• Registered: 2024-07-24
  • Posts: 5

Topic: RME M-1620 Pro D and WC question

Hello!

I have been an RME user for 20 years and I am very happy with it.
I use the RME HDSPe RayDAT and I just bought the RME M-1620 Pro D converter.
Since I have a lot of digital devices, until now I had an Apogee Big Ben as my Wordclock master. Now (since the M-1620 Pro has SteadyClock FS) I have assigned the Wordclock master to the new converter, routed the WC Out from M-1620 Pro D to the Apogee Big Ben (and assigned it the source WC IN), so that it will serve as a WC distribution for the other devices.
Everything is fine and good, the thing works, but on the M-1620 Pro D from time to time, next to the green INT (Clock) sign, a yellow WC/Coaxial sign starts flashing.
What does this mean? No device complains that the clock is lost or anything, only on the M-1620 Pro D this sign sometimes appears ...
I will be grateful for any advice!

  • waedi
  • DAW Mastermind
  • Online
  • From: Swiss Zürich
  • Registered: 2020-12-08
  • Posts: 7,781

Re: RME M-1620 Pro D and WC question

What is the sample rate ?
Do you change the sample rate frequently ?
Do you use the web remote app ?
In the M1620 is the Word clock set to single speed ?

M1-GoldenGate, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue
  • Registered: 2024-07-24
  • Posts: 5

Re: RME M-1620 Pro D and WC question

waedi wrote:

What is the sample rate ?
Do you change the sample rate frequently ?
Do you use the web remote app ?
In the M1620 is the Word clock set to single speed ?

Sample rate (by default) is 48kHz and I don't switch it often.
Yes I connected M1620 Pro D via USB and I have control over the browser.
M1620 is set to SINGLE SPEED, yes.

  • waedi
  • DAW Mastermind
  • Online
  • From: Swiss Zürich
  • Registered: 2020-12-08
  • Posts: 7,781

Re: RME M-1620 Pro D and WC question

If you disconnect the BNC cable WC-out to BigBen
is the yellow flashing LED continuing or stop ?

M1-GoldenGate, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue
  • Registered: 2024-07-24
  • Posts: 5

Re: RME M-1620 Pro D and WC question

waedi wrote:

If you disconnect the BNC cable WC-out to BigBen
is the yellow flashing LED continuing or stop ?

If I disconnect the BNC, turns off and does not blink.

Please, watch this videoclip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN1kEADxnLI

6 Reply by waedi (edited by waedi 2025-07-27 22:25:57)

  • waedi
  • DAW Mastermind
  • Online
  • From: Swiss Zürich
  • Registered: 2020-12-08
  • Posts: 7,781

Re: RME M-1620 Pro D and WC question

From the user manual of the BigBen :

VIDEO/WORD CLOCK IN – This BNC connection accepts both TTL Logic and
video black burst signals, according to the front panel CLOCK SOURCE parameter.
When CLOCK SOURCE is set to Video, the video format (PAL, NTSC or B&W) is
automatically detected. The Video/Word Clock input is internally TERMINATED – no
external termination should be used.

I had the idea this yellow light may indicate a missing termination but this is not the case.

May be it is just showing there is a termination and you should be aware there is other equipment receiving word clock. ?

I couldn't find any insight infos in the M-1620 user manual.

M1-GoldenGate, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue
  • Registered: 2024-07-24
  • Posts: 5

Re: RME M-1620 Pro D and WC question

It looks like it's getting ... loopback back into the output? Or I don't know... Strange.
Big Ben (set to WC IN) shows 48kHz LOCKED, mixing console (Yamaha DM2000 VCM) shows 48kHz LOCKED,... Everything seems to be fine?! I don't know.

https://youtu.be/IKbwiu2sKHU

8 Reply by waedi (edited by waedi 2025-07-28 03:38:21)

  • waedi
  • DAW Mastermind
  • Online
  • From: Swiss Zürich
  • Registered: 2020-12-08
  • Posts: 7,781

Re: RME M-1620 Pro D and WC question

M-1620 is set clock internal and the RME remote shows everything is correct.

The other equipment is sync correct to the word clock.

All is fine, right?

M1-GoldenGate, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue
  • Registered: 2024-07-24
  • Posts: 5

Re: RME M-1620 Pro D and WC question

Some news:
If I run the BNC from the M-1620 Pro D directly to the Yamaha DM2000 VCM (and I have the 75 Ohm switch on the Yamaha set to ON), the yellow warning on the RME still flashes (as if there is a connection to Big Ben). If I set the 75 Ohm switch on the Yamaha to OFF, the warning on the RME no longer flashes!

HOWEVER... If I switch the Yamaha to Big Ben connection back on (with the 75 Ohm switch on the Yamaha set to OFF), the Big Ben does NOT show me the green diode on the front panel, but it is off, indicating "no termination". On the RME, however, the blinking is always present as soon as I connect it to Big Ben.

10 Reply by waedi (edited by waedi 2025-07-28 08:11:03)

  • waedi
  • DAW Mastermind
  • Online
  • From: Swiss Zürich
  • Registered: 2020-12-08
  • Posts: 7,781

Re: RME M-1620 Pro D and WC question

tadejm wrote:

Some news:
If I set the 75 Ohm switch on the Yamaha to OFF, the warning on the RME no longer flashes!

Conclusion :
The yellow blinking "Wordclock output" is not a warning or an issue, it is an indication of a WC receiver.

You shall not switch off the M-1620 because some other equipment may need the wordclock...

M1-GoldenGate, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue