How do I get digital output of FX3 into Apollo X4?

bxlgotham

bxlgotham

Inspired
So confused. I have SPDIF out on FX3, is that optical SPDIF? There is no such input on the X4, only TOSLINK. I don't want to use XLR, it wastes a slot on the X4 and plus, signal loss.
 
Ok so I've done this. And I have the two connected, I have 48khz set as clock and clock to INTERNAL on the console. But not seeing any signal/audio coming in when I play. What am I missing? Thx, have tried for hours reading forums posts to no avail.
 
Do you have the SPDIF (White Jack) output of Axe FX III going to the SPDIF input of your converter and the Toslink output of the converter going to the Toslink input of the X4? If there is no signal, it most likely would be a connection problem. If it were a clocking problem you would have least have glitchy audio.
 
Yes I do and I wasn’t listening to monitor but looking at the graphic EQ column in Console for SPDIF input and see nothing lighting up. So assume there’s no audio even bad signal or noise. Maybe the adapter I’m using is junk?
 
Do you have power going to the adapters via their micro USB ports? Also make sure their input select switches are correct for the input cable plugged into them.
 
Are you using 75 Ohm coaxial cable/s?

bxlgotham said:
I have 48khz set as clock and clock to INTERNAL on the console.
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For clocking purposes, since you have console set to Internal, make sure AxeFx is set to External. Or you can switch them around but only one unit must be Master whilst other is Slave.
 
If you're only connecting SPDIF in one direction (Axe-FX Out to X4 In) you need to set the Axe-FX to internal clock and the X4 to external/SPDIF clock.
 
If I remember correctly on the Apollo console it should be external which means the Axe fx is setting the clock. I have the X4 as well and run it this way but I’m not in front of it right now.
 
mr_fender said:
Do you have power going to the adapters via their micro USB ports? Also make sure their input select switches are correct for the input cable plugged into them.
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Yes and yes. The convertor is lit up and USB powered. It's a pretty cheap little piece of garbage so excuse me for being a bit doubtful about it's abilities to be working :/
 
Zedhed said:
Are you using 75 Ohm coaxial cable/s?



For clocking purposes, since you have console set to Internal, make sure AxeFx is set to External. Or you can switch them around but only one unit must be Master whilst other is Slave.
Click to expand...

I don't see any option for that. I can set AxeFx to Internal OR SPDIF/AES. I can do likewise on console. Are you saying they shouldn't BOTH be set to Internal? Because I have done so. When I change AxeFx to SPDIF/AES, it starts spitting out an insanely annoying glitchy sound into the mains.
 
Bakerman said:
If you're only connecting SPDIF in one direction (Axe-FX Out to X4 In) you need to set the Axe-FX to internal clock and the X4 to external/SPDIF clock.
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OK reading down one by one I have now done that. AxeFX is Internal, X2 is SPDIF world clock (and its flashing red at the bottom of the input column). That said I tried this last night as well and strumming the guitar which is fed into the front panel instrument input jack on the AxeFx, produced now volume input on the Console SPDIF column.
 
bxlgotham said:
Are you saying they shouldn't BOTH be set to Internal?
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Yes, that is what I'm saying.

I see in the X4 manual; "Sample rate conversion can be performed on the S/PDIF input. This setting is enabled within the S/PDIF channel’s input strip in the Console application. When the sample rate of the incoming S/PDIF signal does not match the sample rate specified in the Console application, the S/PDIF signal is converted to match Apollo x4’s sample rate. If Apollo x4 is set to use external S/PDIF clock source, sample rate conversion is inactive.
Bare in mind that the AxeFx only performs @ 48k and since you've set the X4 to 'external' (as per your reply to Bakerman), you'll need to manually set the X4 to receive 48k sample rate. Look at the Apollo Software Manual to achieve this (probably in the Console settings window).

Alternatively, switch X4 to Internal and AxeFx to s/pdif/AES to enable Apollo's automatic sample rate conversion.

Can you also confirm whether or not you are using 75ohm coaxial cable?
 
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Zedhed said:
Yes, that is what I'm saying.

I see in the X4 manual; "Sample rate conversion can be performed on the S/PDIF input. This setting is enabled within the S/PDIF channel’s input strip in the Console application. When the sample rate of the incoming S/PDIF signal does not match the sample rate specified in the Console application, the S/PDIF signal is converted to match Apollo x4’s sample rate. If Apollo x4 is set to use external S/PDIF clock source, sample rate conversion is inactive.
Bare in mind that the AxeFx only performs @ 48k and since you've set the X4 to 'external' (as per your reply to Bakerman), you'll need to manually set the X4 to receive 48k sample rate. Look at the Apollo Software Manual to achieve this (probably in the Console settings window).

Alternatively, switch X4 to Internal and AxeFx to s/pdif/AES to enable Apollo's automatic sample rate conversion.

Can you also confirm whether or not you are using 75ohm coaxial cable?
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How would I verify the coaxial cable is 75ohm? Will it say it in print on its length (faintly?)?. Thanks sorry if this is a dumb question I don't see it printed on the side but it's dark in here.
 
75 ohm cable is preferred generally because they're built better compared to a lot of cheap rca cables, but any good, well shielded rca cable will work.
I have the Apollo x6 which was coax spdif so unfortunately I can't help with coax to optical converters. It's also very easy to mess up and plug out to out and in to in, resulting in nightmare noises so be careful.
So if you have spdif out coax wired to spdif in on your converter, optical to optical and then the clocks are preferably Apollo internal and Axe external, make sure you set SPDIF Output Source to Output 1 or Output 2 and put the corresponding Output block in your preset.
Also you aren't going to lose anything using Axe's balanced outs... the converters on Axe and Apollo are awesome.spdif.png
 
johnnypig said:
75 ohm cable is preferred generally because they're built better compared to a lot of cheap rca cables, but any good, well shielded rca cable will work.
I have the Apollo x6 which was coax spdif so unfortunately I can't help with coax to optical converters. It's also very easy to mess up and plug out to out and in to in, resulting in nightmare noises so be careful.
So if you have spdif out coax wired to spdif in on your converter, optical to optical and then the clocks are preferably Apollo internal and Axe external, make sure you set SPDIF Output Source to Output 1 or Output 2 and put the corresponding Output block in your preset.
Also you aren't going to lose anything using Axe's balanced outs... the converters on Axe and Apollo are awesome.View attachment 81923
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So if I have it set like this, with Word Clock as SPDIF/AES, the monitors attached to my AxeFX start making snowy noise that drives my dog into the other room instantly. But let me try this again, and yes I have coax on the bottom (white ring) output of SPDIF behind AxeFX and going into the converter, selected correcting on the little switch, and then TOSLINK optical out to in on X2. Is there anything on the physical X2 I have to select somehow and level up?
 
If you don't see any signal on the Spdif channel of the Apollo console then I can only assume the coax to optical converter is bunk or something.
 
johnnypig said:
Is the output knob on the Axe above 0?
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So I tried it again, and my Adam AX7s started spewing that snow again, but I let it and went to strum on the Tele, and nothing showing up in the X2 Console for the SPDIF column. Again I note however that the clock setting is set to 48khz on the Console/X2 and Internal, and on AxeFX its set to SPDIF/AES (spewing noise to the monitors instantly). Nothing shows up in the input column for SPDIF on the Console (I am not listening to the headphones that are coming out of the X2, I assume I'd see the UI light up?). I double checked the converter, its as it should be. Sigh.
 
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