V-Synth GT - S/PDIF Sync

There is no ability to sync the GT's spdif to another device. The other device must be synced via the GT's spdif output. The GT's spdif is capable of operating at up to 96khz.

Thanks Toncre8, that's just what I needed to know.

Which is actually very bad for a modern synth. I mean, what's the use of my mixer's 8 digital inputs if I can only plug in one of them at a time, because every device insists on being the digital clock master? :/

Well said Mickey.

I hope Roland consider adding support for this in future. The GT's digital I/O is only useful in the most simple setups as it stands.

Does anyone know of a little gadget that will reclock an incoming S/PDIF stream to an external clock ? Something along the lines of the Behringer Ultramatch or the Kurzweil DMTi. The former I'd rather not use if possible and the latter is no longer available IIRC.

Yes, there are devices depending on exactly what you want to do with your SPDIF output and input. But, there all either compromised / too expensive / too complex to be a viable solution - you pays yer money and take yer choice. Let me know what you want to do with your SPDIF and I'll try and point you in a direction.

Steve

Thanks Stevie.

Ideally what I'd like this magic box to do for me is take the S/PDIF output (coaxial or optical) from the GT, reclock it to an incoming wordclock (BNC) and then output the reclocked S/PDIF stream to my audio interface (coaxial or optical). Since the output of the GT can be switch between 44.1/48/96k I wouldn't need the box to resample.

The Behringer Ultramatch can do just that, but I am not sure that's the best solution.

What does the S/PDIF input on the GT expect in terms in clocking ? Does it expect that input signal is synced to the clock from the GT's S/PDIF output ? Or does the GT sync to the incoming S/PDIF clock when in sampling mode ? I am guessing the latter, which is presumably why you can't use it for the Audio Input oscillator type.

This looks promising : http://www.sonifex.co.uk/redbox/rbsc1_ld.shtml and it's kinda cute too

From what I could tell the Z-Systems z-link96+ might also do what I want.

Of course I'd much rather the GT received an OS update that allowed it to sync it's S/PDIF out to the clock received on it's S/PDIF in.

The GT is not alone is behaving the way it does. The Motif XS and also the Kurzweil K2661 are two other synths that insist on being master. The Motif XS only has S/PDIF out. Access and Korg on the other hand let you sync to external clock. Although Korg insist on 48kHz. Madness.

$5 you're Pendulum (drum'n'bass)

I am not one of the 3 Pendulum boys and my nick is not named for them, but I am a fan.

"Tonight, on this small planet we're going to rock civilization ..."

Love that album !

wow, loadsa questions!

To answer a few in one go; SPDIF has the clock source embedded in the signal which means ANY SPDIF signal is trying to be clock 'master'. This is also true of AES/EBU (but the electrical properties are different as is some 'header' information) and ADAT which is completely different. So, with this in mind:

What does the S/PDIF input on the GT expect in terms in clocking ? - None, the GT will lock in on the incoming data stream.

Does it expect that input signal is synced to the clock from the GT's S/PDIF output ? - No, the two operate indepently.

Or does the GT sync to the incoming S/PDIF clock when in sampling mode ? - Yes.

I am guessing the latter, which is presumably why you can't use it for the Audio Input oscillator type. - strange, I have an XT and when I get some time, I'll look into this, but this should be OK.

Of course I'd much rather the GT received an OS update that allowed it to sync it's S/PDIF out to the clock received on it's S/PDIF in. - Impossible because it's limited by hardware, it's just not the way it works.

ALL SPDIF equipped gear behaves the same way unless the instrument is capable of syncing to an external master clock, in which case, that 'master' frequency should be reproduced at the digital outputs.

Right, on to your actual problem solving magic box -

"Ideally what I'd like this magic box to do for me is take the S/PDIF output (coaxial or optical) from the GT, reclock it to an incoming wordclock (BNC) and then output the reclocked S/PDIF stream to my audio interface (coaxial or optical). Since the output of the GT can be switch between 44.1/48/96k I wouldn't need the box to resample."

In this description, there is actually no need to resync the SPDIF output. You could connect the GT straight to your audio interface. Why do you want to resync? The only time you need to resync digital signals is when mixing multiple channels to then run on one master clock.

For example, say you have two synths with SPDIF outputs which needed to be mixed together (just as analogue), in this case, both signals need to be mixed to one 'master' clock. This can then be converted to say another digital format or to analogue.

I have a very complex digital setup where I have four SPDIF equipped synths - input and output, which go from SPDIF on RCA plugs to AES/EBU on XLR and then converted to ADAT lightpipe into my Akai DPS24. And then I can go all the way back again using the Akai as a digital patchbay. This means I can transfer audio from ANY source to ANY destination all in digital.

Give me a precise run down on how you see your setup working and we can talk further.

Steve

"For example, say you have two synths with SPDIF outputs which needed to be mixed together (just as analogue), in this case, both signals need to be mixed to one 'master' clock ... Give me a precise run down on how you see your setup working and we can talk further."

I have a couple of synths with digital I/O and they are all connected to a pair of RME Fireface 800s, one of which is my clock master and the other is synced to it using a 75 ohm wordclock hookup. All of the synths get clock from the Fireface via their digital inputs, except one which takes wordclock on a 75 ohm coaxial cable from the Fireface.

The V-Synth is the only piece I have that has digital I/O but whose output can't be synced to external clock. Hence my question for re-clocking boxes.

Thanks for your thoughts thus far and any further thoughts you may have

So, are you saying that you've got three pieces of gear that you want to sync together? and then to what? - give me a concise and clear run down of what you want to do.

Steve

I have all my synths slaved to a single master clock, namely the Fireface 800. It's vanilla stuff, because they all support being synced to an external clock. I would like the GT, similarly, to be slaved to the FF800.

I think you may have replied whilst I was editing my previous post, so you may not have seen my clearer explanation of my existing environment.

Thanks.