RME HDSPe AIO [44/81] Digital connections

User's Guide HDSPe AIO © RME

23. Digital Connections

23.1 ADAT

The ADAT optical I/O of the HDSPe AIO is fully compatible to all ADAT equipped units. RME's

unsurpassed Bitclock PLL prevents clicks and drop outs even in extreme varipitch operation,

and guarantees a fast and low jitter lock to the digital input signal. A usual TOSLINK cable is

sufficient for connection.

ADAT In

Interface for a device sending an ADAT signal to the HDSPe AIO. Carries the channels 1 to 8.

When receiving a Double Speed signal this input carries the channels 1 to 4, at Quad Speed

channels 1 and 2. Can also be used as SPDIF optical input.

ADAT Out

Interface for a device receiving an ADAT signal from the HDSPe AIO. Transmits channels 1 to

8. When sending a Double Speed signal, this port carries channels 1 to 4, with Quad Speed

channels 1 and 2. Can also be used as SPDIF optical output.

23.2 AES/EBU

The HDSPe AIO breakout cable provides one XLR AES/EBU input and output each. Connec-

tion is accomplished using balanced cables with XLR plugs. Input and Output are transformer-

balanced and ground-free.

Besides the audio data, digital signals in SPDIF or AES/EBU format contain a channel status

coding. The incoming channel status is completely ignored.

The output signal coding of the HDSPe AIO has been implemented according to AES3-1992

Amendment 4:

• 32 / 44.1 / 48 kHz, 64 / 88.2 / 96 kHz, 176.4 / 192 kHz depending on the current sample rate

• Audio use

• No Copyright, Copy permitted

• Format Professional

• Category General, Generation not indicated

• 2-Channel, No Emphasis

• Aux Bits Audio use, 24 Bit

• Origin: HDSP

AES/EBU and SPDIF can contain an Emphasis information. Audio signals with Emphasis have

a strong high frequency boost and thus require a high frequency attenuation on playback.

An Emphasis indication gets lost as there exists no standardized interface on computers to

handle this information!

Operation as second SPDIF I/O

Thanks to a highly sensitive input stage

SPDIF coaxial can be fed too by using a

simple cable adapter phono/XLR. To

achieve this, pins 2 and 3 of a male XLR

plug are connected individually to the two

pins of a phono plug. The cable shielding

is only connected to pin 1 of the XLR -

not to the phono plug.