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AES (digital) I/O Worth Using?
Phillip Ivan Pietruschka:
--- Quote from: Justice C. Bigler on October 21, 2019, 05:40:35 PM ---
Ehhh...sort of.
But if your signal chain is anywhere close to 0dBFS, you're already to hot to begin with.
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Depends what your application is. I’ve got a live webstream going out right now; if it’s peaks weren’t fairly close to 0dBFS there is no way it would be loud enough.
Jeff Lelko:
--- Quote from: Tim McCulloch on October 21, 2019, 07:16:51 PM ---Some devices have more AES3 latency because they use embedded *sample rate conversion* to match the internal processing clock rate. In the original Crown I-Tech the input-to-output latency for AES as almost double the time for an analog input. Not every device behaves this way but you'll need to look at the numbers just as you would for multiple AD/DA conversions in any time sensitive application.
--- End quote ---
Thanks for the clarification Tim. Definitely something interesting that I didn’t think of. I’ll have to run an experiment to see where my gear ends up latency-wise when running AES versus analog. Thanks again!
Tim McCulloch:
--- Quote from: Jeff Lelko on October 22, 2019, 06:55:48 PM ---Thanks for the clarification Tim. Definitely something interesting that I didn’t think of. I’ll have to run an experiment to see where my gear ends up latency-wise when running AES versus analog. Thanks again!
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Hi Jeff-
A 100% analog rig will be almost the speed of light (for our purposes). Add *anything* digital to the signal path and the clock starts running. If none of your digital devices need SRC to work the digital through put is about as minimal as it can get but still takes time.
Using AES 3 means you don't go through multiple AD/DA conversions which will eventually degrade the audio and take more time. You'll preserve signal quality and hopefully have less time penalty.
Jeff Lelko:
Thanks again Tim. I agree that a 100% analog system would function with the least amount of latency. Since all the devices in my signal chain prior to the amps are digital, I’m just surprised that staying digital could potentially induce more latency than going through all the AD/DA conversions. I can see where the added delays can factor in though. I guess there’s only one way to find out for sure!
Tim McCulloch:
--- Quote from: Jeff Lelko on October 22, 2019, 11:33:37 PM ---Thanks again Tim. I agree that a 100% analog system would function with the least amount of latency. Since all the devices in my signal chain prior to the amps are digital, I’m just surprised that staying digital could potentially induce more latency than going through all the AD/DA conversions. I can see where the added delays can factor in though. I guess there’s only one way to find out for sure!
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In an all digital system without SRC, the number will be lower than using the analog inputs of the digital devices. The point I'm making is that every digital device adds *some* latency, end to end, and using the analog inputs will create more latency and eventual signal degradation from multiple AD/DA conversions.
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