Digital Clock Talk

[Sultan of Swing]

I know this is a controversial subject, but here goes. A decade ago my setup was a Yamaha 02R digital board, ADAT recorders, DAT machine, TC Finalizer into my first Mac computer, etc. Lots of interconnected digital stuff, and often clocking issues. I read up on the problem and ended up buying an Aardvark Aardsync II to be a master clock for all the digital stuff. It worked really well, cleared up the issues, improved the sound of everything.

Time passed. I switched to Pro Tools HD, stopped using and eventually sold the 02R, and began to often record at high sample rates, 88.2 and 96k. The Aardvark only clocked up to 48k, so I couldn't use it in those situations, and the company went out of business, so I didn't get a modded version. A few years ago I bought an Apogee Rosetta 800 and started using it's clock to sync with the PT interfaces. Since they were about the only digital devices I was linking, it all worked fine, and the Aardvark collects dust.

But now I'm getting set up to do external summing with a Dangerous D-Box and may eventually add something like a Cranesong HEDD as a higher end converter, and maybe use a hardware reverb with digital out. So the question is, has the time come to use a master clock again? If so, can the Aardvark be updated? I read that Antelope, a company that makes clocking devices has the principal Aardvark guy on staff.

I know some people dismiss clocking devices as unnecessary voodoo stuff, but I also know how well it worked in my earlier setup. Any advice is appreciated.

[Sultan of Swing]

By the way, as I wrote the above I listened to the new remaster of the Beatles' Sgt. Peppers. Whoa, it sounds great!

[Mixwell]

Oh Boy.......

I'll be back to help you when I have some down time on my session.

[Mixwell]

I know this is a controversial subject, but here goes. A decade ago my setup was a Yamaha 02R digital board, ADAT recorders, DAT machine, TC Finalizer into my first Mac computer, etc. Lots of interconnected digital stuff, and often clocking issues. I read up on the problem and ended up buying an Aardvark Aardsync II to be a master clock for all the digital stuff. It worked really well, cleared up the issues, improved the sound of everything. Time passed. I switched to Pro Tools HD, stopped using and eventually sold the 02R, and began to often record at high sample rates, 88.2 and 96k. The Aardvark only clocked up to 48k, so I couldn't use it in those situations, and the company went out of business, so I didn't get a modded version. A few years ago I bought an Apogee Rosetta 800 and started using it's clock to sync with the PT interfaces. Since they were about the only digital devices I was linking, it all worked fine, and the Aardvark collects dust.But now I'm getting set up to do external summing with a Dangerous D-Box and may eventually add something like a Cranesong HEDD as a higher end converter, and maybe use a hardware reverb with digital out. So the question is, has the time come to use a master clock again?

You can use your first and most important AD converter as a master clock feed to all other devices, just as you are doing now. If applicable, I would advise using the HEDD as the Master Clock, with a properly terminated Daisy Chain to all other devices.

If so, can the Aardvark be updated? I read that Antelope, a company that makes clocking devices has the principal Aardvark guy on staff. I know some people dismiss clocking devices as unnecessary voodoo stuff, but I also know how well it worked in my earlier setup. Any advice is appreciated.

Its not voodoo, but its not like this stuff doesn't matter. As far as upgrading your old unit, I don't really think its a possibility, as the dude who once was Aardvark, is now Antelope, and would probably prefer that you buy his new stuff. I can't see any reason to add a master clock, unless you have a mess that a Daisy Chain cannot handle. It might not be the best way, but it is easy enough to configure a master time base for your studio.

[Sultan of Swing]

Thanks Adam. I did a bit more investigation over the weekend and came to the same conclusion. The daisy chain solution is working fine for now, so I'll stick with it. The money I could have spent on clock can go elsewhere...

[Mo Facta]

I recall on the Mercenary site (Aurora listening test May 2005) where the Lynx Aurora is A/Bed against an Apogee Rosetta 800. There was much to say in that article about the improvement of the sonics of both units when slaved to a Big Ben master clock.

The other test we did get to this week was to hook them both to an Apogee Big Ben and give them a go. All I can say is "H-O-L-Y S-H-I-T !!!!!" Both boxes came pretty damn close to giving the RADAR [still on internal clock] a serious run for the money.

The bottom on the Apogee became clearer and tightened up (just like you read about in Apogee's marketing) and the Aurora's bottom became more focused with better detail. The high end imaging of the Rosetta took a quantum leap forward and the Aurora's stereo imaging spread out an extra few inches.

We were remarkably impressed with the differences... they're both really good units, but with the Big Ben, they're really amazing.

That article basically sold me on an Aurora so I got one along with a D Box. Thanks fellas! I'm currently slaving it from an AES16e card, which I'm slaving an Apogee AD8000 to as well. All work beautifully together and my system chugs along rock solid. The Aurora combined with the D Box is really spectacular. I love it.

Cheers :)