Kronos digital out

FloydG · Post by **FloydG** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 4:39 pm

Hi all. I do have a problem to connect my Kronos with my Focusrite 18i20 digitally. While the Focusrite offers SPDIF as coax, and Kronos is optical, I am using a Lindy converter. But it does not work: I want to record Kronos via SPDIF out into Focusrite and my DAW. I know, Kronos is at 48 khz, so I've set the intrface as well to that rate. But they do not synch.

If I change the direction, so use Kronos as recorder and chain them this way, setting the clock in Kronos to external, everything works and I can record the focusrite's out in Kronos. Meaning: cables etc. are right and working.

Question is: do I need to connect both ways (in AND out), if I want to have them clocked together to record Kronos via my Focusrite? By now I only connected them the simple way with one wire.
Has someone experience in such a configuration?

Comrad_Durandal · Post by **Comrad_Durandal** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 5:03 pm

Does the 18i20 support SPDIF in over Toslink? Some interfaces reserve the optical port for ADAT only. I know the Saffire Pro 24 and 40s allow you to assign SPDIF functionality OR ADAT functionality to the optical ports. It should be an option in the Mix Control software.

Converters are not bi-directional (most models). I have a Hosa unit that offers a Coax->Toslink and a Toslink->Coax connections - but you still have to remember to have the 'flow' going the right way as the converter is only one way. Sounds like your converter is meant for Coax->Toslink by your description - hence hooking it up in reverse doesn't work.

FloydG · Post by **FloydG** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 5:13 pm

Yeah, thanks for that, but no... Indeed even though the 18i20 is meant to be the usb version of the pro40, exactly this option is not given anymore. So you can't use the ADAT optical for that. That's contrary to what focusrite is writting in their adds... Maybe an argument for me to give it back.
Indeed, the lindy can be used either way, you have a switch to define what is the 'master' - tos or coax. And yes, I have changed the direction as needed. So I am aware...

So, if I understand you right it is not mandatory to have both connected, it is ok just to use one way, right?

burningbusch · Post by **burningbusch** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 5:22 pm

The two units need to be synched. The digital out from the Focusrite need to go into the Kronos. in GLOBAL==>BASIC==>BASIC set SYSTEM CLOCK to S/PDIF. The digital out of the Kronos goes to the in of the Focusrite. The Kronos gets its clock from the Focusrite. Make sure everything is 48kHz. I don't know if the convertor is the problem. I use this method with my Protools system and it works great.

Busch.

FloydG · Post by **FloydG** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 5:32 pm

Hah! That's what I wanted to hear... Even though I feared that. So I have to buy another optical wire, converter and cinch... Thought that Kronos will be automatically regocnized as 'master' by the focusrite. So the way is other way round... Focusrite is always the master sending the clock even though I only want to use the digital in of it? Again, throwing money...

FloydG · Post by **FloydG** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 5:52 pm

Thanks burningbusch for the hint. That clarifies my problem. Hopefully. I'll try that out.

Bakerman · Post by **Bakerman** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 6:13 pm

The Focusrite should be able to sync to the Kronos. Did you set Sync Source to SPDIF in MixControl?

FloydG · Post by **FloydG** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 6:22 pm

Bakerman wrote:The Focusrite should be able to sync to the Kronos. Did you set Sync Source to SPDIF in MixControl?

Yes I did. Tried out everything (not much options indeed). So I am able to set the source to ADAT, SPDIF or internal. And the rate, which has to be 48 khz. As said, the other way round it is working, so I can blackball wire problems. The point is that I assumed that Kronos is automatically set as 'master' which would be recognized by the focusrite... But it isn't.

Bakerman · Post by **Bakerman** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 6:49 pm

Is there any activity on the MixControl SPDIF level meters when you play the Kronos? If the 18i20 works like the Saffire Pro 24 (which I use) it will show level and let you monitor, even though there will potentially be artifacts from sync issues.

Comrad_Durandal · Post by **Comrad_Durandal** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 7:20 pm

Alright - lets try it this method - a step by step.

Wiring diagram:
--------------------
(If you want to send one or two channels of audio TO your Kronos, and/or supply it with a clock from the FocusRite)
18i20 Coax SPDIF Out -> Digital Coax Cable -> Converter In
*Converter does its magic*
Converter Out -> Toslink Digital Cable -> Kronos Toslink Optical In

(If you want to send digital audio out and/or supply your FocusRite a clock signal from your Kronos)
Kronos Toslink Optical Out -> Toslink Optical Cable -> Converter In
*Converter does its magic*
Converter Out -> Digital Coax Cable -> 18i20 Coax SPDIF In

Software:
------------
(For FocusRite to get clock from Kronos)
18i20: Set clock to SPDIF
Kronos: No changes, sends clock via digital out default

(For Kronos to get clock signal from FocusRite)
18i20: Set clock to Internal
Kronos: Control panel, set clock source to SPDIF

FloydG · Post by **FloydG** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 7:37 pm

Bakerman wrote:Is there any activity on the MixControl SPDIF level meters when you play the Kronos? If the 18i20 works like the Saffire Pro 24 (which I use) it will show level and let you monitor, even though there will potentially be artifacts from sync issues.

Nope. No activity. And I guess it is right because the Mix Control of the focusrite says 'no synch'.

FloydG · Post by **FloydG** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 7:43 pm

Comrad_Durandal wrote:Alright - lets try it this method - a step by step.

Wiring diagram:
--------------------
(If you want to send one or two channels of audio TO your Kronos, and/or supply it with a clock from the FocusRite)
18i20 Coax SPDIF Out -> Digital Coax Cable -> Converter In
*Converter does its magic*
Converter Out -> Toslink Digital Cable -> Kronos Toslink Optical In

(If you want to send digital audio out and/or supply your FocusRite a clock signal from your Kronos)
Kronos Toslink Optical Out -> Toslink Optical Cable -> Converter In
*Converter does its magic*
Converter Out -> Digital Coax Cable -> 18i20 Coax SPDIF In

Software:
------------
(For FocusRite to get clock from Kronos)
18i20: Set clock to SPDIF
Kronos: No changes, sends clock via digital out default

(For Kronos to get clock signal from FocusRite)
18i20: Set clock to Internal
Kronos: Control panel, set clock source to SPDIF

Exactly what I did. In addition, the magic of the converter only works if the switch is set either to 'in = tos' or 'in = coax', depending on the direction, you know what I mean.

The setting of the Kronos clock source only makes sense if it is the receiver, so if you want to receive information from focusrite. Other way round I didn,t find any settings like 'Kronos is master'. So what I understood by now is that I need to have both (spdif in AND spdif out) connected to set the Focusrite as masterr, no matterr what I want to achieve. So, two wires, two converters etc.

SanderXpander · Post by **SanderXpander** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 8:22 pm

Whether you're sending or receiving audio has no bearing at all on which of the machines is clock master, AFAIK.

FloydG · Post by **FloydG** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 8:50 pm

SanderXpander wrote:Whether you're sending or receiving audio has no bearing at all on which of the machines is clock master, AFAIK.

That's what I thought as well... But I don't know why it didn't work till now. Even though it all seems to be easily connectable, it isn't.

FloydG · Post by **FloydG** » Sun Jun 16, 2013 5:47 pm

So, received the second converter and cable - and it does not work. I can receive signals coming from the 18i20, but not otherway round.
Guess the Kronos SPDIF out is broken. Hmmmpf... When following all those discussions I am afraid to send in my Kronos for a repair, and I would have to wait weeks or months.