i have a syncplate, but no wordclock, is there any benefit to having one if its not in use with a wordclock, ?..
i have an a16 ultra which i use as master and patch into a API A2D with spdif out, ...now if i connect a bnc cable from the ultra to the api i get rid of alot of crackle, but its from the wordclock 'in' to the bnc of the api that gets rid of the 'lot of crackle', if i don't connect it there is alot of crackle
if i connect bnc from a16ultra wordclock out to api , i get no signal because there is not wordclock, next i'll have to rent a Big Ben wordclock, cause i can't get rid of the small crackles
tiny crackles from scope with spdif/a16ultra as master
I can't believe I found your post tonight. I have spent the whole evening trying to figure out why I'm getting crackling across all 16 input channel of my A16 Ultra. I thought my A16 was breaking down and I was NOT happy considering all the other problems I've had with my Creamware gear.
To cut a long story short I found that the EX board was the problem (kinda). Disconnect the EX board from the Luna and the crackling goes. Obviously then I lose the second Z-Link buss. Lucky for me I have the benefit of a second (brand new) EX board which I haven't tried yet. I tried swapping my Luna card into my second computer system (replacing the Luna that's already in there) and the crackling did not occur.
I should mention that I am using my A16 Ultra in Z-Link slave mode (slaving to SFP). SFP is being clocked by a Nuendo Timebase through a Sync Plate connected to the EX board.
Note also that crackling stopped when 96kHz, 32kHz and mostly with 44.1kHz. The crackling was worsened by using Z-Link or ADAT A as the input receiving sync. When I used only ADAT I/O B and slaved the A16 Ultra to ADAT the crackling stopped.
In my opinion there are two possible explanations.
1 - The EX board in my main computer is dying which is why when I swapped my Luna from that system into my secondary system the crackling stopped.
2 - Scope 4.5
It's the only thing that's really different from my secondary system which is running on Scope 4.....
To be continued..........
Cheers,
AudioDan
To cut a long story short I found that the EX board was the problem (kinda). Disconnect the EX board from the Luna and the crackling goes. Obviously then I lose the second Z-Link buss. Lucky for me I have the benefit of a second (brand new) EX board which I haven't tried yet. I tried swapping my Luna card into my second computer system (replacing the Luna that's already in there) and the crackling did not occur.
I should mention that I am using my A16 Ultra in Z-Link slave mode (slaving to SFP). SFP is being clocked by a Nuendo Timebase through a Sync Plate connected to the EX board.
Note also that crackling stopped when 96kHz, 32kHz and mostly with 44.1kHz. The crackling was worsened by using Z-Link or ADAT A as the input receiving sync. When I used only ADAT I/O B and slaved the A16 Ultra to ADAT the crackling stopped.
In my opinion there are two possible explanations.
1 - The EX board in my main computer is dying which is why when I swapped my Luna from that system into my secondary system the crackling stopped.
2 - Scope 4.5
It's the only thing that's really different from my secondary system which is running on Scope 4.....
To be continued..........
Cheers,
AudioDan
well, this is kind of an orphaned thread, as what's mentioned above has been handled in another thread in the 'Problem Solving' section.
It's entirely different from your situation and was most about a misunderstanding of the 'master/slave' terminolgy.
With an external wordclock and syncplate supplying Scope (already), the A16U should be set to BNC sync, too - as ZLink adjusts itself according to Scope's main clock (in my humble understanding).
If ZLink isn't capable to do that (which I doubt, but dunno for sure), then Adat transfer is almost certainly the better alternative, regarding signal quality, as no regeneration of the clock signal from the optical cable is required at sync on BNC
cheers, Tom
It's entirely different from your situation and was most about a misunderstanding of the 'master/slave' terminolgy.
With an external wordclock and syncplate supplying Scope (already), the A16U should be set to BNC sync, too - as ZLink adjusts itself according to Scope's main clock (in my humble understanding).
If ZLink isn't capable to do that (which I doubt, but dunno for sure), then Adat transfer is almost certainly the better alternative, regarding signal quality, as no regeneration of the clock signal from the optical cable is required at sync on BNC
cheers, Tom
The unfortunate side effect of using ADAT is that you either lose half your channels or you're limited to 48kHz. Not that it's a big deal but I'd like to have the option. The other aspect is that I use my A16 Ultra as an ADAT interface to and from my Fostex D2424 via the Z-Link.
I have to admit, I have never been able to get audio to transfer to and from the A16 Ultra to Scope via Z-Link when it was in any other mode than Z-Link Slave mode. I don't remember it having worked with Word Sync but then I also don't remember specifically setting out to try it.
One thing I have to point out though is that the crackling only occured in one of my computers. The other computer actually has more Creamware cards in it, but still includes 1 x Luna II + 1 x EX Board + 1 x Sync Plate and is also being clocked off the Timebase in exactly the same way and there is no hint of crackling. In fact the peak margin indicators show a slightly lowered noise flow as well.
Anyway, I'll do some card juggling tonight and I'll test your suggestion that the A16 should be clocked from Word instead. Thanks for the info astroman.
Cheers,
AudioDan
I have to admit, I have never been able to get audio to transfer to and from the A16 Ultra to Scope via Z-Link when it was in any other mode than Z-Link Slave mode. I don't remember it having worked with Word Sync but then I also don't remember specifically setting out to try it.
One thing I have to point out though is that the crackling only occured in one of my computers. The other computer actually has more Creamware cards in it, but still includes 1 x Luna II + 1 x EX Board + 1 x Sync Plate and is also being clocked off the Timebase in exactly the same way and there is no hint of crackling. In fact the peak margin indicators show a slightly lowered noise flow as well.
Anyway, I'll do some card juggling tonight and I'll test your suggestion that the A16 should be clocked from Word instead. Thanks for the info astroman.
Cheers,
AudioDan
That was actually supposed to read "noise flaw" in the previous one.
Anyway! Problem solved for me now too. It was as I suspected. Swapped out the EX board and the crackling disappeared. Ironically the EX board that was having troubles worked fine in my second computer so it's possible it neded to have its cables re-connected to clean contacts or it needed to be disconnected completely from power. Something vague and rudimentary like that.
As unconvincing as all this sounds, the point is I'm back on track.
Cheers,
AudioDan
Anyway! Problem solved for me now too. It was as I suspected. Swapped out the EX board and the crackling disappeared. Ironically the EX board that was having troubles worked fine in my second computer so it's possible it neded to have its cables re-connected to clean contacts or it needed to be disconnected completely from power. Something vague and rudimentary like that.
As unconvincing as all this sounds, the point is I'm back on track.
Cheers,
AudioDan