896mk3 & SPDIF questions

[wackocrash5150]

This might sound quite dumb but here goes.

I have an 896mk3 and a Presonus DigiMax FS for expansion with all inputs being used. I also have a ART Digital MPA-II on the AES/EBU input. They are all linked via BNC for wordclock.

Occasionally when not recording, we'd like to use the setup to just listen to regular tunes (CDs and MP3s). The motherboard of the DAW has a SPDIF output that I can route in Windows to be only used for Windows Media Player. Can I go from the SPDIF output on the DAW to the coaxial input of the 896mk3 and out through the main outputs?

[1nput0utput]

If the computer's sound card can produce an uncompressed stereo S/PDIF signal, then yes, you can do what you've described. However, some low-end sound cards can only output compressed multi-channel digital audio (for connecting to a digital surround sound receiver). The 896mk3 can't do anything with that type of signal.

[wackocrash5150]

So basically as I understand it; as long as I have the same bit-rate and sampling rate, (24-bit/96khz or 24-bit/48khz) going into the unit in say a PCM format, I shouldn't have any issues? Forgive my ignorance but not having a wordclock on my PC will not create any problems?

Again let me say that I have no intention of recording this input, just to route it back out the amp and through the stage monitors for tunage.

[1nput0utput]

The bit depth is not as important as the sample rate and the digital audio format. If the computer outputs DTS- or AC3-encoded audio on that coaxial output, then it absolutely won't work. If by chance it outputs uncompressed S/PDIF, then it should work fine. Since patching through that signal isn't critical (and it doesn't really matter if you hear a click once in a while), you can probably get away with the computer sound card's timebase running free (not synchronized to the 896mk3 or the rest of the audio system).

[wackocrash5150]

Thanks much 1nput0utput. It worked perfectly. Just the occasional click/pop when the sound first starts. My only dilemma had to do with the PC rather than the rest of the setup. I hooked up a SPDIF bracket to the digital out header on the motherboard and it caught on fire. Well maybe not fire but there was alot of smoke. Odd considering that header just puts out signal. Anyway, my motherboard also has optical SPDIF out do I remembered that i had a optical to coaxial converter. Just used that to run into the RCA SPDIF on the 896mk3 and now I have tunes .... WHOOHOO!!!

Also, after a thorough check over, the PC was fine after I removed the melted cable. While on it wouldn't even fire up! I thought I'd fried the motherboard.