Shld I return with spdif or adat optical ??

Hi, I need to return a pair of analog inputs into my 001. And if I do not want to use the 001's analog inputs should I go spdif or ADAT optical ?? Is there any advantage over one another?? Both are 24 bits right? My ADAT optical A-D device would be the AI-3. I have yet to purchase a A-D converter with spdif I/O, but my options are the FLYING COW by M-Audio or one of M-Audio/MIDIMAN's external Audio box that have Analog Ins and Spdif outs ie. the USB AUDIO DUO APOGEEs and LUCIDS are out at the moment because of $$$ Any comments, recommendations? Thanks and Regards, [Charles] PS. IT's already 1 Jan 2003 here (we are GMT +8), so I wish everyone here a HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!!!!! ..

The advatage to sending audio via SPDIF or optical vs. analog lines is that you bypass the 001's A/D converter. Also, SPDIF is only two-channel, while the optical can carry many more outs (8?)...I guess that would be the obvious advantage of optical over spdif. Good luck, and happy new year!

oh. if let's say, I have only 2 channels of audio to route back into the 001, so is the adat still preferred or the spdif ?? What I was trying to get is, will there be quality difference / loss if i use one over the other ?? Thanks & Regards, [Charles]

The quality of the two data formats is the same...the quality of the A/D/A is dependent on the converter used, not the digital cable.

Based on the documentation I've read (haven't bought ProTools yet, I'm considering the digi 002), the S/PDIF inputs let you use up to 96k sampling rate as opposed to 48k max for ADAT. You can use the optical inputs for S/PDIF by setting a preference (but then you can't use the coax inputs). Depending on the sampling rate you're currently using this may be a moot point.

oh, after looking at my previous post again, I think i might need to return 3 channels to 001 at one instant if i am doing vocals [ie. TOPAZ Main OUT to Pro Tools AUX rtn & vocals OUT (BUSS6)] So I guess using ADAT optical out will be my only choice ? also, inorder to prevent doubling of signals, the channel that is fed the recording vocals is not assigned to main mix on the TOPAZ MIXER. AND, in order not to get a feedback loop, I think whichever channel of ADAT optical I am using for sending back to 001, I cannot use the same channel # to send to the TOPAZ, right? therefore, I might be losing a 1 or 2 channels if i use 3 or 4 optical channels for return, right?? Hmm, i am trying to figure out the possibilities, but do u think i can get another device (not the ADAT blackface) that can take analog signals and convert it to ADAT optical, so when i use 2 different ADAT optical converters (the first one being AI-3 for 001 Out 9-16 to TOPAZ 9-16) so that i won't get a feedback loop ?? Now I am a bit confused, must be the party noises .. check back later.. Thanks and Regards, [Charles]