Emu XL-7 & MP-7 User's Group

Greetings Posters -

As mentioned previously, and as many of us know, the level of the 
digital output from the e-mu modular line is low, to allow for extremes 
that may occur with regard to extreme patch resonance etc (this is my 
impression, tell me if I am wrong)

In that the level of a digital signal has direct correspondence with 
bit resolution, does that mean that the base-line low level digital 
signal is less than 16 bits - i.e. like 8-12 bits?

just curious, technically I think this would make sense

I never use the digital output - but I would like to

does anyone out there use it?

thanks!

g-vib

As mentioned previously, and as many of us know, the level of the digital 
output from the e-mu modular line is low, to allow for extremes that may 
occur with regard to extreme patch resonance etc (this is my impression, 
tell me if I am wrong)

>>>Yeah, I think this was the answer we were given before. <<<

In that the level of a digital signal has direct correspondence with bit 
resolution, does that mean that the base-line low level digital signal is 
less than 16 bits - i.e. like 8-12 bits?

>>>Yep, that's my guess too.  Bummer, but at least you can normalize and 
not worry about background noise, so it could be worse I suppose. <<<

I never use the digital output - but I would like to does anyone out there 
use it?

>>>I do/did when I record the XL-7 into Cubase SX.  Unfortunately my 
digital cable no longer works, so I need to buy a new one. <<<

rEalm


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

> In that the level of a digital signal has direct correspondence with bit resolution, does that mean that the base-line low level digital signal is  less than 16 bits - i.e. like 8-12 bits?
> 
> >>>Yep, that's my guess too.  Bummer, but at least you can normalize and  not worry about background noise, so it could be worse I suppose.

***still - to my way of thinking this means that one would be better 
off to record the loudest analog signal possible than to use the 
digital output. I would rather have a 15- 23 bit recording from an 
analog source than a normalized version of 10 bit digital source. I 
have tried both methods, and have noticed that the analog-source 
recordings sound brighter and sharper.***

gvibe

Exactly, normalization doesnt improve the quality at
all.  Yes it makes it louder but its just a louder
version of that 10 bit signal.

I checked the specs though and although the samples
are in 16bit format it says the outputs are 20bit.
The effects are 24 bit.  It doesnt really say what
the actually mix buss is at though.  But if the outputs
are 20bit at the spdif then you would be ok to have
a conservstive level.  6db drops you 1 bit so even 12db
below 0 would still be 18bit.

Maybe someone from Emu can clarify.

Jesse

> off to record the loudest analog signal possible than to use the 
> digital output. I would rather have a 15- 23 bit recording from an 
> analog source than a normalized version of 10 bit digital source. I 
> have tried both methods, and have noticed that the analog-source 
> recordings sound brighter and sharper.***
> 
> gvibe

I believe you're right! The outputs of the S/PDIF are a 20 bit word 
and the effects are processed at a 24 bit rate. I read earlier, 
someone was recording at 24 bit to get the full resolution, which is 
fine once you dither it down. Technically, S/PDIF can only transmit 
up to a 20 bit word length anyway!

Oh yes, almost forgot! There is a CD player which will play a CD-R at 
24 bit/96k. It's the Alesis MasterLink. These CD-R's will not play in 
a regular CD player though, only on the MasterLink. 



- In xl7@y..., "jesse_medway" <medway808@h...> wrote:
> Exactly, normalization doesnt improve the quality at
> all.  Yes it makes it louder but its just a louder
> version of that 10 bit signal.
> 
> I checked the specs though and although the samples
> are in 16bit format it says the outputs are 20bit.
> The effects are 24 bit.  It doesnt really say what
> the actually mix buss is at though.  But if the outputs
> are 20bit at the spdif then you would be ok to have
> a conservstive level.  6db drops you 1 bit so even 12db
> below 0 would still be 18bit.
> 
> Maybe someone from Emu can clarify.
> 
> Jesse
> 
> 
> > off to record the loudest analog signal possible than to use the 
> > digital output. I would rather have a 15- 23 bit recording from 
an 
> > analog source than a normalized version of 10 bit digital source. 
I 

> > have tried both methods, and have noticed that the analog-source 
> > recordings sound brighter and sharper.***
> > 
> > gvibe

Not ture.  SPDIF normally carries 20bits of audio and
another 4 bits for status info.  But if programmed to
it can pass a full 24 bits of audio by leaving out 
any status messages.

> fine once you dither it down. Technically, S/PDIF can only transmit 
> up to a 20 bit word length anyway!
>