#511226 - 03/25/04 09:48 PM
Do I need a dedicated word clock?
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Jason Poff
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Registered: 05/11/01
Posts: 330
Loc: Lexington, Ky.UNITED STATES
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Hey guys,
I'm getting ready to upgrade some gear and I'm not sure how it's going to all work together. I'll be using a Lucid AD 9624 into an O1V96. The O1V will hit my g5 through a Dakota 16 ch. ADAT i/o. At mixdown, audio will come back out the Dakota, into the O1V, and then into a Benchmark DAC-1. Do I need a wordclock box for this gear to play nicely? Apparently the Lucid and Benchmark converters have great clocks already. What do you all think?
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#511227 - 03/26/04 03:13 AM
Re: Do I need a dedicated word clock?
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natpub
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Registered: 11/25/03
Posts: 96
Loc: Austin, TX
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The improvement may be fairly subtle, but if you are after perfecting things, I would consider a BigBen.
KT
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#511228 - 03/26/04 07:17 AM
Re: Do I need a dedicated word clock?
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errol
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Registered: 05/25/01
Posts: 319
Loc: Amsterdam,,NETHERLANDS
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Also consider the rosendahl nanosync.
It's for what I know still the best box available.
_________________________
cut-n-clear Mastering and cdr/dvdr copy centre
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#511229 - 03/26/04 08:07 AM
Re: Do I need a dedicated word clock?
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Philip O'Keefe
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Registered: 12/17/00
Posts: 17674
Loc: Riverside,CA,UNITED STATES
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Or save some money and go with a Lucid GENx6 96 KHz. 
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#511230 - 03/26/04 04:09 PM
Re: Do I need a dedicated word clock?
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Dennis_dup2
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Registered: 08/28/01
Posts: 346
Loc: Elvisville,TN,UNITED STATES
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Phil, You said it man.
I have that box and i love it.
It used to me the master clock on all my digital stuff (TMD800/Motu 2408 MK2's) then i went totally in the box with Nuendo via 2 RME Multifaces. I still use the Lucid box.
Its not that expensive either.
The differences are more than subtle. Tightened up low end, smoother hi's!
In a digital system, its more important than good pres.
Dennis
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#511231 - 03/26/04 06:42 PM
Re: Do I need a dedicated word clock?
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Jason Poff
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Registered: 05/11/01
Posts: 330
Loc: Lexington, Ky.UNITED STATES
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I've learned that a quality master clock will definitely improve sound. I guess my question is do I have to have one for the gear listed above to transfer my audio without sync issues like clicks and pops. I'm spending around $20,000 on this upgrade but there are all kinds of things I want / need that push me over budget. Here's a list of the whole deal:
AKG C451 s.d. condenser
U195 l.d. condenser
Vintech Dual 72 2 ch. preamp
Avalon U5 mono d.i.
Lucid AD9624 2 ch. a/d
O1V96 digital console
MY16AT 16 ch. ADAT i/o for O1V
MY4DA96 4 ch O1V d/a
OPM 310 10 ft. opt. Cable
Dakota PCI 16 ch. ADAT i/o mac
Apple G5 1.8 d.p. 512/160/
256MB333 256MB PC333 DIMM
MOTU DP4 Digital Performer
UAD1 Universal Audio PCI card
TC Powercore T.C. Electronics PCI card
InflatorP Powercore software
OXFR3EQ Powercore software
InstallS installation
LCD20Apple 20" lcd monitor
AppleCarePro mac support
GT050120 120 GB firewire drive
Benchmark DA1 2 ch. d/a
Yamaha NS10 studio monitors
Dynaudio BM15 studio monitors
Samson Sphones 4 ch. Headphone mixer/amp
Eden Metro 210 bass combo
What do you think, any glaring omissions or obvious conflicts?
Jason
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#511232 - 03/26/04 07:40 PM
Re: Do I need a dedicated word clock?
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Philip O'Keefe
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Registered: 12/17/00
Posts: 17674
Loc: Riverside,CA,UNITED STATES
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You don't NEED a dedicated word clock, but having one would probably improve the sonics, and would definitely reduce potential problems from daisy chaining WC. But you could, for example, have that Lucid A/D converter clocking the Yamaha, have that sending clock out the lightpipe card to the MOTU, etc. etc. IOW, you can chain WC and it will work, but if you go with too long of a chain, or if you don't terminate at the proper spots (beginning and end of the chain ONLY), you will have issues.
The Lucid clock in in the $500 or so range. You can always add that later, but IMO, it would be a headache solver and well worth the added cost if you can somehow swing it.
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#511234 - 03/26/04 07:57 PM
Re: Do I need a dedicated word clock?
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Jason Poff
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Registered: 05/11/01
Posts: 330
Loc: Lexington, Ky.UNITED STATES
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Please educate me. What do you mean by "terminate at the proper spots," or rather, how do you mean? Also, do you have any ideas on what could be considered "too long of a chain"? Thanks so much.
Jason
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#511235 - 03/26/04 08:43 PM
Re: Do I need a dedicated word clock?
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Philip O'Keefe
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Loc: Riverside,CA,UNITED STATES
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Each end of a word clock chain must be terminated with a 75 Ohm resistor. Some devices are internally terminated, and some devices can have that switched on or off. You can run into problems with some devices (MOTU? I don't recall offhand) that are internally terminated but can't have the termination switched off. Another potential problem comes from devices that lack a proper word clock input on BNC jacks... if they have a S/PDIF or lightpipe (ADAT or S/PDIF) connection, they can usually get their word clock from the inbedded signal in those digital streams.
In general, the more interconnected digital devices you have, the more attractive a dedicated word clock generator becomes. IMO, I wouldn't want to have more than three devices chained - the master device (word clock master), then one device in the middle, and one device at the end, with both "ends" terminated, and the middle device with no termination.
You might want to do a search on "Word Clock" over on David's forum - it's been discussed in great depth over there. Lots of useful information. 
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#511236 - 03/26/04 10:04 PM
Re: Do I need a dedicated word clock?
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Jason Poff
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Registered: 05/11/01
Posts: 330
Loc: Lexington, Ky.UNITED STATES
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I'm starting to get it. Thanks Phil. By the way, what do you think of the O1V, likes, dislikes... you know. In particular, converter quality, preamps (hopefully more gain than aw4416. I'm also planning to use it to control digital performer. By the way, my fiance's parents live in Vegas and I will be visiting them this fall. We'll be in LA for a few days as well. I would love to check out your space and chat awhile.
Jason
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#511237 - 03/26/04 10:10 PM
Re: Do I need a dedicated word clock?
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Philip O'Keefe
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Registered: 12/17/00
Posts: 17674
Loc: Riverside,CA,UNITED STATES
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Sure, keep me posted as you get a better idea about the dates you'll be in town - would enjoy meeting you.
If you pop over onto my forum, there's a bit of a write up on how I have the 01V96 connected and configured... might be of interest to you.
All in all, I've been very pleased with it - and yes, there's about 15-20dB more gain on the mic preamps. 
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#511238 - 03/26/04 10:58 PM
Re: Do I need a dedicated word clock?
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Jason Poff
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Registered: 05/11/01
Posts: 330
Loc: Lexington, Ky.UNITED STATES
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Beautiful. Thanks, man.
Jason
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