Traveler and wordclock problems

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Discussion related to installation, configuration and use of MOTU hardware such as MIDI interfaces, audio interfaces, etc. for Mac OSX
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robcollins
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Traveler and wordclock problems

Post by robcollins »

I have just had my Traveler exchanged because I thought it was faulty but the new one is the same.

When I plug anything into the SPDIF in and set to "spdif" in the wordclock setting all I get is the 48k light on the front flashing and distortion and popping coming out of my speakers.

I have even tried setting the unit to interal clock and feeding a Line 6 pod a wordclock out from the traveler (and making sure the pod is set to ext sync) and still no joy.the light stays on 44.1 (because I am using int. clock)

Sync via the adat and AES ins/outs is fine but I really need that spdif working. I have checked the cables and 5 different digital bits of gear with spdif outs and its' always the same.

Has anyone else had this / or able to try it?

thanks
MOTU DP 9.12 / M5 v3 / 112D / 16A / AVB Switch / MIDI Express XT USB
Fred2Mars
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Re: Traveler and wordclock problems

Post by Fred2Mars »

Hello Rob,

I do use the SPDIF in (coax) of my traveler, to log on from my DAT desk, and haven't had any problem at all.
I just make sure the clock source is set to SPDIF wether from the Traveler itself or from the MOTU firewire audio console.
(wordclock is of no use with spdif by the way).

Are you sure your source is OK ?
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robcollins
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Re: Traveler and wordclock problems

Post by robcollins »

Thanks for the reply,

can you elaborate on your last sentence about wordclock with SPDiF.
As I understood it, Spdif carries a clock signal , is that not the case?
MOTU DP 9.12 / M5 v3 / 112D / 16A / AVB Switch / MIDI Express XT USB
Thomboy
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Re: Traveler and wordclock problems

Post by Thomboy »

Wow, I'm having the same issue with a Line 6 POD Pro and the S/PDIF input. I also tried the Word Clock connector and "no go".

I wonder if if could be something on the Line 6 end. The POD Pro offers AES out as well. Maybe I'll see if that produces better results.

- Thom
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robcollins
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Re: Traveler and wordclock problems

Post by robcollins »

for the moment , I have the wordclock out of the traveler into the Pod Pro (set to ext sync) and using the AES out of the pod in to the traveler . This works fine. I have 2 pods pros (bass and guitar) and both SPDifs dont work properly when plugged into the Traveler.
Glad to hear (in a strange way) its not just me!
MOTU DP 9.12 / M5 v3 / 112D / 16A / AVB Switch / MIDI Express XT USB
Fred2Mars
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Re: Traveler and wordclock problems

Post by Fred2Mars »

Hello,
Yes I did mean that the SPDIF carries its own clock and doesn't require the use of a WORDclock connexion.
Althought it is consumer standard and not as reliable as AES + wordclock.
But I never had a problem with it.

What is happening when you connect your source (the pod) spdif out to a dat machine spdif in?
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robcollins
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Re: Traveler and wordclock problems

Post by robcollins »

"Yes I did mean that the SPDIF carries its own clock and doesn't require the use of a WORDclock connexion.
Althought it is consumer standard and not as reliable as AES + wordclock."

The reason why my setup required the wordclock out of my traveler to the w/c in on the pod was that the Traveler in my setup in the master clock source. On my previous system I was able to feed my Pod Pro a w/c signal and output a reliable spdif signal. I seems a few of us are experiencing issues with wordclock and spdif ins.
Maybe some sort of firmware revision can fix it.
MOTU DP 9.12 / M5 v3 / 112D / 16A / AVB Switch / MIDI Express XT USB
JohanBlome
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Post by JohanBlome »

Had the same problems yesterday i.e. not being able to sync to wordclock.
Has anyone succeded in syncing a Traveller to a wordclock? If so, how did you do this?
Precisly as Rob I also tried to have the Traveller to be master but it did not work either. Are the wordclock connections broken?

I tried to sync the Traveler to a Yamaha 01v96 which I have used the wordclock on many times with other adat sources/outputs...
/Johan
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robcollins
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Post by robcollins »

I went through four faulty Travellers before I had it swapped for a 2408mk3 (fortunately i had a G5 and not a laptop so I was not just restricted to firewire). My wordclock issues are now a distant memory.
MOTU DP 9.12 / M5 v3 / 112D / 16A / AVB Switch / MIDI Express XT USB
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Jidis
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Re: Traveler and wordclock problems

Post by Jidis »

robcollins wrote:"Yes I did mean that the SPDIF carries its own clock and doesn't require the use of a WORDclock connexion.
FWIW, to whomever may have both- The S/PDIF, ADAT, etc. can still carry the locked audio between devices, alongside whatever clock you're running, and you'll frequently see the BNC WC recommended over the others.

Guess it doesn't matter if those inputs aren't doing their thing though. :?:

Run good quality 75ohm cable, and you should be fine for S/PDIF. I run the ADAT clock with no extra WC connection, at almost max cable length and don't get any "noticeable" artifacts, but I haven't done any "phase invert" tests or anything. I've even had to run a cheap passive Toslink switcher when I had to use an ADAT converter which didn't approve of the 2408mk3's clock, and it still locked OK. (I probably wouldn't want to know what was inside that switch thing :wink: )

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JohanBlome
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Post by JohanBlome »

Hello Rob
You say this could be a hardware problem? I am able to sync with toslink but not wc. How could it be that so many devices (or at least your 4 device and my single one) could have the same error? What did Motu say?
/Johan
JohanBlome
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Post by JohanBlome »

Hello Rob
You say this could be a hardware problem? I am able to sync with toslink but not wc. How could it be that so many devices (or at least your 4 device and my single one) could have the same error? What did Motu say?
/Johan
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robcollins
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Post by robcollins »

To be fair, not all my problems were wordclock related - I had other issues such as faulty LCDs , audio outputs not working and in the case of one unit, the inability to power up properly. Regarding wordclock , Sometimes two bits of equipment just don't like each other and in this respect I found the traveler to be very picky.
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theodour
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Post by theodour »

I have a Stanton turntable with S/PDIF out.
I get static and pops when I connect to the Traveler's S/PDIF in as well.
After fooling around and trying different clock sources (turntable initially) I just gave up and resorted to audio in.
I assumed I wasn't using it properly (and this might still be the case), or that the Turntable has a bad S/PDIF port--but maybe there is a flaw in some of the Travelers.
barnee
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Post by barnee »

FWIW, I have 2 motu Travelers + 1 behringer ADA8000.

All this works correctly.
I used to link both Travelers with spdif, FireWire, with and without WC.
No troubles.

I even link both Travelers with FireWire, and add an ADA8000 to them using ADAT+WC.

No trouble.



I'd be more curious to know how you set up things in the Motu FireWire panel...Cause you all say that you plug SPDIF out to in but nothing about Motu FW panel.
Motu Traveler (x2), PowerBook G4 15" 1,5Ghz 1,5Go RAM, 80Go internal drive, 200Go external drive, Digital Performer 5.01, ADA8000 (+DAT machines, various preamps and compressors, various microphones, etc...)
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