D8B/Liquid Saffire 56/ProTools9

[peterkeys]

Hey all..Newbie here..I just picked up Liquid Saffire 56 and ditched the old Digi002. I had few problems with Digi002 and D8B using lightpipe for expanding inputs to 16 on 002, but now I can't seem to get D8b play nice with LQ56.. When I switch D8b to 44.1 to match session setting, I get digital cracks n pops as if the clock is not correct. Also not seeing signal to inputs..Any thoughts/solutions would be helpful.
Thanks
Peter Keys

[tmarkov1]

Peter.

See my post about d8b and Cubase. I posted a lot of pertinent information about this sort of setup.
I also have a Focusrite LS56. You need to use a 75ohm cable with BNC connectors and use the LS56 as the master clock. So, connect the Word Clock out from the LS56 to the Word Clock in on the d8b. Go to Sync setting in the Setting menu on the d8b and make the Mackie sync to Word Clock. That should free up your crackling noises. As for the audio, what sort of tape i/o cards do you have? My setup has 1 analog i/o and 2 adat i/o. If yours is the same, using the db25 to TRS snake, connect all your analog outputs (1-8) to the line inputs of the LS56. And use optical cables to hook up tape out 9-16 and 17-24. You will have to route your d8b channels to tape outputs. For simplicity sake, I will assume that you will assign channel to channel. 1-1, 2-2, 3-3 and so on. Above the TIMECODE display, press the button that says ROUTE TO TAPE. Next, press the select button for Channel 1, then Press the ASSIGN button on channel 1. You can route Any channel to Any output using this method. Now, within ProTools, your first 8 inputs will be the Analog sends 1-8. The next 2 will be the SPDIF inputs on the rear of the LS56. The next 16 will be the ADAT 1/2 (9-16, 17-24) and then the last 2 are the DSP "loopback" channels that you can route "DAW Return" channels to within Saffire Mix control panel.

Clocking the devices is KEY. You don't necessarily need to use the WORD Clock as your Sync Master. You can use SPDIF out. Just make sure that you use a HIGH QUALITY 75 RCA-RCA video-type cable. Monster Cable works best and can be readily purchased at a Best Buy or a WalMart. If you have the Apogee Clock card installed (which, if you don't you SHOULD), you can opt to use the d8b as your Clock Master. In Which case, using either the Word Clock or SPDIF, reverse the connectors (ie.. d8b word clock out/spdif to the LS56 word clock in/spdif in) and within Saffire Mix, assign the Sync Source to the respective input.

You can get some info on Sync and Clocking here: http://www.sweetwater.com/expert-center ... 08/03/2001

I hope this helps. Also, check out my other post about my setup here: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=775

Happy Tracking.

Tavon Markov
Horizontal Experiment Productions
Erie, PA


d8b Tape Out to Liquid Saffire Input List

d8b Tape Out 1 ------> 1 - Analog 1
d8b Tape Out 2 ------> 2 - Analog 2
d8b Tape Out 3 ------> 3 - Analog 3
d8b Tape Out 4 ------> 4 - Analog 4
d8b Tape Out 5 ------> 5 - Analog 5
d8b Tape Out 6 ------> 6 - Analog 6
d8b Tape Out 7 ------> 7 - Analog 7
d8b Tape Out 8 ------> 8 - Analog 8
---------------------------- 9 - SPIDF L
---------------------------- 10 - SPDIF R
d8b Tape Out 9 ------> 11 - ADAT A 1
d8b Tape Out 10 ------> 12 - ADAT A 2
d8b Tape Out 11 ------> 13 - ADAT A 3
d8b Tape Out 12 ------> 14 - ADAT A 4
d8b Tape Out 13 ------> 15 - ADAT A 5
d8b Tape Out 14 ------> 16 - ADAT A 6
d8b Tape Out 15 ------> 17 - ADAT A 7
d8b Tape Out 16 ------> 18 - ADAT A 8
d8b Tape Out 17 ------> 19 - ADAT B 1
d8b Tape Out 18 ------> 20 - ADAT B 2
d8b Tape Out 19 ------> 21 - ADAT B 3
d8b Tape Out 20 ------> 22 - ADAT B 4
d8b Tape Out 21 ------> 23 - ADAT B 5
d8b Tape Out 22 ------> 24 - ADAT B 6
d8b Tape Out 23 ------> 25 - ADAT B 7
d8b Tape Out 24 ------> 26 - ADAT B 8
------------------------------ 27 - Loopback L
------------------------------ 28 - Loopback R

[OscarPro1]

Hi Peter, welcom on board!

Tavon has listed the crux of your set up needs. I used a Liquid Saffire 56 in my last setup similar to yours. Just a quick question. Are you running a Mac or PC platform. I ask simply because there are driver issues when it comes to PC and the Liquid Saffire 56, where as on the Mac it ran pretty smoothly. Just a thought

All the best,

Andy

[bbb]

Peter.


Clocking the devices is KEY. You don't necessarily need to use the WORD Clock as your Sync Master. You can use SPDIF out. Just make sure that you use a HIGH QUALITY 75 RCA-RCA video-type cable. Monster Cable works best and can be readily purchased at a Best Buy or a WalMart. If you have the Apogee Clock card installed (which, if you don't you SHOULD), you can opt to use the d8b as your Clock Master. In Which case, using either the Word Clock or SPDIF, reverse the connectors (ie.. d8b word clock out/spdif to the LS56 word clock in/spdif in) and within Saffire Mix, assign the Sync Source to the respective input.

[/list]

Just to avoid possible confusion, If you DO NOT have the Apogee Clock card installed, then the D8B MUST be set to Internal, and serve as the Master Clock.

Happy New Year to all,
Bruce Brody

[peterkeys]

Wow.. You guys are AWESOME!! Thanks so much for all the info.. I was able to get everything to work..so far..Unfortunately I don't have the Apogee word clock, and I can't seem to find one anywhere, but I was able to use the lightpipe i/o to slave LS56..The problem seemed to fix itself when I attached the adat out from LS56..I was only sending from the D8b at first... Oscar; I am running a Mac, but I am also running windows7 on Open Labs Neko LX5 using Reaper as a sequencer template slaving from Akai MPC5000.. ProTools is the master clock to the MPC, but I guess now the D8b is the master clock..confusing, but it seems to work. Tavon: I have 3 apogee digital i/o cards..and just the stock clock..Thanks again guys!
and Happy New Year!!
PK

[OscarPro1]

Well it's I good that you're up and running. The guys on the forum always come through. They did for me anyhow:-) just to clarify. If you have the mackie stock word clock card installed, then it won't slave, it doesn't have that option in the "Digital I/O" set up menu. But as you've configured word clock through lightpipe/adat LS56 and chosen your sample rate from the Pro Tools session, the D8B word clock will recognise, lock and sync accordingly. Keep a look out online for an Appogee Word Clock card, and also on the forum, I'm sure you'll find one - it makes all the difference.

Have a happy new year..

Andy

[peterkeys]

Can I route the TDIF out to the LS56?

[OscarPro1]

What I/O cards do you installed on the D8B?
TDIF would require a 25 Pin D-Sub - TRS cable from D8B to Line Ins on the LS56. Alternatively get a A/D coverter with TDIF or Lightpipe out to route the signal.

Andy

[Casey_Pittman]

Can I route the TDIF out to the LS56?

TDIF is Tascams digital output and should not me confused with Their standard db-25 analog outputs. So unless you have analog cards in your desk, the only other db-25 output will be the bus/surround output. Or, if the Saffire actually has a TDIF port on it(which I doubt).

-Casey

[frama78]

some issues here too with D8b and LS56. I don't get it work properly. No Apogee Card here as well. Do I have really to connect spdif out from the consoles Digital I/O-Card to the spdif in of LS56 besides to the adar 1 and 2? what do i have to select in the menu of the SL56? Sync to word clock cinch or optical cinch? is ADAT Sync or "Use Adat2 as Optical SPDIF" needed?

sorry... thats all totally new for me.. confused