Which external FX unit is this? Sure that it has two SPDIF inputs (and outputs for the wet signal).
Or is it simply an analog input and output (L and R) using Cinch?
So that you think wrongly, you would need SPDIF L and SPDIF R separately? I never heard of such a setup.
No FX unit would be built to have separate SPDIF L and SPDIF R inputs because SPDIF like AES, is always a 2ch stereo signal.

If digital is too "special", can't you connect it analog?
I am connecting two Lexicon PCM (81 and 91) this way to my UFX III.

You would need something like an AES Splitter.
This one I used for my Geithain Monitors RL906D when I connected them via AES using a RayDAT.
https://www.thomann.de/de/mutec_mc_11_a … verter.htm

There are also cheaper passive AES splitter available, but I can't tell you about the quality, maybe ok for not too long cables.

EDIT: next time, please provide the name of the devices in this setup directly so that the situation becomes clear. It is always a waste of time having to guess what the situation might be. Things are not always clear if you do not sit in front of the devices.

Although all the pertinent information was supplied, the two of you do not understand the situation and I’m moving past your confused and unhelpful responses.

I used “L” “R” and “stereo” as shorthand. I don’t like listing every possible detail when I post a question. I’m a knowledgeable professional, and among my peers I don’t feel the need to explicitly explain every detail. It’s super annoying to have some guy accuse me of plugging digital coax cables into RCA analog because he has poor reading comprehension.

To help you understand:

I have and API A2D connected to my Fireface’s AES in. In Totalmix I unlinked the two AES channels and renamed them from “AES L” to “guitar,” and “AES R” to “bass.” They are now two separate entities, not a single stereo entity. Splitting AES going IN to my Fireface is easy and seamless. Are you with me?

Now in Totalmix I have unlinked the AES out, renaming “AES L” to “fx send 1” and “AES R” to “fx send 2.” Now they are treated as totally separate entities in Totalmix. But alas, they are still joined together on a single AES cable. Does that make sense to you?

I would like to have those two DIFFERENT signals go to two DIFFERENT spdif inputs. The fact that the two spdif inputs are on the same effects unit (as I mentioned originally) seems to be a brain melter. No, I’m not hooking up digital coax to analog RCA. Yes, that’s a whopping four channels of digital input on one machine, can you believe it? Yes, I’m feeding a mono signal to a stereo effects unit. In fact I’m doing it twice.

Why do you need to know what effect unit? I told you it has 2 spdif ins, what don’t you understand? Do you think it has two redundant spdifs routed to the same place? Your salty reaction accusing me of wasting time and all sorts of weird nonsense is getting pushed aside.

If someone both understands the question and has an answer, I’d love to hear it. If you don’t maybe just sit this one out.

For example, a second Fireface could accomplish this. Major overkill obviously. But only those three ports would be operating. Clean, efficient, smooth.

And I could do it from my current Fireface if I wanted to eat up 2 ADAT ports, which I don’t .

Thanks in advance!!

Waedi,

Awesome! Thank you, that looks perfect. I didn’t see that on the search I conducted before posting here.

Mission accomplished. I call that a great use of an AES out port, and now I’m cutting extraneous digital converters from my signal flow. One of the many big wins the Fireface is handing to me!

Many thanks again

Thanks for your interest!

Lexicon MX400 for live effects. I love the midi control and now I’m excited to see how those spdifs sound. I have one hardwired to two synths in my live room.

After wrapping my head around what the UFX reverb/delay channel is, I decided I need a bit more. I like a different verbs on the vox and snare, as one example. Buying a second MX400 to rack up with the Fireface seems like a great move.

I’m first trying to design this so it can go CC and do most of what I want. I’m interested in VST playback for effects too. But one step at a time. I’d love to pick some brains about Liveprofessor and other options elsewhere on this forum.

If it is possible to select wich input an effect uses,EG. spdif 1L or 1R or 2L or 2R (my yamaha can albeit with one spdif and 1stereo analog in) you could just make a splitter and feed both spdif the same stereo signal. If not disregard.

More great feedback, thank you.

I recently learned that spdif and AES are 100% compatible on RME devices. Short cable runs can be made at home by simply soldering RCA and XLR connections together. So getting a single stereo signal to one of the Lexicon’s spdif ports is easy.

But I suppose I didn’t look into whether the Lexicon itself can do the splitting. I am menu diving now…

In system menu “input source a” and “input source b” each have 3 options: analog mono L, analog stereo, and “dig no lock.” (Note this is a unit hooked up analog. This is not the future unit I will wire up digitally.) The analog connectors it refers to are in the back in two pairs, A and B. I can feed A with either the left channel, or L and R of the analog A input section. Can’t feed B with anything from A analog input section. I assume spdif will act the same.

Seems like it’ll need clock sync to display all the input options.

My apologies for missing that he posted that in his reply. I was thrown off by condescending comments about how digital is “too special” for me and I should just go analog. 

All the info was available in my first post. That’s all you need to know. Being told I’m wasting your time is annoying. Do you understand that? Asking me if I’m plugging digital coax into RCA is annoying. You were unable to understand my post, and that’s fine. I have no desire to talk to you about it any more.

Ostrich,

Yes I’m sure in your mind somewhere in your poorly parsed response you already told me to see if the lexicon can split the signal for me. All I saw was a rambling mess about how nothing makes sense to you.

Thanks for the good answers guys! I probably won’t come back because it’s the same as every other forum. Some salty dogs get it wrong and then demand they were right and just drag me down with them. Not my style.

Keep mixing I’ll see you on the other side!

@ELZ

There is a colorful mix of people here in the forum, and there have been cases where SPDIF and analog RCA jacks have actually been confused with each other.

Here it would have been really helpful to simply write that you want to connect an MX400, more explanation would not have been necessary.

Whether you are a professional or not doesn't really matter in this context. You asked about AES splitters and got answers.

I also don't understand what you're complaining about, you've received valid replies and haven't even read mine, by the way. Furthermore, you are getting upset about things that are not meant that way at all and take everything directly personally.

There's also no reason to talk down to other people in the forum. Nobody has done anything to you. You just seem to be taking everything the wrong way.

By the way, I was completely serious about connecting the Lexicon MX400 analog, you don't always have to connect everything digitally, the converters in your recording interface most likely have better technical specs than your Lexicon.
Nothing will deteriorate, on the contrary, you may save a lot of money because good AES splitters are not cheap.
Moreover, you do not have to take care of supported sample rates and clock synch.