H₂O on November 05, 2011, 01:36:11 PM
>>> Does there exist a (small/portable) digital converter that would make this signal path possible: 

Apogee Mini-Me or Lunatec V3 > digital out via digi-coax cable > converter unit > digi out via digi-optical cable > Sony D10 or D50  ??

I know you can have the V3 modified to send a digi signal via optical, but that's not of interest at the moment.


TIA

I have a Hosa AES/EBU to optical for sale in the Yard Sale