PlanetZ forums - scopeusers.com

What is the preferred way to link two separate machines, ADAT or Z-Link?

I have cards enough for two machines, and I figure I would use one for synthesis, the other for mixing and effects. Or something like that.

Should I transfer audio over ADAT or Z-Link?
Are there any latency or routing capability differences?

I use ADAT btwn computers. 4 stereo tracks for synths/effects etc is plenty.
16 in/out with Z-link hooked to an A16 Ultra is hard to beat.

Ok, sounds good.

I have two cards with ADAT (Pulsar II and a Luna w. ADAT board), so that's a clear possibility.
But I have four cards with a total of 5 Z-Link connections, so that's a viable alternative.
I seem to remember that both do 8 channels of Audio, but the Z-link does duplex, whereas ADAT is simplex (as in needs pair of fibre, rather than one cable).

Or am I mistaken about Z-Link?

I doubt that Z-Link will work. I usually make Scope/Xite to be the master. I don't know of a scope/xite can also be a Z-link slave.

no it can't. no z-link to z-link.

ADAT works great anyway, and you can use AES/EBU alongside it to the other box in most cases as well which gains you more channels, especially useful at higher samplerates.

garyb wrote: ↑Fri Feb 12, 2021 10:09 pm no it can't. no z-link to z-link.

Ah - I was suspecting this.
It's only for attaching IO-devices (A16, Luna 2496 etc) it seems.

valis wrote: ↑Fri Feb 12, 2021 11:03 pm ADAT works great anyway, and you can use AES/EBU alongside it to the other box in most cases as well which gains you more channels, especially useful at higher samplerates.

Ok - I will use the ADAT connections for interconnecting audio, then.

thanks for the feedback.

If you’ve got too many z-link and you want more ADAT you might want to think about posting an even trade. I think there are quite a few guys that are looking for z-link cards.

yayajohn wrote: ↑Sat Feb 13, 2021 3:50 pm If you’ve got too many z-link and you want more ADAT you might want to think about posting an even trade. I think there are quite a few guys that are looking for z-link cards.

Ok, good point.
But most people seem to want Z-link plates for Pulsar II or Power Pulsar (etc) to use with the outboard gear.
For pure Z-link I have 2 x Luna and a power-sampler.
That would mean people needing an extra PCI-slot.
Not sure if that is interesting...

OTOH I have enough ADAT for linkng the two computers.
Not entirely shure how more ADATs would benefit (compared to DSPs )