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S/PDIF vs analog outs

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dimgrim

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Saturday, March 24th 2012, 11:33am

S/PDIF vs analog outs

Hi everybody,

I would like to record the outputs of my virus and was wondering what are the benefits of S/PDIF vs the analog outs, or vice versa.
I am using Virus w/o the Virus Control plugin, MIDI through USB and audio through the analog outs at the moment connected straight to the input of a macbook (no external sound card used). Would connecting S/PDIF give me a better audio quality?

Thanks

boreg

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Saturday, March 24th 2012, 8:03pm

As far as I understand, for S/PDIF connection it is important that the two devices (Virus and souncard) are synchronized. Otherwise you'll likely get unpleasant artifacts. At least, I did when I tried it.
So I tried to synchronize the Virus to the souncard (MOTU Ultralite mk3), but it didn't like that, saying something to the effect "Bad clock at SPDIF input".
So I tried the reverse, Virus the master and MOTU the slave - the sound was OK, but then the MOTU wouldn't work at all unless Virus is on.
So I decided it's not worth the hassle and gave up, using USB or analog ever since.

Just my experience, yours may be different :)

dimgrim

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Saturday, March 24th 2012, 9:16pm

sure mate,

thanks for the input!
Out of what I have read I think I am sticking with the analog outs as well for the moment.
I was wondering if the sound quality is the same, better/worst.

nms

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Sunday, March 25th 2012, 10:47am

why don't you just use the VC plugin? The analog to digital conversion built into your mbp is certainly not what I'd advise using to record with!

dimgrim

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Sunday, March 25th 2012, 11:35am

let's say that I haven't had the best experience with the VC plugin..........

Fuseball

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Sunday, March 25th 2012, 3:41pm

If you can stretch to it, I would invest in a decent Firewire audio interface. It should give you far better results than the audio-in jack on the MacBook Pro. If you get an 8-input one then you can use all the analog outs from the Virus too. :)

You would need some kind of interface to use the S/PDIF output anyway.

dimgrim

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Sunday, March 25th 2012, 7:26pm

ok, makes sense.

I mistakenly thought that I could directly connect the S/PDIF of the Virus on a MBP input, but I guess it is not reasonable once the input is analog and the S/PDIF transmits digital.

How about a Duet, Fuseball? They praise its audio quality, but they seem overpriced for only two inputs.

nms

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Monday, March 26th 2012, 12:35am

If you want a good but small and inexpensive interface pick up a TC Impact Twin. If you use analog outs set the virus to clock at 48khz internally for better sound.

Fuseball

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Monday, March 26th 2012, 1:19am

The Duet looks nice but I would worry that I was paying for stylish looks over functionality. For around the same money you could get a Focusrite Saffire Pro 40, Presonus Firestudio or Motu 8Pre... all of which have 8 inputs.

I have a Motu 8pre, but the Saffire Pro 40 looks particularly good - 8 inputs, 10 outputs and even S/PDIF. If you need a more portable solution then maybe an Edirol FA-101, although I don't think the A/D convertors and pre-amps are quite as good as the others. I've gigged with a MacBook Pro and FA-101 without any problems though. The TC Impact Twin (as recommended by nms) also looks like a very good package. Only 4 inputs and outputs but excellent quality and also has S/PDIF support. Much more portable than a full-rack width unit so may be a better choice for use with the MacBook.

dimgrim

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Monday, March 26th 2012, 7:41pm

guys, thank you for the inputs!

I would like to add sth more here. I was informed that it is actually possible to connect the S/PDIF of the Virus into a Macbook Pro input.
The MBP input can take both analog or digital signal. In the second case it bypasses the internal A/D converters of the MBP's internal sound card.

I hear that the S/PDIF output of the Virus TI can give the best result. And it makes some sense. It produces digital signal anyway and by sending it through S/PDIF and not the analog outs, I just bypass the D/A converters of the Virus.

So all in all, it sounds good to try it out, if this way I can save up such a cost for a Duet for example. And the result would be sonically better as well. Because this way I avoid two convertions, one in the Virus and one in the Macbook Pro.

Please correct me if I am wrong and enlighten me.

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