Z-link Question

lysergide · Post by **lysergide** » Fri Aug 27, 2004 4:07 pm

Hello guys.

Been checking out the A16 Ultra. I'm going to buy one next month.

Wanted to know exactly what is the limit (Number of channels) that can be transferred on a single Z-link cable? (If there is any)

The A16 has 2 ADATs and 16 Analog i/o.
Can i input Simultanously 32 Channels to my computer?

blazesboylan · Post by **blazesboylan** » Fri Aug 27, 2004 4:29 pm

Yes but since there are only 16 A-D converters what would be the point?

Seriously, it's 8 channels per Z-Link. 16 channels total for the A16U.

(You can duplicate the Z-Link signals onto the ADAT outputs, for backing up or something, but the ADAT and Z-Link channels are generally "either / or" -- 16 of either or 8 of each, but not 16 of each.)

Edit: oops, mis-read your post -- no you can't input ADAT at the same time as analog.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: blazesboylan on 2004-08-27 17:30 ]</font>

lysergide · Post by **lysergide** » Fri Aug 27, 2004 6:20 pm

Are u absolutely sure of that?

At the moment i don't have any ADAT gear, but i wanted to know if there would be a limit to the number of analog inputs used at any given time. (Input into SCOPE 8 analog channels from my sampler + 8 others from my external synths)

Also why do u say that i can't use the ADAT along with the analog in's?

Don't they all just appear in my SCOPE env. and i can just hook them all up? or how does that go?

Immanuel · Post by **Immanuel** » Fri Aug 27, 2004 6:28 pm

I think there is still a technical misunderstanding somewhere.

I can tell you, that with ADAT, you can use BOTH 16 in and 16 out at the same time. Maybe that is, what you are asking about, when you say 32 channels? I am not much into how much z-link can or can not do though. On my Luna 2496, it drives 8 ins and outs at the same time with one cable - I do not know, if Z-link can take any more than that on one cable.

blazesboylan · Post by **blazesboylan** » Fri Aug 27, 2004 8:11 pm

8 channels I/O per Z-link cable. There are 2 Z-Link connectors on each A16 Ultra, so you get 16 in and 16 out all at the same time.

8 channels one-way for ADAT connectors, and there are 4 Lightpipe connectors on the A16 Ultra. So you can get 16 in and 16 out at the same time.

Or you can use 2 ADAT cables and 1 Z-Link and get 16 in and 16 out at the same time.

What you CAN'T do is get MORE than 16 inputs or more than 16 analog outputs.

Also if you're using the ADAT connectors then > 48 kHz becomes an issue... Z-Link is no problem though.

Does that clarify?

Cheers,

Johann

valis · Post by **valis** » Fri Aug 27, 2004 8:39 pm

Seems to me he's probably wondering if he can hang an extra adat converter off the a16u and have all that data (32 chans) pass through the z-links...

blazesboylan · Post by **blazesboylan** » Fri Aug 27, 2004 8:50 pm

That's what I originally thought... No, you can't do that.

You CAN duplicate what's coming from computer via Z-Link to the ADAT outs.

Code: Select all

------                ------
      |              |      | -- Analog -->
comp. | -- ZLink --> | A16U |
      |              |      | --- ADAT --->
------|               ------

lysergide · Post by **lysergide** » Sat Aug 28, 2004 4:03 am

I'm a bit confused right now...

So what exactly is the real limit?

My Luna card has only 1 Z-Link connector, so assuming i'm using only 1 Z-Link cable:

16 Channels Input from my Analog in's - Possible?

Using the 2 ADATs at the same time (16 Channel input) - Possible?

Mixing together - Inputting lets say 8 channels from ADAT and 8 channels from analog? would that work?

Also how exactly is this limit working? I understand that when connecting the A16U, i get the I/Os in my SCOPE and can just connect them to whatever i want... so what will happen if i connect ALL available 32 Inputs? (16 Analog + 16 ADAT)

Immanuel · Post by **Immanuel** » Sat Aug 28, 2004 2:39 pm

Hi Eilon

You may have misunderstood the concept

The A16(u) has 16 analog inputs
The first 8 are wired to ADAT out 1 and Z-link 1
The last 8 are wired to ADAT out 2 and Z-link 2

The A16(u) has 16 analog outputs
The first 8 outputs recieve their signals from either ADAT in 1 or
Z-link 1
The last 8 outputs recieve their signals from either ADAT in 2 or
Z-link 2

So you can only route from analog to digital and from digital to
analog. You can not route a signal from ADAT to Z-link or the other
way around. In fact you can not route anything, because the routing is
fixed. And you very likely can not use ADAT and Z-link on the same
analog in/out at the same time. So the closest you get to routing is
choosing wether each set of 8 in/outs should be transfered thru ADAT
or thru Z-link. 1 Z-link cable can take care of 8 ins and 8 outs. A
Z-link conection works like 1 ADAT in and 1 ADAT out in one cable.

If this does not help you, I can only advice you to download the
manual.

Immanuel

Immanuel · Post by **Immanuel** » Sat Aug 28, 2004 2:58 pm

Think of it as a standard 16 i/o converter with the option, that for each 8 i/o you choose to use ADAT OR Z-link.

lysergide · Post by **lysergide** » Sat Aug 28, 2004 3:48 pm

So in NO WAY can i use it as a standarg ANALOG i/o expansion to my LUNA system then?

I thought that was the whole point... not just the conversion between Analog ins to the Digital domain...

Immanuel · Post by **Immanuel** » Sat Aug 28, 2004 3:51 pm

I do not understand you at all????????+

You can use it as a 8 i/o with your Luna - 16 i/o, if you have an ADAT expansion.

Damn, this is getting weird!!

Immanuel · Post by **Immanuel** » Sat Aug 28, 2004 3:55 pm

It converts between analog and digital, and you transfer the digital signals via ADAT or Z-link. How in the world did you think it would bring the converted signal to your soundcard - if not by cable?

lysergide · Post by **lysergide** » Sat Aug 28, 2004 3:57 pm

Okay i got your point ...

My origintal thought was that this box has 2 ADAT ins and 16 analog ins.

If i connect 16 Analog channels & 2 ADAT cables from my external gear, i would have gotten 32 channels input to my Luna system.

But i see this is not the situation...
What u said in your last message is that the ADAT inputs from the analog ins (i.e "converting" analog inputs to digital)

This kinda let me down since my original thought was i get 32 channels..

Furthermore , my luna has only 1 z-link so i would be able to use 8 channels at a time...

Shayne White · Post by **Shayne White** » Sat Aug 28, 2004 5:47 pm

If you get the ADAT expansion board for Scope Home you can use all 16 analog I/Os in the A16 Ultra, plus you'll have 16 channels of ADAT directly on Scope Home -- that's why the A16 Ultra doesn't convert from ADAT to Z-Link. You have it in Scope itself.

I'd always thought I could have the Analog Ins go to both ADAT and Z-link. Is that not possible?

I wish their documentation were a bit clearer on this.

Shayne

Immanuel · Post by **Immanuel** » Sun Aug 29, 2004 3:06 am

This is all guessing, but:

1) I would find it strange, if you could send BOTH ADAT in and "Z-link in" to the same analog outputs. So I guess you choose (Could be, that A16U bypasses the ADATs, when a Z-link is connected - or could be, that you toggle choose)

2) Since the same Z-link cable both sends and recieves 8 chanels of audio, I would somehow find it natural, that the choise you make for the prefered input also chooses the output, and that you can not use both ADAT out and "Z-link out" for the same analog inputs.

3) It is all guessing - we need someone with an actual unit to tell for shure.

lysergide · Post by **lysergide** » Sun Aug 29, 2004 5:11 am

Now i can what u mean.

Still i'm a little disappointed...

In some other discussion here, i asked people for comparison between the A16U and the RME Multiface (Consulted them which one is the "better" buy).

The RME Can do what i wanted (Receive ADAT 8 Channels + 8 Analog Audio, All on the same cable offcourse) but it has Half of the A16U Connectors....

Buying the A16U + ADAT Expansion would be too expensive i guess...

Post by **garyb** » Sun Aug 29, 2004 12:08 pm

the adat expansion is cheap....

valis · Post by **valis** » Mon Aug 30, 2004 1:04 am

Just for the record I went RME because I wanted the extra flexibility...but yes I'm stuck at 8 analog i/o until I can afford to spend the same amount again...so the cost of the added flexibility is 2x the a16u to get the same number of analog i/o....

maakbow · Post by **maakbow** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 4:17 pm

i HAVE A16 UTRA AND LUNA2

i USE 1 ZLINK FRON LUNA CARD AND ANOTHER FROM "LUNA ADAT EXPANSION CARD" MADE FOR THIS PURPOSE.[it has 1 zlink and 4 adat connections]

If you want 24/96 then z links are twice as good as adats as smux alows you to use 2x adat to get 8 channels of 24/96 whereas you can do this on 1 zlink.

If you have luna AND the adat expansion then you can get a theoretical 36 channels into your luna.
2 [i/o]from luna analogue input
2 [i/o]from luna spdif input
8 [i/o]from luna zlink
8 [i/o]from adat expansion zlink
16 [i/o]from 4 adat expansion adat

using the a16 though you can only get 16 [i/o] from this using either 4x adat connections or 2 x zlink connections [24/96]

All of which you need the "adat expansion card" for!!!!!

Maak