MOTUnation.com

I have been using DP with a Kurzweil PC3 and have had a couple clock issues when I try to use the SPDIF out on the kurzweil to my Presonus Firestudio mobile. When I set the clock sync on the universal control software DP likes to crash. Anyone have a similar setup but has gotten it to work?

Love DP7 though and the PC3

dcoscina wrote:I have been using DP with a Kurzweil PC3 and have had a couple clock issues when I try to use the SPDIF out on the kurzweil to my Presonus Firestudio mobile. When I set the clock sync on the universal control software DP likes to crash. Anyone have a similar setup but has gotten it to work?

Love DP7 though and the PC3

Try a hard reset on the PC3 and see what happens.

I'm using a K2500 via S/PDIF into a MOTU Ultralite MKIII, so this may be very apples and oranges to your situation, but it took some work to get this working right for me. I imagine that Kurzweil may have leveraged some of the core software, so here's what I did - maybe it will help you...

The SPDIF outs are controlled via the sampler card in the K2500, so in order to make things work properly, I have to go into the "Sample" page (accessible from the "Master or "Setup" page). Once there, I have to set up the parameters in one of the following ways (depending on if I have the sample inputs set to Analog or Digital input):

With "Input" set to "Analog":
Set the clock source ("Src") to "Int(ernal)".
Set Sample Rate "Rate" to 44.1KHz

Or

With "Input" set to "Digital":
Set the clock source ("Src") to "Ext(ernal)"
Set "Out(put)" to "A/D"
Set the "Cable" to "Coaxial" (this locks the sample frequency at 44.1KHz)

I usually leave the "Input" setting to Analog, as when I tried the Digital setting, messing around with the "Out" control can give you a hell of a loud noise burst until you get it where it needs to be...

Its a bit of a pain to go through these keystrokes everytime I boot up the K2500 (I suppose I could get the manual out and write a macro), but it makes me feel good to use the SPDIF inputs on the ultralite

Your mileage may vary - good luck!

I'm picking up a local used PC3X on Friday, so will give it a try with the Fireface 800.

I have tried S/PDIF with my MOTIF-Rack XS, and the difference in quality is startling vs. going analog out to the converters on the Fireface. No problems at all with S/PDIF using that unit.

I don't tend to use S/PDIF much for digital hardware synths though, due to the complexity of using it in Mono Mode. I record synths mostly in Mono, unless they have an Auto-Pan feature in the patch (either mine or someone else's) that I want to use at the time of recording.

Do bear in mind that Kurzweil makes some odd choices about MIDI defaults in their gear, the opposite of most manufacturers. Combined with some bizarre wording in their documentation, it is quite easy to have an "almost-working" setup that only shows its problems in certain circumstances.

In this case, their may be a clocking issue based on needing to take care of some master/slave settings.

If I recall correctly, Kurzweil inverts the normal usage of "master" and "slave" terminology.

Or maybe it was "LOCAL=on/off" that they flip on its end from what we are used to.

Just a follow up to my S/PDIF setup description on the K2500 (still not sure it will help with a PC3), but I have noticed that if I leave the "input" parameter set to "Analog", therefore using the K2500 internal clock, I can get some audible artifact. The Input setting should be configured to "Digital" with the clock source ("clk") set to external ("ext").

Hope the PC3 is working out for you...