User Manual

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User's Guide HDSP AES-32 © RME

Thanks to a highly sensitive input stage,

also SPDIF signals can be processed by

using a simple cable adapter phono/XLR.

To achieve this, pins 2 and 3 of a male

XLR plug are connected individually to the

two pins of a phono plug. The cable shield-

ing is only connected to pin 1 of the XLR -

not to the phono plug.

23.2 AES/EBU Outputs

The AES/EBU outputs are provided via 25 pin D-sub connectors with Tascam pinout (also used

by Digidesign). A digital breakout cable will provide 4 male (and 4 female) XLR connectors per

D-sub connector. Each output is transformer-balanced, ground-free and compatible to all de-

vices with AES/EBU ports.

If Output Format Professional is chosen, the output level is almost 5 Volt. If deselected, the

output signal will have a channel status compatible to SPDIF. As far as we know, every SPDIF

device should be capable of handling an input signal of up to 5 Volt instead of the usual 0.5

Volt. Nevertheless the output level will be reduced to 2 Volt in this case.

Besides the audio data, digital signals in SPDIF or AES/EBU format contain a channel status

coding, which is being used for transmitting further information. The output signal coding of the

HDSP AES-32 has been implemented according to AES3-1992 Amendment 4:

• 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 64 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz according to the

current sample rate

• Audio use

• No Copyright, Copy permitted

• Format Consumer or Professional

• Category General, Generation not indicated

• 2-Channel, No Emphasis or 50/15 µs

• Single Channel Double Sampling Frequency Mode (Double Wire)

• Aux Bits Audio use, 24 Bit

• Origin: HDSP

Note that most consumer HiFi equipment (with optical or phono SPDIF inputs) will only ac-

cept signals in ‘Consumer’ format!

The status 'Professional' should always be active when sending data to a device with AES/EBU

inputs (when the XLR connectors are used).

Pinout of the D-sub connector, Outputs

Signal Out

1/2+

Out

1/2-

Out

3/4+

Out

3/4-

Out

5/6+

Out

5/6-

Out

7/8+

Out

7/8-

D-Sub 18 6 4 17 15 3 1 14

GND is connected to pins 2, 5, 8, 11, 16, 19, 22, 25. Pin 13 is not connected.

Connecting devices with coaxial SPDIF ports to the HDSP AES-32 outputs is accomplished by

a simple cable adapter XLR/phono, as described above. Just use a female XLR connector.