RME Audio Hammerfall Multiface II User Manual Download

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User's Guide HDSP System Multiface II

System Clock

Shows the current clock state of the HDSP system. The system is either Master (using its own
clock) or Slave (see AutoSync Ref).

SyncCheck

SyncCheck

indicates whether there is a valid signal (Lock, No Lock) for each input (Word

Clock, ADAT, SPDIF), or if there is a valid

and

synchronous signal (Sync). The

AutoSync Ref-

erence

display shows the input and frequency of the current sync source.

20.2 Clock Modes - Synchronisation

In the digital world, all devices are either the ‘Master’ (clock source) or a ‘Slave’ synchronized
to the master. Whenever several devices are linked within a system, there must always be a
single master clock. The Hammerfall DSP’s intelligent clock control is very user-friendly, being
able to switch between clock modes automatically. Selecting

AutoSync

will activate this mode.

In AutoSync mode, the system constantly scans all digital inputs for a valid signal. If this signal
corresponds with the current playback sample rate, the card switches from the internal quartz
(AutoSync Ref displays 'Master') to a clock generated from the input signal (AutoSync Ref dis-
plays 'Slave'). This allows on-the-fly recording, even during playback, without having to syn-
chronize the card to the input signal first. It also allows immediate playback at any sample rate
without having to reconfigure the card.

AutoSync guarantees that normal record and record-while-play will always work correctly. In
certain cases however, e.g. when the inputs and outputs of a DAT machine are connected di-
rectly to the Hammerfall DSP

AutoSync may cause feedback in the digital carrier, so synchro-

nization breaks down. To remedy this, switch the HDSP’s clock mode over to 'Master'.

Remember that a digital system can only have one master! If the HDSP’s clock mode is set
to 'Master', all other devices must be set to ‘Slave’.

The Hammerfall DSP's ADAT optical input and the SPDIF input operate simultaneously. Be-
cause there is no input selector however, the HDSP has to be told which of the signals is the
sync reference (a digital device can only be clocked from a

single

source). This is why the sys-

tem has been equipped with automatic clock source selection, which adopts the first available
input with a valid digital signal as the clock reference input. The input currently used as sync
reference is shown in the

AutoSync Ref

status field, together with its sample frequency.

Via

Pref. Sync Ref

(preferred synchronization reference) a preferred input can be defined. As

long as the card sees a valid signal there, this input will be designated as the sync source, oth-
erwise the other inputs will be scanned in turn. If none of the inputs are receiving a valid signal,
the card automatically switches clock mode to ‘Master’.

To cope with some situations which may arise in studio practice, setting ‘Pref Sync Ref’ is es-
sential. One example: An ADAT recorder is connected to the ADAT1 input (ADAT1 immedi-
ately becomes the sync source) and a CD player is connected to the SPDIF input. Try re-
cording a few samples from the CD and you will be disappointed. Few CD players can be syn-
chronized. The samples will inevitably be corrupted, because the signal from the CD player is
read with the (wrong) clock from the ADAT i.e. out of sync. In this case, 'Pref Sync Ref' should
be temporarily set to SPDIF.