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Z-Link question

Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2023 8:05 am
by yayajohn
Trying to sync an Xite z-link to a PCI Z-link.
Is this possible?
Doesn't seem to work.

Re: Z-Link question

Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2023 8:12 am
by t_tangent
Yes it should be possible. Are you sure the cables are ok, also make sure one side is set to slave and the other to master, same sample rate. And add Z-link modules to both sides routing windows

Re: Z-Link question

Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2023 8:24 am
by nebelfuerst
Is there a "Z-Link-slavemode" ?
I know, this kind of linking works with Adat, but I never tried Z-link.

Re: Z-Link question

Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2023 9:01 am
by Bud Weiser
nebelfuerst wrote: Sun Dec 03, 2023 8:24 am Is there a "Z-Link-slavemode" ?
I know, this kind of linking works with Adat, but I never tried Z-link.
I sync A16U via Z-Link to XITE-1 (Scope 7 x64) an do the same w/ A16U and Scope7 PCI x86.
I never tried to sync both systems directly via Z-Link,- but what´s the difference when setting 1 system (p.ex. XITE-1) to "master" and the other (Scope PCI) to "slave"?
Z-Link A and Z-Link B appear as sync sources in Scope XITE v7 samplerate settings window,- and IIRC,- it´s the same in Scope PCI v7.
I hope that´s correct for the PCI side.
So,- it SHOULD work as long it isn´t buggy.

:)

Bud

Re: Z-Link question

Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2023 10:57 am
by yayajohn
So it looks like it is not going to work based on my experimenting.
If anyone can confirm that they have it working then please let me know.
Thanks for all the input.

Dan

Re: Z-Link question

Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2023 11:48 am
by garyb
z-link only works one way. you can use ADAT or AES/SpDif to bridge between systems.

Re: Z-Link question

Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2023 7:26 pm
by yayajohn
Ok then i won't fiddle with it any further.
ADAT distance was a little too far and thought the Z-Link might work.
After reading the install manual I understand why now..
Thanks to all.

Dan

Re: Z-Link question

Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2023 11:13 pm
by garyb
distance is too far for ADAT?
you can go like 50ft and if that's not enough, just add a repeater(it's possible to go much further without a repeater, but...). i have gone over 150ft with no issues. you can go much farther than that.

Re: Z-Link question

Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2023 12:17 am
by valis
I had issues with ADAT in 20-30 ft cable runs in 2003, but none in this era. Most of that was related to the fragility of cables that were higher quality, and the low quality plastic used in the cheap ones (which were opaque enough to absorb a fair amount of light on longer runs). It's such an everpresent tech for consumers now it seams the biggest issue is the connectors fitting properly--or crowding each other out etc.

Re: Z-Link question

Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2023 7:29 am
by yayajohn
No, haha. I just had 2 extra long firewire cables and some not as long ADAT cables that came up a little short for what I was trying to connect.
I moved some gear around and all is well now.
Valis, i have run into that also with the plugs being oversized. Very aggravating that they seem to overlook the standard ADAT setup with the connections usually being close together. Prob not the case with audiophile equipment though.

Re: Z-Link question

Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2023 7:47 am
by Bud Weiser
yayajohn wrote: Sun Dec 03, 2023 7:26 pm Ok then i won't fiddle with it any further.
Why ?

Your original demand was "to sync an Xite z-link to a PCI Z-link" ... no ?

No word about bi-directional (audio-)data traffic between both workstations and via Z-Link.

I can imagine "sync" and "data traffic" in one direction via Z-Link.
Did or does that work ?

It might make sense when using the "master" workstation as a sound source generator only and record on the "slave" workastation (p.ex. running VDat).
I guess it would need MIDI sync in addition.

:)

Bud

Re: Z-Link question

Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2023 7:55 am
by Bud Weiser
garyb wrote: Sun Dec 03, 2023 11:13 pm distance is too far for ADAT?
you can go like 50ft and if that's not enough, just add a repeater(it's possible to go much further without a repeater, but...). i have gone over 150ft with no issues. you can go much farther than that.
I bought a couple of these for cheap ...
https://appsys.ch/en/products/extenders ... dx-64b-pro
100 meters (300+ feet) no problem.
Mine transfer ADAT and,- on demand,- wordclock in addition.
They lack the MIDI option,- which I planned to realize via rtpMIDI in a separate network anyway.

:)

Bud

Re: Z-Link question

Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2023 10:33 am
by valis
Latency <1µs

Will keep that in mind 🌞