Topic: RME BO968 Digital Breakout-Cable, AES/EBU & SPDIF

Hi,

Are this cables balanced or not ? Sounds unclear !!!

I have a HDSP 9632 and I connected a micro (Behringer ECM 8000) to a preamp (IMG STAGELINE MPA-102) to the RME BO968 but there is no input signal at all.

As well, I have the delivered unbalanced cables connected on the card connected to the amplifier. Can they both be activ at same time ?

Why I have no signal from the micro ?

Thanks for help.


P.S. I'm on Arch linux up to date and want to measure room acoustic.

Here my .asoundrc :

# playback pcm definition
pcm.RMEpb {
     type hw
      slave {
         pcm {
             type hw
             card "DSP"
         }
         format "S32_LE" 
#         rate 44100 
         channels 12
#         period_size 2048     
#         buffer_size 4096
    }
    ipc_key 5678292
    ipc_key_add_uid TRUE
    ipc_gid {
        @func refer
        name defaults.pcm.ipc_gid
    }
    ipc_perm {
        @func refer
        name defaults.pcm.ipc_perm
    }
}

# capture pcm definition
pcm.RMEcap {
    type dsnoop
    slave {
         pcm {
             type hw
             card "DSP" 
         }
         format "S32_LE" 
#         rate 44100      
         channels 12
#         period_size 2048     
#         buffer_size 4096
    }
    ipc_key 5678291
    ipc_key_add_uid TRUE
    ipc_gid {
        @func refer
        name defaults.pcm.ipc_gid
    }
    ipc_perm {
        @func refer
        name defaults.pcm.ipc_perm
    }
}

# And for simultaneous playback and recording, the 'asym' plugin is used
pcm.RMEasym {
    type asym
    playback.pcm "RMEpb"
    capture.pcm "RMEcap"
}

# one definition for each stereo channel
pcm.RME-0102 {
    type plug
    slave.pcm "RMEasym"
    ttable.0.0 1
    ttable.1.1 1
}

pcm.RME-0304 {
    type plug
    slave.pcm "RMEasym"
    ttable.0.2 1
    ttable.1.3 1
}

pcm.RME-0506 {
    type plug
    slave.pcm "RMEasym"
    ttable.0.4 1
    ttable.1.5 1
}

pcm.RME-0708 {
    type plug
    slave.pcm "RMEasym"
    ttable.0.6 1
    ttable.1.7 1
}

pcm.RME-0910 {
    type plug
    slave.pcm "RMEasym"
    ttable.0.8 1
    ttable.1.9 1
}

pcm.RME-1112 {
    type plug
    slave.pcm "RMEasym"
    ttable.0.10 1
    ttable.1.11 1
}

#playback pcm definition for XBMC/Iron
pcm.!default {
    type plug
    slave.pcm "hw:0,0"
}

Re: RME BO968 Digital Breakout-Cable, AES/EBU & SPDIF

Hello!

The cable you have is for digital connections(AES/EBU and SPDIF). You would need an Analog to Digital Converter between your preamp and this cable, in order for it to work!

You need this breakout cable, which is balanced, for connecting your preamp directly to the 9632: BO9632XLRMKH

Here's a link:

https://www.thomann.de/gb/rme_bo9632_breakoutkabel.htm

For the Linux code, you'll have to wait for someone else to check, as I can't help you!

RME Gear: Digiface USB, HDSP 9632

Re: RME BO968 Digital Breakout-Cable, AES/EBU & SPDIF

Hi MetalHeadKeys,

Thanks for your prompt reply !

The thing is that with the breakout cable that you mentioned (BO9632XLRMKH) I will have no possibility to connect my unbalanced (RCA connectors) amp to the card or can both breakout cables (the unbalanced which my amp is connected & balanced one where I would connect the micro preamp) be simultaneously connected ?

Do you have a reference about these Analog to Digital Converter ?

Thanks a lot !

Re: RME BO968 Digital Breakout-Cable, AES/EBU & SPDIF

You 're welcome!!

The thing is that with the breakout cable that you mentioned (BO9632XLRMKH) I will have no possibility to connect my unbalanced (RCA connectors) amp to the card or can both breakout cables (the unbalanced which my amp is connected & balanced one where I would connect the micro preamp) be simultaneously connected ?

Aah, sorry, didn't know about that! Unfortunatelly, you can't have them simultaneously connected.

At what sample rate, are you recording your projects?

I found two ADCs,
one at 48KHz:  https://www.thomann.de/gb/lindy_audioko … _spdif.htm

and this one at 192KHz:    https://www.thomann.de/gr/swissonic_con … 24_192.htm

and you will have to use the RCA connection of your Preamp to one of the RCA Inputs of the ADC
and then, the RCA Output of the ADC to the RCA Input of the BO968 cable.

Then, you will have to set the Clock at the HDSP settings to the Digital Input you will connect the ADC to.(I 'll check the manual, if you would require further assistance with that)

The thing is, that I don't know how to set these options under Linux. Do you have the HDSP settings visible on Linux?

RME Gear: Digiface USB, HDSP 9632

5 (edited by MetalHeadKeys 2020-11-03 17:46:11)

Re: RME BO968 Digital Breakout-Cable, AES/EBU & SPDIF

Or you can buy, this cable:

https://www.thomann.de/gb/rme_bo9632_cmkh.htm

(I don't remember if it's the one that comes with the card)
and have both your amp and preamp connected via RCA connections!

RME Gear: Digiface USB, HDSP 9632

6 (edited by MetalHeadKeys 2020-11-03 18:00:10)

Re: RME BO968 Digital Breakout-Cable, AES/EBU & SPDIF

Please disregard my previous posts!!!!


You CAN have them simultaneously connected with the  https://www.thomann.de/gb/rme_bo9632_breakoutkabel.htm  cable


I, mistakingly, calculated the amp as an Input! Sorry!

What you will need with this breakout cable is an XLR to RCA cable, in order to connect the Outputs of the 9632 to the Inputs of your amp!

Here's a link:

https://www.thomann.de/gb/cordial_cfu_3_fc.htm

And you can, of course, connect your preamp to an XLR Input of the 9632!

RME Gear: Digiface USB, HDSP 9632

Re: RME BO968 Digital Breakout-Cable, AES/EBU & SPDIF

Thanks MetalHeadKeys,

The breakout BO9632-XLRMKH has two male and female XLR, are these left and right channel per pair (one pair input & one pair output) and which pair is the input (male or female) ? There are no details mentioned about and I need to know for buying the right cables.

The actual single XLR output cable of my mic preamp needs to be connected to a female XLR. But if the XLR breakout cables are per pair I will need to buy an XLR mic output cable from single connector to left/right to the card.

Re: RME BO968 Digital Breakout-Cable, AES/EBU & SPDIF

You 're welcome, Faucon50!

These are not "fixed" stereo pairs. You can pan them however you like! I think they are labelled AN1 and AN2 in TotalMixFX, for Inputs and Outputs, respectively.

The female XLRs are the Inputs, and the male ones are the Outputs. There are small labels on every separate cable(that comes from the breakout), describing its use!(Line Out L, Line Out R, Line In L, Line In R, MIDI In, MIDI Out and Phones)

No need to buy a single connector to stereo cable for your preamp! You only need one Line!
What you could buy is an extension "female to male XLR" cable, so you can put your preamp on your desk, for example!

Also, the XLR to RCA cable from my post #6 for connecting your Amp!

RME Gear: Digiface USB, HDSP 9632

Re: RME BO968 Digital Breakout-Cable, AES/EBU & SPDIF

Thanks a lot MetalHeadKeys !

I don't really understand this sentence : "These are not "fixed" stereo pairs. You can pan them however you like!"

You mean that they can be routed trough TotalMix ? If yes, it's clear for me.

But the physical male & female XLR breakout connectors are as you said (Line Out L, Line Out R, Line In L, Line In R, MIDI In, MIDI Out and Phones) hardware given separated (left/right channel).

My micro preamp has only one stereo XLR output for (left/right channels together) so that I have to buy a cable from left/right together to XLR In L, XLR In R breakout connectors, right ? Like that :

https://www.thomann.de/fr/cae_90074_yau … tkabel.htm

Instead of my actual :

https://www.thomann.de/fr/cordial_cfm_10_fm_sw.htm

About XLR L/R output cable breakout to my RCA amp connectors, will this fonction ? Because my amp is unbalanced ?

Sorry for all these questions but I already bought the wrong breakout cable (RME BO968) useless in my case...

Re: RME BO968 Digital Breakout-Cable, AES/EBU & SPDIF

You 're welcome!!

I don't really understand this sentence : "These are not "fixed" stereo pairs. You can pan them however you like!"

You mean that they can be routed trough TotalMix ? If yes, it's clear for me.

  Yes, you can pan them through TotalMix!


But the physical male & female XLR breakout connectors are as you said (Line Out L, Line Out R, Line In L, Line In R, MIDI In, MIDI Out and Phones) hardware given separated (left/right channel).

They are labelled that way just for reference, because in TotalMix, they are set by default as Stereo Inputs and Outputs. In TotalMix you can set them as Mono and pan, for example, Line In L (AN1) to <Center>.
I own the 9632 and the cable, but I 'm not using it at the moment, because I built a newer system and bought a DigiFace USB for that. I kept the 9632 as a backup, but have not, yet, built my backup system.


My micro preamp has only one stereo XLR output for (left/right channels together) so that I have to buy a cable from left/right together to XLR In L, XLR In R breakout connectors, right ?

No, it's not a Stereo XLR Output! It is a Balanced Mono Output, so you need your actual:

https://www.thomann.de/fr/cordial_cfm_10_fm_sw.htm


About XLR L/R output cable breakout to my RCA amp connectors, will this fonction ? Because my amp is unbalanced ?

Yes, this cable will work:

https://www.thomann.de/gb/cordial_cfu_3_fc.htm


Sorry for all these questions but I already bought the wrong breakout cable (RME BO968) useless in my case...

No worries!! I hope I covered everything, but if you have any more questions, feel free to ask!!

Also, here's a link explaining the difference between balanced and unbalanced cables:

https://www.aviom.com/blog/balanced-vs-unbalanced/

RME Gear: Digiface USB, HDSP 9632

Re: RME BO968 Digital Breakout-Cable, AES/EBU & SPDIF

Thanks MetalHeadKeys !

Now it's clear... I was thinking that my mic was stereo but anyway good so, I need it just to analyze the curve of my room acoustic in mono channels.

So I will "just" need the XLR > RCA and breakout cables.

I will read you link about balanced/unbalanced as soon as I can.

At the end, what is the RME BO968 Digital Breakout-Cable for ? Digital devises (they say) used by musicians probably...

Thanks again for your precious help and have a nice day.

Re: RME BO968 Digital Breakout-Cable, AES/EBU & SPDIF

At the end, what is the RME BO968 Digital Breakout-Cable for ?

It's just another format of digital transmission!

For example, if someone had, allready, occupied the ADAT In and ADAT Out ports of his 9632, and needed to connect a device that had Optical SPDIF In and Out(which is a Stereo format), he could use something like this:

https://www.rme-audio.de/adi-4-dd.html

to convert the signal from Optical to AES(Digital XLR connection), and via the BO698 cable to connect it to the 9632!!


Thanks again for your precious help and have a nice day.

You're welcome!! And have a nice day, as well !!

RME Gear: Digiface USB, HDSP 9632

Re: RME BO968 Digital Breakout-Cable, AES/EBU & SPDIF

Ok I see.

Instead of the XLR to RCA cable can I use two of these adaptors ?

https://www.thomann.de/gb/neutrik_na2fp … ImVuIn0%3D

It's because I need females RCA and I have already enough cable length.

Thanks.

Re: RME BO968 Digital Breakout-Cable, AES/EBU & SPDIF

Instead of the XLR to RCA cable can I use two of these adaptors ?

https://www.thomann.de/gb/neutrik_na2fp … ImVuIn0%3D

Yes, you can!!

RME Gear: Digiface USB, HDSP 9632

Re: RME BO968 Digital Breakout-Cable, AES/EBU & SPDIF

Thanks a lot !