#Bnc word clock how to#
#Bnc word clock driver#

S/PDIF and ADAT cannot be used simultaneously on an Apollo 8p. The optical TOSLINK ports on the Apollo 8p can be switched between S/PDIF or ADAT via the Console > Settings > Hardware page. The Apollo Firewire and Apollo 8 offer simultaneous usage of the S/PDIF ports and ADAT ports. On an Apollo Firewire or an Apollo 8, the S/PDIF format offers stereo I/O over a RCA-type (coaxial) digital connection. Please note that the secondary device will also need to support the S/MUX protocol in order to function as expected at higher sample rates. You can just use 1 cable each way if 4 channels is enough at 88.2 or 96 kHz or 2 channels is enough at 176.4 or 192 kHz. However, 2 cables are required in each direction to achieve 8 channels at 88.2 or 96 kHz, or 4 channels at 176.4 or 192 kHz. However, you can still use the outputs from the Monitor unit and the inputs from the Expander unit to connect to external gear.įor more detailed instructions on multi-unit Firewire setups, please review this article.Ī single ADAT cable (TOSLINK) in each direction is all that is required to pass 8 channels of digital audio at sample rates of 44.1 or 48 kHz. In a Firewire multi-unit setup, the two Apollos must be connected to each other via ADAT (from the ADAT out of the Expander unit to the ADAT in of the Monitor unit). This internal clocking all happens behind the scenes, so all you need to remember is to use the Word Clock Out on the Monitor Apollo unit to send the clock signal to other external equipment (such as a second interface). Within a Thunderbolt multi-Apollo setup, the Monitor unit's clock signal is distributed through the host computer over Thunderbolt to the other Apollos. In a multi-unit setup, the Apollo designated as the Monitor unit will be responsible for sending and receiving Word Clock to or from equipment outside of the Apollo system. If you are also looking for additional outputs from your Apollo, connect an additional cable from the ADAT output of the Apollo the ADAT input of the other device. If you only are looking for more inputs, then you only need to connect from the ADAT output of the third party device to the ADAT input of the Apollo. Then, connect the digital cables that you are planning on using with the second interface.

#Bnc word clock driver#

This article will present a generic guide to configuring such a setup that should be applicable to whatever particular interface or converter you might have.įor this article we will use the Apollo as both the main device (i.e., the one whose driver is selected by your DAW software) and the clock source (i.e., the one that will feed a digital clock signal to the other unit).įirst, please connect your Apollo Firewire, Apollo 8, or Apollo 8p as you normally would to your host computer with a Firewire or Thunderbolt cable.

#Bnc word clock how to#

Customers often contact us for advice on how to connect a third party interface or standalone preamp / converter digitally into their Apollo Firewire, Apollo 8, or Apollo 8p to expand its I/O.