WTB AES/EBU Dsub cables PDI8 to PDI8. Also a TDIF

[yeskeys]

well, I should have my new (to me) Mackie HDR this week. I have 4 PDI cards so I'm going to start w/ 16 tracks - anybody got any cables that they'd like to unload? Also need one TDIF cable. I can paypal.

Thanks in advance.
Eric

ericv8@cox.net
804 218 2472

[Petersueco]

Hello Eric.

I think that the PDI-8 route is the most expensive way to interface a d8b and an HDR, just because you will need two snakes for every 8 tracks.

You may want to roll your own cables using two 25-pin D-sub connectors.

Here you have a PDI-8 Pinout Identification Chart if you decide to go that route.

The cheapest way to interface both unit would be using OPT-8 cards and ADAT fiber optic cables.

Take a look at the Mackie Hook-Up Guide too.

Peter Holmquist.

[yeskeys]

Well, I got the 4 PDI cards with my d8b. I'm trying to spend as little money as possible - this system isn't going to generate much revenue. I figured I'd start out w/ 16 tracks using the 4 PDI cards. All I'm missing is cables!
I don't understand - won't I only need one cable, w/ 25 pin D-subs on each end, for each pair of PDI cards ?? Maybe I am misunderstanding, but I thought each card handled bi-directional audio.

From the Hookup Guide:
"Because each pair of AES/EBU signals are multiplexed
and sent through a single wire, you only need one 25-pin connector to send AND
receive eight channels of AES/EBU. You need to use this connector with a special
AES/EBU “snake” cable that splits out to (4) male and (4) female XLR-style connectors
on the other end."

Am I missing something?

[yeskeys]

Oh yeah... I forgot - Thank you for your response!

A local guy has 4 snakes (CableUP AES) - 25 pin on one end and XLR's on the other. can I mate 2 of the snakes with XLR to XLR, then connect each 25 pin to my PDI cards? Union a pair of cables?

Now that I think about it, that's what you were saying in your original response....isn't it.

thanks.

[Petersueco]

Exactly. You need two cables connected through the XLR connectors. I don't know if you can find cables with two 25-pin D-sub connectors that will work from one PDI-8 card to the other. I believe that some cross wiring is needed.

What cards are in the HDR? I would expect it to have OPT-8 cards installed.

If that is the case, you should keep one of the PDI-8 cards and put it into the ALT slot in the d8b to interface with external FX gear digitally and sell or swap the other three PDI-8 cards for OPT-8 cards. Fiber optic cable are not that expensive.

Peter Holmquist.

[yeskeys]

Thanks again for helping me out. The HDR is coming with no cards in it - so for now I'm going to pick up the 4 AES snakes and start rocking w/ 16 In/out.
I appreciate it.
Eric

This is amazing. I now have an awesome digital hardware rig with only about a grand invested!

[carnesaudio]

Nice... it cost me around $15k in '01.
Matthew Carnes

[High C Double G]

Hi (YMMV)... but...

Just a thing everyone might know from other forums and the Internet, etc... TDIF I think is a "crossover" but the AES/EBU is a straight through. I am sorry but I have minimally have used these in the past and do not know the particulars, but it seems that cables might be less expensive than buying cards and certainly more available. Check out a AES/EBU to AES/EBU D-sub cable and get the right length you should be happy linking the HDR to the d8b this way. That's all I got.

Carnesaudio... I hear you, it ain't a Porsche 356, a Shelby cobra, or a '50 fender no-caster. the funny thing is --- it performs really well, and those items were being "thrown away" in the '60's - well maybe not the Shelby... anyway hopefully you get my drift.

Hope this helps,
Michael

[yeskeys]

well..I bought 2 hosa AES/EBU Dsub cables, and they don't work properly - I can only get 8 channels of audio into the hdr, they are tracks 5-9 and 13-16 ( all PDI cards in first two slots on both d8b and hdr), and no audio returned from the hdr. argh. (Assigning an input to tape 1 out routes to input 5 on the hdr, etc.)

So, if I set aside the PDI cards and stick a DIO card in both the d8b and the hdr, can I use standard optical cables to wire them up? I have cables that I used to digitally transfer audio out of a Roland S-770 some years back - it fits the connectors...should work, correct?

thanks.