AES/EBU to SPDIF, best and/or cheapest way?

2019-11-04 04:17:49

Hey folks,

I have an idea about this question already, but I want to get HA feedback.

Basically, I'm going to be purchasing a sampler which has AES/EBU XLR jacks for digital I/O, and I want to be able to connect it to my coaxial digital SPDIF sound card to record its' input.

There are converter boxes, which seem expensive, but from what I understand most AES/EBU to coax cables should work. Is that the optimal 'cheap but functional' solution? Are there any limitations? My objective is to get full digital sound in my system versus using the analog 1/4" outputs.

Regards,
- Spike

Re: AES/EBU to SPDIF, best and/or cheapest way?

Reply #1 – 2019-11-04 12:14:43

Maybe something like this can help you? http://www.funk-tonstudiotechnik.de/AES-EBU-Uebertragerkabel-192.pdf

Re: AES/EBU to SPDIF, best and/or cheapest way?

Reply #2 – 2019-11-05 05:25:22

Thanks for the reply.

Yeah, basically that is what I am looking for. It's less about knowing what to use, rather than, is this likely to work

It's going to be an E-MU sampler, likely an E4XT Ultra, and my sound card is an E-MU 0404.

Re: AES/EBU to SPDIF, best and/or cheapest way?

Reply #3 – 2019-11-06 10:40:29

Generally the cable mentioned by Fairy would be the right choice as it matches levels and impedances when converting AES/EBU to S/PDif.
As the protocols are slightly different there still is no guarantee that it will work without problems, though.

But if your soundcard is the EMU 404 from 2004 then you'll don't need the level and impedance matching but could use just an adapter cable equipped with an XLR at one end and a RCA at the other end; the soundcard offers only RCA digital inputs (transformer coupled) and the protocols (and maybe some matching elements) are switched by software.

Re: AES/EBU to SPDIF, best and/or cheapest way?

Reply #4 – 2019-11-07 03:13:16

Thanks a lot for your reply!! Very helpful.