Im getting a Denon DN-X1500 mixer in the near future... its circuity is almost completely digital. As well, it has digital (coaxial) output and balanced analog (XLR) output. On my current sound card (SB audigy 2) I have 1/8" line in, and 'CD Digital in' as soundblaster calls it, which Im guessing is the same as a regular digital input, however, its a 1/8" mini jack, not coaxial.

so I have 2 questions

#1: is it possible to record from a Digital Coaxial output on my mixer to the 1/8" Digital input on my soundcard using some sort of connection converter.

#2: what would be a better recording quality: Digital Coaxial out to 1/8" Digital in (if thats possible). Or Blanced XLR out to Balanced 1/4" in.

tia

(Im just wondering if I should pick up a new soundcard)

I think the digital coaxial output on your mixer maybe fiberoptic: meaning that it uses light to transfer the audio signal. The 1/8th digital in on your soundcard i think uses the Philips/Sony SPDIF specs and thus is not compatible with the digital output on your mixer. However, if your soundcard does have fiberoptic inputs, then using that to connect would work. Otherwise, if the output on your mixer is not fiberoptic then disregard what i say hehe

Read this: http://www.tranceaddict.com/forums/...threadid=147286 regarding quality of digital recording.

With regards to coaxial digital out, this is *not* the same as fibreoptic/optical. I believe it is compatible with the 1/8" minijack, but I don't know this for sure. You will have to check. However, most digital soundcards will have an optical in, and it is possible that your digital mixer has an optical out too.

under professional opinion, from analog vinyl, you're gonna want balanced analog to balance analog everywhere possible. avoid the digital-to-analog conversions and you've got prettier, warmer sound.

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'-.SgtFoo.-'
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Normally the Denon mixer will have a RCA SP/DIF output, and the 1/8" input of Creative cards is SP/DIF too. Although I know that earlier SB Live had not the standard SP/DIF, I'm pretty sure they fixed it.

Now in regards of what connection to use, normally SgtFoo would be right, except...

There is an analog to digital conversion going on at the inputs (usually your TT's and CD's still connect in an analog way).

Would you use the analog XLR's, it would be a balanced analog signal yes, but there would be a digital to analog conversion going on. Pluging that analog signal into your soundcard... There is an analog to digital conversion going on there too (as the sound is digitized in the soundcard). And finally one extra digital to analog conversion again on playback.

If the X1500 is made in an intelligent way (certainly it will, it would be pretty stupid to do an unnecessary conversion step for the digital outputs), it will be better to keep it digital. That way, there is only the conversion at the mixer input taking place, all the internal processing in the mixer is digital, the signal stays digital at the output and doesn't get converted unnecessarily. That's two unnecessary steps -that would degrade your signal- less.

Quality signal is not necessarily about using balanced or not, it's more a matter of taking the shortest possible way to get where you want to go. Any extra component or length is a possible degradation in your signal... (That's why some top mastering engineers prefer unbalanced stuff, less electrical components. In a controlled environment, unbalanced isn't worse than balanced).

quote:

Originally posted by SgtFoo under professional opinion, from analog vinyl, you're gonna want balanced analog to balance analog everywhere possible. avoid the digital-to-analog conversions and you've got prettier, warmer sound.

agreed! analog to digital conversion is always a bit funky, it seems. unless you have an expensive outboard A/D box and are using 24/96 or better, then it gets pretty damn accurate.

but yea.. analog is good!

however, it may be better to use something besides the computer for the A/D conversion.. because feeding a soundboard an analog signal just means the soundboard itself does the A/D conversion - outboard equiptment may do a better job.

just depends on the soundboard.

given it's a consumer board.. i wouldnt trust it's A/D for shit.. i'd hook the S/PDIF out of your CD deck right into the S/PDIF in of the soundboard. it's just positive and negative, wire it up!