S/PDIF Help

I was reading some posts about S/PDIF on the MPC2000 forum. So I have a couple of questions:

If I have the option should I be using S/PDIF from my MPC 1000 to my MBOX instead of the 1/4" stero outs?

Can I use a standard RCA cable to do this?

Any thing else I should know about S/PDIF?

Do I have to turn on S/PDIF in my MPC 1000?

S/PDIF
Great question!!
this is something I would love to know about as well. I am stuck at a desk all day and have nothing better to do, at lunch I will read up on this. Anyone else have any input PLEASE! throw it in here.

so far I found that you do not need special cables (I think)
here is a link.

http://www.avcable.com/Merchant2/Product_CodeSPDIF.html

it says (rca rca)

I found this so it looks like your right...

The most common connector used with an S/PDIF interface is the RCA connector, the same one used for consumer audio products.

wait wait wait....
you can use rca but i dont recomend it. get a true digital cable because this is a digital connection.
you dont want to lose any qaulity going through spdif. i use this to link my digital mixer to my pc and my pc to my mixer. i also use this to go from my mpc to my mixer and back again. i used to use rca but you get some interferences and loss of qaulity on sound.

If I have the option should I be using S/PDIF from my MPC 1000 to my MBOX instead of the 1/4" stero outs?

Its really up to you. If you're using rack effects or if you need the Preamps on the MBOX, i would recomend using the Analog. But if you're going direct S/PDIF is going to sound a lot better.

Can I use a standard RCA cable to do this?

Yes, Standard RCA cables will do the trick. I think the only difference is between RCA and S/PDIF is the components quality, but its basicly the same cable

Any thing else I should know about S/PDIF?

Be aware of the sampling rate you're using. If Protools is running on 24bit when you sample to the MPC, you're going to notice a slow down of the sample

Do I have to turn on S/PDIF in my MPC 1000?

The S/PDIF out is always active and I think you can simultaneusly use the Digital and the Analog outs

Now, in the S/PDIF IN, whenever you sample, just change the mode from Analog to Digital

Hope this helps!

Thanks a million! I have wanted to know that for a long time now.


Baichai and Dannymon,
how do you use the digi out to act as 2 more outputs? is it realistic?
also, I don't have the manual in front of me but I tend to be impatient and want to know now.

to bad we cant turn the stereo into 2 more single outs as well.

what am I saying?, I tend to prefer to use the stereo outs along with the single outs, this way I can have more of a full sound. Don't matter I guess because when its all said and done were going to compress the piss out of it anyway.

so yea, feel free to PM or reply to this one, but I would like to know more about the usefulness of the S/PDIF. It seems you use it a bit.

you can use the stereo outs at 2 extra outs. this is what i do.
about the rca cables you can use them but as i said i always invest in good cables. if you go the rca route make sure you get a good qaulity pair and shielded if possible.

i use the digital outs and ins for a few things.
1. after doing my final mixdown on my 4416(digital mixer) i run the stereo mix to via digital out into the digital in of my pc. i then use sound forge to save the file as any file type then burn to cd.
2. run sounds that i want into a track from my pc into mixer or mpc.
3. run sounds from my mpc to my mixer.
4. run sounds from my mixer to my mpc
get it? hehe
however the main reason is reason 1. the reason i do this is because when i want my tracks to remain a clean as possible and digital will allow that to happen.

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how do you use the digi out to act as 2 more outputs? is it realistic?_________________________________________________________
No, i think you won't have an extra pair of Outputs, but you will have a an Analog St out running at the same time than your Digital St out

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to bad we cant turn the stereo into 2 more single outs as well.
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Yes you can. on the MPC1000 you can have 6 single outs if you want.

Lets say you want to have two sounds using the Main Stereo out as two single outs, just take sound 1 and pan it to the left, then take sound 2 and pan it to the right. Now you have 6 single outs instead of just Stereo out and 4 single outs

Thanks guys some great info here and I think that I am gonna try S/PDIF.