HELP!!! d8b to SRD 24/96 Signal issues

[taffyh40]

Hi all.

I have been generously given a d8b and SDR 24/96 for my school (I', A Music/Music Tech Teacher) and I am having some issues.

I am unable to get a signal to the SDR from the the desk. I have run the test tone on the 24/96 and that comes nicely through the d8b so I have signal flow going one direction but not from desk to the recorder.

I have set clock on both according to manuals, sample rate is the same, assigned channels correctly (I hope) so I am stuck. Any suggestions and advice would be greatly received. I have students who are familiar recording straight to DAW from usb interface but I am desperate to give them studio experience using a desk.

Thanks in advance for any of you genius' who can help.

Taff

[Y-my-R]

Hi Taff,

How did you connect audio between the SDR and the D8B? What I/O cards are installed on the D8B?

Since the SDR has 3 pairs of ADAT I/O, as well as 3x8 channels of analog audio on DB25 connectors, you'd have to interconnect the SDR and D8B using either of those.

Unfortunately, DB25 connectors are used for a variety of formats on different cards for the D8B, that aren't compatible with each other. Cards in the D8B may have analog I/O on DB25, or TDIF (8-channels in digital Tascam format) on DB25, or AES/EBU on DB25.

To make it even more confusing, one type of card even has ADAT optical AND DB25 connectors on it. That's the DIO-8. If you happen to have these kinds of cards installed, then you'll have to use the ADAT optical connectors. The DB25 connectors on the DIO-8 cards are the digital Tascam format (not the 8-channel analog format as used on the SDR for DB25).

If that's all connected right (and the sync set up correctly, as you said you did), then it's probably a routing issue from the D8B. Did you route each of the channels "to tape" for the same channel number? So, hit the "Route to Tape" button in the "Assignments" section so it lights up. Then select channel 1 - push the "Assign" button for it. Select channel 2 - push the "Assign" button for it... repeat 22 times for the remaining channels.

Once that's done, and the connections are right, I think the SDR should see audio coming in from the D8B (at least if record-enabled - not sure if that's necessary on those. I don't have an SDR).

My desk isn't on right now, so I'm not 100% sure if that's the exact workflow... but it should go something like that

Best of luck!

[Phil.c]

I'm also not familiar with a SDR has it got an Auto record button?
With a name like Taff you should be Welsh?

[taffyh40]

Thans for that Y-my-R. I'll go through this morning and check everything. The d8b has 2 ADAT cards installed as channels 1-8 & 9-16. I believe everything is connected correctly, according to both d8b and SDR manuals. One issue I noticed before I finished last night was that, is if I select and Chanel 1-8 on SDR, Channel 2 activates with the other channel. for example, select 6 and 2 will also activate. Could this be a fault with there ADAT card on the d8b?

Thanks for your help I'll let you know how I get on

And Phil, yes I am Welsh.

[taffyh40]

Ok Phil.c & Y-my-R, We have an auto input button, is that what you mean. Sorry I am a bit off a novice with record. I'll run Live sound all day long, those desks (analogue) are easy but I am still finding my way around this. Don't think it has auto record however. So update. I can get channel 7 recording although 2 also lights up and causes cracking/popping. I am also getting popping on other channels. I would hazard a guess at poor cables/ Optic leads?

I have updated software on SDR and I still get the Channel 2 problem.

Hope my waffle makes sense. Again any help greatly appreciated

[taffyh40]

Sorry folks, latest update. popping sounds very regular, enough to spoil any recording. However 1-8 are now recording (2 still activates with each channel) no joy with 9-16

[Y-my-R]

Is channel 2 activating (Rec/Rdy, I guess?) on both, the D8B and the SDR, or only on one of them? Troubleshooting would be different, depending on this.

Did you try deleting your startup session from the D8B yet by any chance, to make sure that any crazy routing settings by the previous user are gone, and the desk starts with it's default settings? (Go to the desktop, the harddrive icon, and where your sessions are stored - find a file called "Startup"). If not, I'd suggest to delete (or hide/backup if you want), then re-start the desk. The file should be re-created automatically, but with default settings.

If you're using the ADAT connections, you can check pretty easily if the optical cables are connected in the right direction.
Turn down the Master Fader on the D8B, and the Speaker Level and Headphone controls, too - ideally, turn off your speakers, too.

With both of the devices on, there should be a red light on each of the ADAT Output jacks on the SDR and the D8B (it's not a laser and not dangerous to your eyes - I still wouldn't stare at it for a long time, though). When you connect an optical cable to the first optical port where the red light comes out (e.g. ADAT Out 1 on the SDR), and connect the other end to an ADAT Input port on the other device that does NOT light up and is dark (e.g. ADAT In 1 on the D8B), and then do the same thing in the other direction, but always red-light (out) to no-light (in), then the ADAT cables are wired correctly. Repeat the same thing for ADAT ports/pairs 2 and 3 (I understand that you don't have a 3rd ADAT card, so skip that one for now).

You said you already set up the Word Clock Master/Slave thing as necessary, right (one needs to be Master, the other Slave - connected via a BNC Word Clock cable, and the termination turned ON on the SDR, if it has such a setting)? That cable connection is necessary... or at least the D8B cannot sync to a digital connection that also has audio on it, to do the wordclock sync (i.e. the D8B can't sync to the ADAT or S/PDIF digital input when running as a word clock slave. A BNC cable has to be used for this. This is different on common computer audio interfaces, where you can simply sync to an ADAT or S/PDIF input.. this doesn't work like that on the D8B, and it's probably the same thing on the SDR).
Or to ask another way around... does the device that is set to Word Clock "Slave" say "Locked" in it's Sync settings? If not, this could also cause the clicks you hear (or it could cause that you hear no audio at all).

[taffyh40]

Thanks for the in-depth Advice. I believe every thing is set up correctly, ADAT optic cables, word clock cable, master and slave etc. However I think I'm going to delete start up on d8b as suggested and then completely strip down and rewire/cable the whole setup, methodically and see how that goes. Much appreciate the help you guys offer

[Phil.c]

Are you still living in Wales, if so what part?

Hope the new Startup works