m37a11 Posted February 12, 2021 Share Posted February 12, 2021 (edited) hi I'm trying to get the Helix rack to send SPDIF out to an Apollo Twin MKII. It was working yesterday but tonight I can no longer get the two to sync. HELIX rack is on firmware 3.0.1.0, Sample Rate 44.1khz, Digital I/O: SPDIF, Digital Out Level 0db, Clock Source: Internal. Apollo is set to: Optical In: SPDIF, Sample Rate 44.1khz, Clock Source: SPDIF. I am using a Tendak Coaxial to Toslink converter. Has anyone else encountered similar issues? I just got this unit so I performed a factory reset just to be sure I wasn't missing a setting somewhere. I have opened a ticket with support but thought I would see if anyone else has gotten this to work reliably. UPDATE: Solved! I replaced the coaxial to optical converter with this one https://amzn.to/3agRGap and it's working again. Edited February 13, 2021 by m37a11 solution 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ilya-V Posted February 12, 2021 Share Posted February 12, 2021 Are you absolutely sure that the Tendak is not causing any issues? Try to switch the clock sources of the Apollo to Internal, so both are Internal and check if you get any sound. My Focusrite Saffire doesn't lock sync with SPDIF when its Sync Source is set to External. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m37a11 Posted February 12, 2021 Author Share Posted February 12, 2021 1 hour ago, Ilya-V said: Are you absolutely sure that the Tendak is not causing any issues? Try to switch the clock sources of the Apollo to Internal, so both are Internal and check if you get any sound. My Focusrite Saffire doesn't lock sync with SPDIF when its Sync Source is set to External. I am not 100% that the Tendak converter is not the issue, so I have ordered a different brand that will arrive today. What Coaxial/Toslink converter are others using? I also ordered another/shorter toslink cable just in case. I did try all combinations of clock source on both units, when it's set to internal on both units I get sound on the Apollo but it's just noise. Ill update later today when I test the replacement converter and cables. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ilya-V Posted February 12, 2021 Share Posted February 12, 2021 I don't use any converters. RCA cable from Helix to Focusrite. I also use Helix Floor so there is no Clock Source setting in the Helix, I believe it is always Internal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m37a11 Posted February 12, 2021 Author Share Posted February 12, 2021 Thanks for the info. Unfortunately, the Apollo Twin only has Optical SPIDIF in, and the helix only has Coaxial SPIDIF out. Interestingly, I haven't seen a recommendation on known working solutions from either vendor, even though (at least on the UAD side) they acknowledge the need for a converter in many use-cases. "If using an external device with a coaxial S/PDIF output (such as a rackmount CD player, turntable, etc), you will need to use a coaxial S/PDIF to optical S/PDIF converter to take the coaxial signal from the external device and convert it into an optical signal that can be accepted by the Apollo Twin, Apollo Twin MkII or Apollo 8p. For examples of coaxial S/PDIF to optical S/PDIF converters, click here. " https://help.uaudio.com/hc/en-us/articles/115003167143-Apollo-Input-Connections-Explained?mobile_site=false Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m37a11 Posted February 13, 2021 Author Share Posted February 13, 2021 I replaced the coax to optical converter and it's working again! For anyone in the same situation, I am using this coax to optical converter and it's working great: https://amzn.to/3agRGap 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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