Understanding Digital Audio Formats and how to use them. Lesson 12.

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There's a variety of digital audio formats, which have different capabilities and unique connectivity. In this video I explain the various formats and how to use them. Many pieces of audio equipment use digital inputs and outputs for the audio recording signal routing in home studio's and professional music production. A recording studio will usually use a combination of analog and digital signal routing connecting various pieces of audio equipment.

[@dzeronut_boy]

This video is actually really informative. Really enjoying it

[@TheMcShay]

Very comprehensive -- thank you!

[@aldricbennett2348]

Very good explanation! Thanks.

[@samannayofficials7960]

heartily satiesfied ...wonderful explaination ...

[@ericsvilpis1635]

Omg, AES/EBU finally makes sense. Thanks so much, man!

[@Get.Beautiful.Recordings]

Your welcome:)

[@luislopez5673]

very helpful information thank you

[@arronmungul1990]

Thank you - very helpful!

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[@hamanino]

Thank you very much

[@Get.Beautiful.Recordings]

You’re very welcome :) thanks for commenting

[@KingChingCheung]

You save me ! Thanks!

[@Get.Beautiful.Recordings]

You’re welcome my friend, thanks for the comment :)

[@_functionless]

really helpful, thanks. I'm looking at the back of the rme 802 and wondering why there is an in/out aes/ebu xlr port.. does that only provide two extra channels? can't figure out the benefit.

[@Get.Beautiful.Recordings]

So these AES/ebu ports that are XLR connectors are capable of interfacing with another AES/EBU device, and each XLR connector can carry 2 channels of digital audio at any sample rate. So on the RME, at 44.1 or 48 KHz, it can both send and receive simultaneously 18 channels of digital audio, 16 through Adat, and 2 through AES/EBU. At 88.2 or 96 kHz, it can handle 10 channels of digital audio, 8 with Adat, and 2 channels of AES/EBU. Thanks for the question :)

[@_functionless]

@@Get.Beautiful.Recordings makes sense! appreciate the detailed reply :)

[@salvadorperez4740]

Amazing info and great detail. If you connect the SPDF output from an audio interface to the optical in on a computer would it play all those channels as a stereo mix? I know the usb only recognizes input 1 and 2 when you are not using a DAW. Would the optical in help me use the audio interface as a mixer? Thanks.

[@Get.Beautiful.Recordings]

I don’t think it would play all the channels as a stereo mix. I’m not sure how the optical inputs on computers are integrated though.

[@salvadorperez4740]

Thanks, your channel is full of incredibly useful information 🤘🏼

[@sekritskworl-sekrit_studios]

Dude!!! Where the heck did the AES-EBU section go? How do we know when it's digital or audio or what?... You only teased a VERY confusing section.

[@scarlettnatalian5012]

Hi, I have a DAT Audio player/recorder with AES/EBU and SPDIF output and when I connect it to my Computer SPDIF input, it has a little noise. Any idea what's the best way to connect them and get the best result?

[@1mas902]

One of a kind tutorial, thanks. From what state are you giving this tutoruals?

[@Get.Beautiful.Recordings]

Hi, thanks. I'm actually in B.C. Canada :)

[@1mas902]

@@Get.Beautiful.Recordings Hope one day you can make a video about how the lake processors are configured and connected, I’m in California and desperate to receive audio education but schools here are extremely expensive.

[@rune288]

It's never clear with the AES/EBU which is the input and which is the output though

[@Get.Beautiful.Recordings]

Yeah, it can be confusing. They normally use a DB-25 connector, which you would attach an 8 channel XLR breakout cable. Each XLR connection can carry 2 channels of digital audio at any sample rate. There's different protocols, but the most common is the Tascam pinout, in which XLR connectors 1-4 provide your 8 input channels, and connectors 5-8 are your 8 output channels.

[@eirodgers]

@@Get.Beautiful.Recordings so digital output 1 carries channels 1 AND 2? And Digital Output 2 carries channels 3 and 4? I thought that digital output 1 should carry channel 1. And Digital Output 2 should carry channel 2. What am I missing?

[@Get.Beautiful.Recordings]

@@eirodgers There are different ways which the outputs can be configured. For instance, the Apogee DA-16 has a single DB-25 input for digital audio over AES/EBU. This coverts 16 channels of digital to analog. If you were to use a proper DB-25 to XLR breakout cable, there would be 8 XLR's carrying 16 channels of audio. XLR channel 1 would carry audio channels 1 and 2, XLR channel 2 would carry audio channels 3 and 4, and so on. On the back of my interface, the Metric Halo ULN-8, there is a single DB 25 connector for AES/EBU. This configuration accepts 8 audio channels of inputs, and 8 outputs. So, XLR Channel 1 will carry inputs 1 and 2, XLR channel 2 will carry inputs 3 and 4. XLR channel 5 will carry outputs 1and 2, xlr channel 6 will carry outputs 3 and 4... and so on.