Guitar Gear Forum

Just got the Aphex 500 USB lunchbox and popped a couple modules in it.

Was I mistaken to think I could go S/PDIF out from the lunchbox into the 18i20 to get 2 more channels?

I've gotten the clock to lock in at 48000 Hz, but I'm getting no audio on the SPDIF L or R.

Any thoughts, ideas?

Pretty sure you have to assign the S/PDIF input to a channel on your Focusrite. I don't believe it will add an extra channel, certainly not 2 channels.

On my MBox Pro, there's a routing screen that you access on your computer that allows me to assign the RCA inputs.
This is why I believe you have to assign your S/PDIF input to a channel.

Hope this helps


EDIT: just thinking about it some more... you may be able to assign it to an extra channel with the on screen assignment window?
RTFM dude!

ajaxlepinski wrote:Pretty sure you have to assign the S/PDIF input to a channel on your Focusrite. I don't believe it will add an extra channel, certainly not 2 channels.

On my MBox Pro, there's a routing screen that you access on your computer that allows me to assign the RCA inputs.
This is why I believe you have to assign your S/PDIF input to a channel.

Hope this helps

Not sure what you're getting at. In my DAW I can select the following inputs: Mic 1-8, S/PDIF L and R, ADAT 1-8.

I don't know what you mean by assigning the S/PDIF to a channel...

Seems to me like that should work. I'm looking at some photos of the Aphex now and the only thing I see that could be interfering is maybe those little switches for each input that let you select the source between USB and XLR. Have you tried messing with those? If that doesn't work then I'd wonder if it's something up with the modules themselves.

I may not understand what your asking...

My Mbox has it's own separate, on screen, assignement window that allows me to assign the extra inputs (RCA jacks) to tracks on my DAW.
Therefore, the RCA jacks become extra assignalbe channels
It may be unique to the Mbox because it's specifically designed to play well with ProTools

Markdude wrote:Seems to me like that should work. I'm looking at some photos of the Aphex now and the only thing I see that could be interfering is maybe those little switches for each input that let you select the source between USB and XLR. Have you tried messing with those? If that doesn't work then I'd wonder if it's something up with the modules themselves.

Yeah, I messed with those. When I plugged the Aphex in and used it as a standalone interface, I got audio...so I know it isn't the modules.

I've used S/PDIF before when I had my piece of crap art...but this is perplexing me. Manual doesn't help much...

"In my DAW I can select the following inputs: Mic 1-8, S/PDIF L and R, ADAT 1-8"

Sounds like you just answered your question so, I'm not following.... the coffee wore off hours ago!

ajaxlepinski wrote:I may not understand what your asking...

My Mbox has it's own separate, on screen, assignement window that allows me to assign the extra inputs (RCA jacks) to tracks on my DAW.
Therefore, the RCA jacks become extra assignalbe channels
It may be unique to the Mbox because it's specifically designed to play well with ProTools

Yeah, I don't have to assign anything. It's already assigned. When I had my ART Digital MPA (for all 3 days), I plugged the S/PDIF out into the S/PDIF in on the 18i20, and the channels were automatically assigned.

Before anyone asks...same sample rate, and it's locking fine.

Just spit balling now... maybe the S/PDIF connectors (on the Aphex) are meant to run a signal out of your DAW to the Focusrite / to the Aphex / and back to Focusrite to the DAW, allowing you to process already recorded tracks with the 500 series modules?

If you are running a mic to the Aphex and then, run the Aphex S/PDIF out to the DAW, that may not work.
The S/PDIF I/Os on the Aphex may need the input signal from the DAW to send an output signal back to the DAW?

ajaxlepinski wrote:Just spit balling now... maybe the S/PDIF connectors (on the Aphex) are meant to run a signal out of your DAW to the Focusrite / to the Aphex / and back to Focusrite to the DAW, allowing you to process already recorded tracks with the 500 series modules?

If you are running a mic to the Aphex and then, run the Aphex S/PDIF out to the DAW, that may not work.
The S/PDIF I/Os on the Aphex may need the input signal from the DAW to send an output signal back to the DAW?

I think this is the case. God dammit. Defeats the main purpose of buying this thing.

My only thought for now (unless I can somehow use 2 USB interfaces via Asio4all) is to run the Aphex to my Laptop separately and use the spdif out to lock the clock speed with the 18i20.

Then when I'm done tracking, move those tracks over to my DAW PC and plop them in the same project as the 18i20 tracks.

Pain in the ass, but I'll only have to do it for drums at least...

Fuck man!
Double check the manual.. it should have something about using the S/PDIF I/Os

ajaxlepinski wrote:Just spit balling now... maybe the S/PDIF connectors (on the Aphex) are meant to run a signal out of your DAW to the Focusrite / to the Aphex / and back to Focusrite to the DAW, allowing you to process already recorded tracks with the 500 series modules?

If you are running a mic to the Aphex and then, run the Aphex S/PDIF out to the DAW, that may not work.
The S/PDIF I/Os on the Aphex may need the input signal from the DAW to send an output signal back to the DAW?

That definitely could be the case and explains being able to select USB for the input source for the modules (so that the audio could be sent to the modules via USB interfacing rather than the S/PDIF input). I'm still curious about those switches though. Modules 2-4 also have "MOD 1/2/3" selectable as input sources. Maybe the S/PDIF output is at the very end of the chain no matter what, so perhaps Modules 2-4 have to have their inputs set to the previous modules or else the signal gets "blocked" by a successive one set to XLR.

ajaxlepinski wrote:Fuck man!
Double check the manual.. it should have something about using the S/PDIF I/Os

Yeah, reading it confirms what you were spitballing. Shit.

That's what I get for just making assumptions.

I wonder if I could monitor in the DAW on my laptop and send the 2 channels to the SPDIF output, then compensate for the latency in Reaper on my DAW PC? Spitballing...lol

What are you trying to accomplish? Do you need more line ins than the Focusrite has?

ajaxlepinski wrote:What are you trying to accomplish? Do you need more line ins than the Focusrite has?

No, the Focusrite has plenty...but If I have the choice of running a mono overhead and snare mic through a Neve 511 and Warm WA-12 or the stock 18i20 pres...I think you see where I'm going with this...

Problem now is really only when recording drums. I only have 2 modules for the Aphex...(And at max...4 pres, which removes any comps or eqs I'll have)

The only solution is.....































BUY MORE GEAR!!!!

I'm constantly looking at the UA 4-710d...that would solve my problem. And give me 16 channels.

New temporary solution. The GC by me has a used Alesis AI3. $99. Gonna pick that up and go:

500 Pres -> AI3 -> ADAT in on 18i20

Sex Panther wrote:New temporary solution. The GC by me has a used Alesis AI3. $99. Gonna pick that up and go:

500 Pres -> AI3 -> ADAT in on 18i20

Problem solved!

Picked the AI3 up and hooked it all up as I planned. Went off without a hitch, and it surprisingly sounds fantastic for $99. Plus I now have 8 total channels of AD conversion for external pres!

Sex Panther wrote:
Problem solved!

Picked the AI3 up and hooked it all up as I planned. Went off without a hitch, and it surprisingly sounds fantastic for $99. Plus I now have 8 total channels of AD conversion for external pres!

Sex