Analogue to SPDIF - converter project opened

Panther30 · Sep 12, 2004, 11:16 PM

TravelRec,

direct wiring the midi port worked fine. we had the connectors on the card end backwards the first time we tried it (out to in and in to out) and had to swap them. the correct way is midi out wire to midi out on the card and midi in wire to midi in on the card. your help was invaluable.

Thanks very much,

----Panther30

TravelRec. · Sep 13, 2004, 11:18 AM

Cool, you get it working. I donÂ´t really understand what you said about out and in, but anyway - it seems to work... Midi-in from interface has to be wired to Midi-in of AUD_EXT / AD_EXT and Midi-out to Midi-out, thatÂ´s right. The interface simply drives that pins of the card. Externally (from the equipment to the interface and vice versa) you connect the midi-cables twisted (out->in).

Greetings!

TravelRec.

Panther30 · Sep 13, 2004, 05:42 PM

well yeah I guess that is what I meant. we connected the wires trom the port to the card twisted as well then.... but we fixed it.

Panther30 · Oct 1, 2004, 04:34 AM

TravelRec,

okay we have the gameport style midi interface mounted now in the case and it is working perfectly. 27 hours after the first trial test, I accidentally pulled the soldered wires from the port while working inside my computer. we used some silicon based caulk around the soldered wires when we buiolt the interface this time to help hold the connection between the midi interface and the soundcard together.

It works! (again)

later,

---Panther30

TravelRec. · Oct 1, 2004, 09:52 AM

Fine to know!

Post a pic of your mounting design

!

Greetings!
TravelRec.

Panther30 · Oct 1, 2004, 08:58 PM

I wish I could... I dont own a camera right now... but when I can get one, I will post a pic of the mounting design.

TravelRec. · Oct 25, 2004, 08:18 AM

Hi all there!

The first module of "Analog to SPDIF converter", built by another guy, is running! It is a coaxial version. I will post the minor changed layout for it in the next few days.

Greetings!
TravelRec.

Samir · Oct 25, 2004, 01:19 PM

Eej, TravelRec, any recent news/changes on 'analogue to i2s converter'?

TravelRec. · Oct 26, 2004, 07:15 AM

No, not really - what do you want to know?

**dj_stick** · Oct 26, 2004, 09:05 AM

i would be interested in seeing plans for a SPDIF out to I2S in converter, to harness the input from the motherboard (a2zs doesn't have enough spdif ins)

Samir · Oct 26, 2004, 12:26 PM

Well, TravelRec, I was seriously thinking about building 2xAnalog stereo to i2s converter, to make these Audigy2's inputs busy & clear & clean, but only it these would support 24/96... Maybe we should consider building whole new "input module"! Imagine; Your 2x(or 3x) "cheap & easy to make LowNoise Guitar/Mic PreAmp" to 2 x i2s (+ 1x to spdif)... What do you think?

TravelRec. · Oct 27, 2004, 06:37 AM

Ahh yes - I understand. Okay, but I really need to know whether the Audigy2zs I2S is a output for BitClock and FrameSync or not to implement that correctly in the layout. IÂ´ve no card for testing this and for the 24/96 support I must say, that this will be a lot more expensive than 16 (18)/48, due to newer and harder to get components. And finally - I canÂ´t test the support anyway with my Audigy1 --- so if you can say what I have to create (with no warranty) then I will do so.

Panther30 · Sep 16, 2005, 08:12 PM

Hey, i know it's been a while since I built the midi port for my audigy card, but I finally have a few pics on my website under "work area and midi port pics" on my main page. Here is the link.

www.techthisout.biz

mensan · Sep 17, 2005, 12:12 AM

Is there any chance this project is updated to 24/96?

And may i ask if by any chance it could get a master clock to which the Audigy could be slaved?

I know it is not the first time i ask this around here but this time the place seems to be more appropriate and the question more clear.
And of course many many people would love it!!

TravelRec. · Sep 17, 2005, 05:16 PM

The audigy cannot be clocked as a slave, definately! It runs fixed at the own oscillator and the 10kX is not made to work with other frequencies afaik. You only can add external Sample-Rate-Converters or A/D-Converters (all of them as slaves) to use the I2S inputs (have done this successfully), but nothing more. 24/96 upgrade is not planned due to high prices of usable components (this will rise the price of one unit up to 80 EUR / 90US$). Sorry guys!

**dj_stick** · Sep 18, 2005, 01:11 AM

travelrec - there's a page on the kX website that states the 10k2 (audigy) chip can be synced to a S/PDF clock, while the 10k1 can't…

TravelRec. · Sep 18, 2005, 11:14 AM

Yes, that´s true, but this is not really a syncronizing, only resampling, isn´t it?! SPDIF works in every case, but not I2S. This is a hard wired input to the 10k2 that cannot be synced from the outside.

george_ioa · Nov 14, 2005, 05:58 PM

Hi All !

First of all many thanks to all of you for making all this info available.

I have gathered all the required chips for a high-end A/D converter (PCM4202 and friends). I ‘m thinking of using some Audigy card for the interface to the PC (I have an Audigy, Audigy 2 and Audigy 2zs).

The goal is to not use any on board AD, and if possible use only I2S for the absolute synchronization it provides. I have no problem hacking the board to disconnect the existing ADCs, if they use I2S (or any other common format) for the interconnects.

After reading all the postings in this thread and the KX help file, I would like a couple of things clarified :

- Which card is better suited for digital source 24/96 recording (using kx ofcourse)?

- Will I be able to record true 24/96 using i2s and/or SPDIF on the Audigy 1 card ?

- If I am forced to use SPDIF will the board mess with my data (DSP or anything else) when doing multi-track recording ?

- Is the Audigy 2 ZS’s connector the same with the Audigy 2’s ?

I want to avoid SPDIF because my experience has showed that jitter from clock recovery is far too much even in the best of receivers for the quality I want to achieve (even for 16 bit systems is a major burden).

I will be more than glad to share all construction details with anyone interested. Completion is not going to be too soon though cause my schedule is quite heavy…

Thanks for all the help

George

Sep 13, 2004, 11:18 AM	Thread Starter #182
TravelRec. Alternative Audioproductions Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Germany / Sachsen-Anhalt Posts: 1,710 Rep Power: 0	Cool, you get it working. I donÂ´t really understand what you said about out and in, but anyway - it seems to work... Midi-in from interface has to be wired to Midi-in of AUD_EXT / AD_EXT and Midi-out to Midi-out, thatÂ´s right. The interface simply drives that pins of the card. Externally (from the equipment to the interface and vice versa) you connect the midi-cables twisted (out->in). Greetings! TravelRec. __________________ Always take a look behind.

Oct 1, 2004, 09:52 AM	Thread Starter #185
TravelRec. Alternative Audioproductions Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Germany / Sachsen-Anhalt Posts: 1,710 Rep Power: 0	Fine to know! Post a pic of your mounting design ! Greetings! TravelRec. __________________ Always take a look behind.

Oct 25, 2004, 08:18 AM	Thread Starter #187
TravelRec. Alternative Audioproductions Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Germany / Sachsen-Anhalt Posts: 1,710 Rep Power: 0	Hi all there! The first module of "Analog to SPDIF converter", built by another guy, is running! It is a coaxial version. I will post the minor changed layout for it in the next few days. Greetings! TravelRec. __________________ Always take a look behind.

Oct 25, 2004, 01:19 PM	#188
Samir kX Lover Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 520 Rep Power: 0	Eej, TravelRec, any recent news/changes on 'analogue to i2s converter'? __________________ MU3NKA 3A HAPO6!

Oct 26, 2004, 07:15 AM	Thread Starter #189
TravelRec. Alternative Audioproductions Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Germany / Sachsen-Anhalt Posts: 1,710 Rep Power: 0	No, not really - what do you want to know? __________________ Always take a look behind.

Sep 12, 2004, 11:16 PM	#181
Panther30 DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 30 Rep Power: 0	TravelRec, direct wiring the midi port worked fine. we had the connectors on the card end backwards the first time we tried it (out to in and in to out) and had to swap them. the correct way is midi out wire to midi out on the card and midi in wire to midi in on the card. your help was invaluable. Thanks very much, ----Panther30

Sep 13, 2004, 05:42 PM	#183
Panther30 DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 30 Rep Power: 0	well yeah I guess that is what I meant. we connected the wires trom the port to the card twisted as well then.... but we fixed it.

Oct 1, 2004, 04:34 AM	#184
Panther30 DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 30 Rep Power: 0	TravelRec, okay we have the gameport style midi interface mounted now in the case and it is working perfectly. 27 hours after the first trial test, I accidentally pulled the soldered wires from the port while working inside my computer. we used some silicon based caulk around the soldered wires when we buiolt the interface this time to help hold the connection between the midi interface and the soundcard together. It works! (again) later, ---Panther30

Oct 1, 2004, 08:58 PM	#186
Panther30 DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 30 Rep Power: 0	I wish I could... I dont own a camera right now... but when I can get one, I will post a pic of the mounting design.

Oct 26, 2004, 12:26 PM	#191
Samir kX Lover Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 520 Rep Power: 0	Well, TravelRec, I was seriously thinking about building 2xAnalog stereo to i2s converter, to make these Audigy2's inputs busy & clear & clean, but only it these would support 24/96... Maybe we should consider building whole new "input module"! Imagine; Your 2x(or 3x) "cheap & easy to make LowNoise Guitar/Mic PreAmp" to 2 x i2s (+ 1x to spdif)... What do you think? __________________ MU3NKA 3A HAPO6!

Oct 27, 2004, 06:37 AM	Thread Starter #192
TravelRec. Alternative Audioproductions Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Germany / Sachsen-Anhalt Posts: 1,710 Rep Power: 0	Ahh yes - I understand. Okay, but I really need to know whether the Audigy2zs I2S is a output for BitClock and FrameSync or not to implement that correctly in the layout. IÂ´ve no card for testing this and for the 24/96 support I must say, that this will be a lot more expensive than 16 (18)/48, due to newer and harder to get components. And finally - I canÂ´t test the support anyway with my Audigy1 --- so if you can say what I have to create (with no warranty) then I will do so. __________________ Always take a look behind.

Sep 16, 2005, 08:12 PM	#193
Panther30 DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 30 Rep Power: 0	Hey, i know it's been a while since I built the midi port for my audigy card, but I finally have a few pics on my website under "work area and midi port pics" on my main page. Here is the link. www.techthisout.biz

Sep 17, 2005, 12:12 AM	#194
mensan DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 28 Rep Power: 0	Is there any chance this project is updated to 24/96? And may i ask if by any chance it could get a master clock to which the Audigy could be slaved? I know it is not the first time i ask this around here but this time the place seems to be more appropriate and the question more clear. And of course many many people would love it!!

Sep 17, 2005, 05:16 PM	Thread Starter #195
TravelRec. Alternative Audioproductions Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Germany / Sachsen-Anhalt Posts: 1,710 Rep Power: 0	The audigy cannot be clocked as a slave, definately! It runs fixed at the own oscillator and the 10kX is not made to work with other frequencies afaik. You only can add external Sample-Rate-Converters or A/D-Converters (all of them as slaves) to use the I2S inputs (have done this successfully), but nothing more. 24/96 upgrade is not planned due to high prices of usable components (this will rise the price of one unit up to 80 EUR / 90US$). Sorry guys! __________________ Always take a look behind.

Sep 18, 2005, 11:14 AM	Thread Starter #197
TravelRec. Alternative Audioproductions Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Germany / Sachsen-Anhalt Posts: 1,710 Rep Power: 0	Yes, that´s true, but this is not really a syncronizing, only resampling, isn´t it?! SPDIF works in every case, but not I2S. This is a hard wired input to the 10k2 that cannot be synced from the outside. __________________ Always take a look behind.

Nov 14, 2005, 05:58 PM	#198
george_ioa DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1 Rep Power: 0	Hi All ! First of all many thanks to all of you for making all this info available. I have gathered all the required chips for a high-end A/D converter (PCM4202 and friends). I ‘m thinking of using some Audigy card for the interface to the PC (I have an Audigy, Audigy 2 and Audigy 2zs). The goal is to not use any on board AD, and if possible use only I2S for the absolute synchronization it provides. I have no problem hacking the board to disconnect the existing ADCs, if they use I2S (or any other common format) for the interconnects. After reading all the postings in this thread and the KX help file, I would like a couple of things clarified : - Which card is better suited for digital source 24/96 recording (using kx ofcourse)? - Will I be able to record true 24/96 using i2s and/or SPDIF on the Audigy 1 card ? - If I am forced to use SPDIF will the board mess with my data (DSP or anything else) when doing multi-track recording ? - Is the Audigy 2 ZS’s connector the same with the Audigy 2’s ? I want to avoid SPDIF because my experience has showed that jitter from clock recovery is far too much even in the best of receivers for the quality I want to achieve (even for 16 bit systems is a major burden). I will be more than glad to share all construction details with anyone interested. Completion is not going to be too soon though cause my schedule is quite heavy… Thanks for all the help George