Digital Outputs & Clocking

ASP880 outputs AES/S/PDIF and ADAT simultaneously at 44.1, 48, 88.2 or 96 kHz.

AES and S/PDIF

The rear-panel DB9 connector carries eight channels of transformer-balanced AES digital output. Leave the AES / S/PDIF switch out for professional AES operation.

Press the switch to change the DB9 output to consumer S/PDIF format, including its lower signal amplitude. The channel pinout is shown in the Block Diagram.

ADAT SMUX

Sample rate	Optical connection	Channels
44.1 or 48 kHz	Top ADAT port	Channels 1–8
88.2 or 96 kHz	Both ADAT ports	Four channels on each port for channels 1–8

At 88.2 or 96 kHz, connect two optical cables for all eight channels.

ASP880 as clock master

1. Connect the ASP880 AES/S/PDIF or ADAT output to the interface or recorder.
2. Press SAMPLE RATE until the required sample rate is selected.
3. Set the receiving interface, recorder and DAW session to the same sample rate.
4. Set the receiving device’s clock source to its AES, S/PDIF or ADAT input as appropriate.

Both digital formats remain active simultaneously, so the second format can feed another recorder.

ASP880 as an external-clock slave

1. Connect the master clock output to the ASP880 WORD CLOCK input using a 75 Ω BNC coaxial cable.
2. Press SAMPLE RATE until the LOCK switch flashes green. This selects external-clock mode.
3. When a valid clock is detected, the green indicator becomes solid.
4. If ASP880 is the only or last device in the word-clock chain, engage the rear-panel 75 Ω termination switch.
5. If a BNC T-connector is used to distribute clock, terminate only the final device in the chain at 75 Ω.

important

Use only one clock master in the system. Incorrect master/slave configuration, sample-rate mismatch, unsuitable cabling or incorrect termination can cause clicks, pops or failure to lock.