Burl B2 ADC as Master clock or Slave? Converters clocking confusion!

[Doc Mixwell]

Originally Posted by TTTTM

I have a hybrid system with several analog compressors and eqs interfaced with PT HD 2

I just bought a BURL B2 ADC and now I'm wondering what would be the most appropriate way of clocking all these coverters.

My system is
1 x Burl B2 ADC
1 x Apogee AD-16x
1 x Apogee DA-16x
2 x Digidesign 96io

I use the Burl for overdubs and master printing and the apogee and 96io for hardware insert in PT HD.

Right now I have the Burl as Master sending the clock out to both apogee AD and DA trough the 2 clock outs it has in the back, then from the apogee DA to 1 of the 96io and from the apogee AD to the other 96io.

The system works but I'm not sure if that is the best way to do this. Also i'm confused about the termination, the Apogee have a button in the back the 96 and the Burl don't.

Do I need a Master clock?
Do I need to use those T connectors?
Should I use the Apogee as Master clock instead?

Any knowledgeable help is appreciated!

If I read your post correctly, you are using the DA16x clock output to feed the Digi? If so, I would advise against that! You don't want to take the clock OUT-IN-OUT-IN, of each device. That's where the T connector comes into play. It splits the single Word Clock output to the Word Input of each converter. You take the BNC output from the First, most important AD converter, and feed each device's input with short cable and T connectors at every device. Since the Apogee is terminated, you can just put those after the 96 I/O. They won't sound worse. The last device in the chain always needs to be terminated, so you can easily do this with the feature on the Apogee inputs, or get a simple terminating resistor to fit at the end of the BNC T Connector.

I think you have a good setup currently, with the Burl as the Master Clock on Internal. It will always sound best that way, and I never heard it get degraded on any external clock. I would just "daisy-chain" to the 96 I/O to the Apogee's and Terminate the DA16x. And then when the rubber meets the road, since you have good converters, each with great clocking, I think it really is only up to a preference as to what "sounds" better. I would suggest that you use your most important converters on Internal Clocking, as they SHOULD by all accounts operate and sound the best on their own clocking. This may not always be the case, for all devices far and wide, and it will be entirely subjective is there is any perceived difference.

Good Luck!

[TTTTM]

Adam,

Thanks a lot for the reply, it was very helpful!

My only question is, since the Burl has 2 clock outs, would it make sense to use both outs each one feeding 1 96io into 1 apogee terminated, instead of using only one out into 1 96 into the 2nd 96 into apogee AD into Da terminated?

My thinking being that in the first instance the clock would be running a shorter distance and going trough less T connectors to possibly degrade the clock (which I guess was the reason they put 2 clock outs on the BURL). Or am I over complicating this as usual?

[Doc Mixwell]

Ha!

Well, I did mis read your post...I thought you only had one 96 I/O.

This topic is always hairy. Maybe I need another cup of coffee.

So I would maybe try the BURL's First Clock output to the AD16x, daisy-T'd to the DA16x, terminated.

Then Use the Second Clock output of the Burl, to feed the First 96 I/O, and daisy-T'd to the Last Unit. Can't remember if the 96 I/O is 75 Ohm Terminated.

The Multiple Word outputs of the Burl is a great feature. Sure it might be better then a 'T" connector daisy chain. But at this point, I think as long as you have good cable, and short cable, you will be totally fine.