Using A16u as sync master. (with zlink and aditional A16u)

endre70 · Post by **endre70** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 9:58 am

Good People!

I have unfortunately experienced tiny crackles in my new computer setup and are curently doing what ever it takes to get rid of them...so..one of the issues I am working on is to make one of my two A16U the sync master.

Some questions:

1) Is the A16U a better sync source then the the main scope board?

2) I am not using ADAT, but Zlink connectors between my boards and the A16's and asume that the principle of external sync/sync plate still apply.....?!

3) I hooked up the system with 75ohms BNC cables in the following chain: First A16U as master - > second A16U as slave -> sync plate set to ext.bnc/slave->Pulsar II board. I also loaded sync source into project and connected clk to asio 2 source. (Using Cubase SX3)

The system connected at 44.1khz but when playing audio, no audio can be heard (and no lights in the samplerate box are present).

Anything wrong with this setup?

4) What is Garyb doing right since he never seem to have problems with his setup's? It puzzles me.......

Many advanced thnxs to ya all!!

Endre70

Post by **garyb** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 11:22 am

what am i doing right?
i already experimented with exotic solutions and found that the basic stuff was all i needed....

i would make scope the master and sync both a16s to it.

you don't need the syncplate source module.

endre70 · Post by **endre70** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 12:34 pm

Thanks!

garyb wrote:what am i doing right?
i already experimented with exotic solutions and found that the basic stuff was all i needed....

I'm a meat and potato guy myself, I could even drop the meat if it ment that my system was 100% stable.

Reason for my experience with the sync is my looooong time scope friend's solution for some of his scope problems (crackles) at one point - though he did not have A16U converter. In this end of my rope - really worth a shot...if the A16U internal clock is better then the scope card that is...

I will ofcourse try other solutions as well, and drop the sync experiment if it's merely humbug.

So Garyb - "king of stable systems" and "lord of knowledge sharing"

; Is there no valid points behind this 'experiment' of mine.

Endre70

Post by **garyb** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 1:06 pm

well, maybe....
but not much.
if you really want to use wordclock to it's maximum potential, you want at least a clock distributor(so that both a16s receive clock signal simultaniously, not after clock has gone one through the other. better, would be a master clock/distributor. this would certainly be a better clock than either the clock or a16....

CarvinGuitarFreak · Post by **CarvinGuitarFreak** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 2:36 pm

Hi endre70,

What tiny crackles are you experiencing? My scope system has excellent stability. I've tried to sync of internal/external with 1616m, Lynx2, HDSP9652 and A16u all worked fine with ADAT.

I am thinking of this though but I dont know if I really need one?
http://www.mutec-net.de/e_pro_mc3.htm

Anyone used one of these?

Thanx
CGF

Post by **garyb** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 3:21 pm

i don't know if you need an external clock/distributor, but for the pinnacle of digital performance when many disperate devices are used, a master clock is the way. i haven't used the mutec(i have a rosendahl nanoclocks), but mutec is an established, quality product.

endre70 · Post by **endre70** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 3:39 pm

CarvinGuitarFreak wrote: What tiny crackles are you experiencing?

Typical 'not stable Scope system crackle'. Tiny ones that suddenly appears in the middle of recordings like a bastard!

Thought it was graphic card (got rid of some), done the typical tweeks, thought I should try clock source. It might be software or hardware (motherboard) - or still to much heat or something.

I need my system 100% stable (as we all do). But the hunt for the culprit continues. Damn these ext clocks are expensive. But if I need one I need one, and only time will tell I guess

Endre70

next to nothing · Post by **next to nothing** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 7:08 am

"Tiny ones that suddenly appears in the middle of recordings like a bastard!"

Just to make your life worse these ones can also appear with certain VST effects, especially compressors.

edit: ...whatever card you use.

Post by **garyb** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 11:09 am

yes, a vst effect that is overdriving will definitely crackle...

endre70 · Post by **endre70** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 3:47 pm

Thnx guys!

I know for sure it's not the vst effects. The crackles appears suddenly, and on all tracks (with or without VST fx).

The crakles comes after a while, and I have now added additional fans. Seems like my cards could well be overheating...

Will post findings later.

Endre70