spdif connection on a Mac Pro?

Question

Level 1

8 points

spdif connection on a Mac Pro?

Hello,

I have a Mac Pro, but for some time I've recorded interesting stuff on my Fostex VF08 hard drive recorder. I want to transfer things from the Fostex to my Mac Pro, but the only way I think I can do it is by spdif.

Is there anyway to do this? What would I have to purchase?

I would appreciate any help.

Thanks,
feflower

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.4.8), Dual Core Intel 2.66; 2GB RAM, Logic 8

Posted on Jul 18, 2008 3:07 PM

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Answer 1

Jul 18, 2008 3:13 PM in response to feflower

MP has SPDIF already installed on the machine. It is however, the optical connection type rather than standard RCA. So... if your Fostex has SPDIF out optical on it (which I highly doubt), then you're good to go... If it's RCA, then you'll need to find a SPDIF conversion kit to do so. You can google search for converters, there are a variety out there, and some new gear you get may have a converter built in as well.

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Answer 2

yildox

Level 1

48 points

Jul 18, 2008 3:54 PM in response to feflower

doesnt the fostex VF08 have an adat light pipe port ? I think it would make things much easy via an audio interface with an adat port ? 8 in 8 out i/o .

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Answer 3

Jul 18, 2008 4:41 PM in response to feflower

All new mac have built in optical spdif, it's combined with the 1/8 analog jack. A cable like this will get you to a standard S/PDIF optical connection:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/OPQ215/

And a unit like this will convert that signal to the RCA S/pdif, if that's what your box has:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ODL276/

I believe you'll need an in and an out cable on both ends to transmit the word clock signal even if you're only planning on sending the signal one way.

If you're using RCA s/pdif cables be sure to use 75ohm cables with the good gold plated connectors.

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Answer 4

feflower Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 18, 2008 5:55 PM in response to MNMinstrel

Thank you very much all for your prompt responses. I'm not really adept at all this tech talk, so forgive me.

The Fostex does not have adat light pipe port (I'm not sure what this is, but the back of my unit doesn't have anything like that).

The Fostex does have "rca" spdif ports.

So just to confirm, all I have to do is purchase two cables and hook them up to those 1/8 ports in the back of the mac and to my fostex? and then ....then I'll read the manual again...

I'm also continuing to use my fostex as my portable recording unit until I can afford to get the Duet and a macbook....sigh...

Thanks again

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Answer 5

Jul 18, 2008 6:34 PM in response to feflower

No, you'll need two of the optical cables I linked, 2 high quality RCA cables, and a box like the one I linked. For what all of that will add up to, it's probably cheaper and more practical to just pick up a USB or firewire audio interface that has an RCA S/PDif connection.

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Answer 6

feflower Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 18, 2008 7:35 PM in response to MNMinstrel

Thanks for the reply.

I'm assuming USB or firewire, it doesn't make a difference in the quality, only in transfer time? I guess I should looking for gold plated connectors?

Any recommendations? I found these ones

Emu 0404

Focusrite Saffire

M-Audio Firewire 410

Anything more expensive than the M-Audio makes me think that I should just get the Duet and lug my Mac Pro around....

thanks again,
feflower

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