Clock Source - MOTU Traveler-mk3 User Manual

Clock Source

The Clock Source determines the digital audio
clock that the Traveler-mk3 will use as its time
base. For a complete explanation of synchroni-
zation issues, see "Making sync connections" on
page 26. The following sections briefly discuss each
clock source setting.
Internal
Use the Internal setting when you want the
Traveler-mk3 to operate under its own digital
audio clock. For example, you may be in a situation
where all you are doing is playing tracks off hard
disk in your digital audio software on the
computer. In a situation like this, you most often
don't need to reference an external clock of any
kind.
Another example is transferring a mix to DAT. You
can operate the Traveler-mk3 system on its internal
clock, and then slave the DAT deck to the
Traveler-mk3 via the S/PDIF connection (usually
DAT decks slave to their S/DIF input when you
choose the S/PDIF input as their record source) or
via the Traveler-mk3's word clock output (if your
DAT deck has a word clock input).
If you would like help determining if this is the
proper clock setting for your situation, see
"Making sync connections" on page 26.
Word Clock In
The Word Clock In setting refers to the Word Clock
In BNC connector on the Traveler-mk3 rear panel.
Choosing this setting allows the Traveler-mk3 to
slave to an external word clock source, such as the
word clock output from a digital mixer or another
Traveler-mk3.
S/PDIF
The S/PDIF clock source setting refers to the
S/PDIF RCA input jack on the Traveler-mk3. This
setting allows the Traveler-mk3 to slave to another
S/PDIF device.
M O T U A U D I O S E T U P
Use this setting whenever you are recording input
from a DAT deck or other S/PDIF device into the
Traveler-mk3. It is not necessary in the opposite
direction (when you are transferring from the
Traveler-mk3 to the DAT machine).
For further details about this setting, see "Syncing
AES/EBU and S/PDIF devices" on page 29.
AES/EBU
The AES/EBU clock source setting refers to the
AES/EBU XLR input jack on the Traveler-mk3.
This setting allows the Traveler-mk3 to slave to
another AES/EBU device.
Use this setting whenever you are recording input
from a DAT deck or other AES/EBU device into the
Traveler-mk3. It is not necessary in the opposite
direction (when you are transferring from the
Traveler to the DAT machine).
For further details about this setting, see "Syncing
S/PDIF and AES/EBU devices" on page 46.
ADAT Optical A / B
The ADAT optical clock source settings (ADAT
Optical A and ADAT Optical B) refer to the clock
provided by the Traveler-mk3's two optical inputs,
when either one is connected to another optical
device. These two settings only appear in the Clock
Source menu when their corresponding optical
bank input is enabled and set to the ADAT Optical
format, as explained in "Optical input/output" on
page 41.
This setting can be used to resolve the
Traveler-mk3 directly to the optical input
connection. Most of the time, you can set up a
better operating scenario that uses one of the other
synchronization options. However, there may be
occasions when you have an optical device that has
no way of synchronizing digitally to the
Traveler-mk3 or an external synchronizer. In this
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