Topic: help : No sound coming through digital-in / iriverh100/inbox-ad20/akg c1000s

[bullets]

Hey Guys

This is my first time setting up a recording kit. I picked up the iRiver H100 and installed Rockbox on it, following the guide in the recording section for setting up the options (digital in, etc). For ADC, I got a Zefiro/Denecke AD-20/Inbox second hand. Finally, a single mic - the AKG C1000S.

After hunting down a toslink to 3.5mm (minijack) optical cable and borrowing a known working XLR cable, I thought I was fit to go. I entered the recording mode on the iRiver, and checked it was set to digital in. I put the 9V in the Inbox - the light went on, and I hooked it up to the iRiver. Finally, I put a new 9V into the AKG C1000S and turned it on - a light appeared and disappeared - the expected action for a working C1000S. I connected it to the Inbox with the XLR cable, turned up the gain, and spoke into the mic, staring at the iRiver's level bars. Nothing. Recording doesn't have any affect either, infact files aren't created (I'm guessing this is because the signal coming in is zero, so zero data to write).

I need help guys! What am I doing wrong?

[SmokinJoe]

1) Make sure it's working at all.... When you look at the end of the optical cable do you see a red light?
2) My H120 is/was fussy about the optical cable... the first time I tried it, it didn't work.  Grabbed another cable... magic!  Try to borrow a known working one to make sure.

[bullets]

1) Make sure it's working at all.... When you look at the end of the optical cable do you see a red light?
2) My H120 is/was fussy about the optical cable... the first time I tried it, it didn't work.  Grabbed another cable... magic!  Try to borrow a known working one to make sure.

I just tried powering it up in order, no difference.
I'll try replacing the optical cable - damn hard to find these as it is, in New Zealand The one I have has (strangely) black ends - eg the miniplug is completely black. Is that normal ?_? I can't see any red light at the toslink (I assume). When the optical cable is unplugged, should a red light in the ADC be seen or not? Currently there is nothing.

[Fatah Ruark (aka MIKE B)]

1) Make sure it's working at all.... When you look at the end of the optical cable do you see a red light?
2) My H120 is/was fussy about the optical cable... the first time I tried it, it didn't work.  Grabbed another cable... magic!  Try to borrow a known working one to make sure.

I just tried powering it up in order, no difference.
I'll try replacing the optical cable - damn hard to find these as it is, in New Zealand The one I have has (strangely) black ends - eg the miniplug is completely black. Is that normal ?_? I can't see any red light at the toslink (I assume). When the optical cable is unplugged, should a red light in the ADC be seen or not? Currently there is nothing.

You should see the red light on the optical OUTPUT (as well as the end of the cable when it is plugged into that output). If there is no light, your problem is with the ADC.

[bullets]

You should see the red light on the optical OUTPUT (as well as the end of the cable when it is plugged into that output). If there is no light, your problem is with the ADC.

If I turn on the ADC without anything plugged into it, the toslink should show a red light, is that correct?

[bullets]

You should see the red light on the optical OUTPUT (as well as the end of the cable when it is plugged into that output). If there is no light, your problem is with the ADC.

If I turn on the ADC without anything plugged into it, the toslink should show a red light, is that correct?

Actually, it does. It's right at the back, red light.

[SmokinJoe]

You should see the red light on the optical OUTPUT (as well as the end of the cable when it is plugged into that output). If there is no light, your problem is with the ADC.

If I turn on the ADC without anything plugged into it, the toslink should show a red light, is that correct?

Actually, it does. It's right at the back, red light.

Good.  And then you plug in the cable, the red light should be visible at the end of the miniplug.  That cable is basically just a glass fiber with rubber on the outside, and light should follow the glass and come out the miniplug.  That light is pulsing a zillion times a second (give or take a few).  That is your data... to your eyes, it looks solid.  If you see that light, good.   If not, that is your problem.

Once you see a light, the bitrate needs to match at the ad20 and the h120... i.e. both 44.1khz.  If that works, you should have a signal.
If that doesn't work, blow the invisible dust off both ends of the fiber optic cable
If that doesn't work, wiggle the miniplug where it plugs into the H120.
If that doesn't work, I think you really need a new cable.  I'd give you one, but it would take a long time to ship from the US.

[bullets]

Turns out i'm stupid - red light on the AD-20 doesn't mean it's on, it means low battery.

Thanks Guys! I still learnt a lot

[jeromejello]

lets not forget to set the iriver to optical in... i had a couple of times when i had forgot and left it set as line in and obviously was getting zero signal.