SPDIF - causing freezes

geoffd99 · Post by **geoffd99** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 6:11 am

Hi all
I have a stable system, but I have just got a TC Electronic D2, and connected it via SPDIF as I don't have any spare analog.

It works OK if I use a sequencer and VST or samples, but if I use Scope synths, it freezes after a short period, typically 2 minutes or so.

I also get the PCI Overload mesage sometimes before it freezes.

Whilst frozen, the Scope synth still plays ok via midi, through the D2, which is even more weird. Then usually it stops altogether.

Sounds like competing for PCI bandwidth & SPDIF, but what is that all about? This is in a minimal project with Scope and one small synth (on 21 DSPs)

Have tested lots versions - USB on/off, things running in backgound/not; etc, it is this Scope synth situation only that causes freezing.

Thanks all.

Shroomz~> · Post by **Shroomz~>** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 8:16 am

Hey, nice delay unit

Few questions:-
1. What is master & what is slave?
2. Do you have SPDIF connected both ways?
3. Is the Scope_to_D-Two connection your only digital one & if not what else is connected & how?
4. Do you have a MIDI In & Out connected to the D-Two or just a Midi In sent from Scope?

Don't have a D-Two, but if you can answer those questions we might just see why you're having problems.

[ This Message was edited by: Shroomz on 2006-02-27 08:18 ]

geoffd99 · Post by **geoffd99** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 8:42 am

Scope is master; spdif both ways. It sounds fine, just freezes. No midi. No other digital, just P2 analogue out, & in used.

[ This Message was edited by: geoffd99 on 2006-02-27 08:43 ]

Shroomz~> · Post by **Shroomz~>** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 8:51 am

You may need to slave Scope. No other digital connections? No MIDI connected to the D-Two?
Last resort is sending analogue out to the Delay & receiving SPDIF back from it, with D2 set as master & Scope as slave.

Shroomz~> · Post by **Shroomz~>** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 8:53 am

we crossed over

Try slaving Scope to the D-Two, it should work.

geoffd99 · Post by **geoffd99** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 11:55 am

Thanks I will try it out.

Herr Voigt · Post by **Herr Voigt** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 2:47 pm

Is SPDIF both ways really possible? My SPDIF out is connected with the MD recorder and works fine, but when I try SPDIF in, it seems to be dead, but sometimes I'd like to use it.
I have 4.5.

[ This Message was edited by: Herr Voigt on 2006-02-27 14:48 ]

Shroomz~> · Post by **Shroomz~>** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 3:03 pm

It's best to just use one or the other (in or out) unless it's with different units (IE In from one, out to another via SPDIF), as for some reason, although theoretically it should work fine, it often doesn't. SPDIF one way or the other normally works fine. In your case, you'd have to try syncing Scope to your MD to get a SPDIF only input running as it should. .. afaik

[ This Message was edited by: Shroomz on 2006-02-27 15:03 ]

Herr Voigt · Post by **Herr Voigt** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 3:12 pm

Thank you Shroomz, I'll try it.

geoffd99 · Post by **geoffd99** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 3:26 am

Perhaps that is why I am having trouble - I have spdif in and out of the D2 (as I only have stereo analog on the Pulsar).
When I put Scope into Slave on spdif, and reset the D2, it stops making any sounds or actions on the synths - ie goes dead. So I don't fancy that much!
Perhaps the D2 will be on Ebay soon. I have also a Luna I could use for I/O, but I don't want 3 cards in my PC as it was a bit unstable so I simplified it down to the P2 and an SRB. I am on 4.0, since 4.5 messed up on the new devices, so I had them registered to my old SFP. SFP 4 = 4.5 as far as I know.

Shroomz~> · Post by **Shroomz~>** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 3:46 am

That D2 is a great (excellent) delay unit. Firstly, you should try my 'last resort' suggestion (if you can) which was to send analogue into the D2 & receive Spdif from it. Make the D2 master & Scope Slave. It should be noted that if you 'reset' your master digital device while Scope is running & slaved to it .. Scope would normally need to be reset afterwards, as you've just switched off it's master clock source. We've got Scope slaved to an O1V. If we switch off the O1V while Scope's running, of course we're going to loose our sync & Scope will need shut down & restarted, occassionally perhaps even the whole system, but I can't verify the latter, as we essentially don't switch off the O1V while Scope's running.

Firstly, set Scope to slave (probably at 44.1kHz) Make this setting as part of a default project if you wish. Now switch off the Scope machine.... Now the On/Off Sequence with Scope for your D2 as Master would be .. ...Switch on D2, set as Master, set clock rate, boot ur DAW & SFP with project which includes Scope preconfigured as Slave. You'll get a click or two as the syncs lock & now you should be able to rock

Shroomz~> · Post by **Shroomz~>** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 4:15 am

I just took a peek at the D-Two manual. Check page 13, which explains that when input mode is set to digital, the D-Two will try to lock (slave) to an external clock. When input mode is set to analogue it will default to it's internal clock. There's no master mode selection as such other than selecting analogue as the input source, but it should send out it's internal clock with the digital out signal. If you can't get that to work, it's back to running Scope as master sending Spdif to the D-Two set in digital input mode.
If you can't get it to work with Spdif both ways, just try using it's analogue output's, as it's 24bit converters should be top notch anyway.

Hope you find a solution other than Ebay

Shroomz~> · Post by **Shroomz~>** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 4:33 am

left a stone unturned, which is that you'll need to be using a decent quality Spdif cable/s. We've had success with normal high quality RCA phono in the past, but for reliable Spdif work, you should use proper Spdif cables which have the same sort of spec as BNC cables for wordclock (75ohm)

geoffd99 · Post by **geoffd99** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 6:42 am

If I use the analog out for the D2, I have no monitor out... so I can only watch the meters go up and down!
I had the D2 on aux on a mixer before, it sounds fine, I am not using spdif for quality, just lack of I/O.
Looks like the D2 won't be master, so I will either go back to analog Aux on the mixer, or remove it from the set up. (It is very nice, and I like a few buttons/knobs for delay fx).

My set up has become minimal by choice, but it does make it tricky/impossible since spdif is like this.
BTW I am using high quality leads.
Thanks for all the tips everyone!

Shroomz~> · Post by **Shroomz~>** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 10:35 am

An aux send from your desk with a digital return to Scope could work if Scope slaves to it ok, but you'd have to try that & it may not be worth it. You could quite cheaply add an I/O plate to your SRB without having to add the Luna.

Let me know your asking price if you decide to sell the D-Two though

geoffd99 · Post by **geoffd99** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 6:49 am

Hi Shroomz
I just sent you a PM