Digital Connections; Adat; Aes/Ebu - RME Audio Fireface UCX II User Manual

21. Digital Connections

21.1 ADAT

The ADAT optical input of the Fireface UCX II is fully compatible with all ADAT optical outputs.
RME's unsurpassed Bitclock PLL prevents clicks and drop outs even in extreme varipitch opera-
tion, and guarantees a fast and low jitter lock to the digital input signal. A usual TOSLINK cable
is sufficient for connection.
ADAT In
Interface for receiving an ADAT signal. Carries the channels 1 to 8. When receiving a Double
Speed signal, this input carries the channels 1 to 4, at Quad Speed the channels 1 and 2.
ADAT Out
Interface for sending an ADAT signal. Transmits channels 1 to 8. When sending a Double
Speed signal, this port carries channels 1 to 4, at Quad Speed the channels 1 and 2. Can also
be used as a 2-channel SPDIF optical output.

21.2 AES/EBU

The Fireface UCX II's digital breakout cable (BO968) provides one XLR AES/EBU input and
output each. Connection is accomplished using balanced cables with XLR plugs. Input and Out-
put are transformer-balanced and ground-free. The incoming channel status is ignored.
AES/EBU (and SPDIF) can contain Emphasis information. Audio signals with Emphasis have a
high frequency boost, requiring high frequency attenuation on playback.
!
An Emphasis indication gets lost as there exists no standardized interface on computers to
handle this information!
Operation as second SPDIF I/O
Thanks to a highly sensitive input stage
SPDIF coaxial can be fed too by using a sim-
ple cable adapter RCA/XLR. To achieve this,
pins 2 and 3 of a male XLR plug are connect-
ed individually to the two pins of a RCA plug.
The cable shielding is only connected to pin 1
of the XLR - not to the RCA plug.
Using the cable adapter XLR/RCA described above, devices with coaxial SPDIF interface can
be connected to the AES output of the Fireface UCX II as well. Note that most consumer equip-
ment with phono (SPDIF) inputs will only accept signals having a Channel Status Consumer. In
such cases the above adapter cable will not work.
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User's Guide Fireface UCX II © RME