S/PDIF from PC to Mixer

Question

Background:

I have a Yamaha LS9-32 mixer and I'm getting a new sound card for my PC to interface with the mixer.

From the Yamaha LS9-32 User Manual:

2TR IN DIGITAL jack
This is a coaxial jack that inputs a stereo digital audio signal in consumer format (IEC-60958). The signal input from this jack can be patched to any input channel.

<-- This is the coaxial S/PDIF in on the Yamaha LS9 mixer.

I was looking at this sound card with an S/PDIF out.

<-- This is the coaxial S/PDIF out on the potential sound card.

Question:

• How well does this type of interface work between a (low end) PC sound card and a "prosumer" mixer (Yamaha LS9-32).
• Would I be better off going sound card's RCA out --> direct box --> mixer?
• Does anyone have any experience with this?

Answer 1

How well does this type of interface work between a (low end) PC sound card and a "prosumer" mixer (Yamaha LS9-32)?

In my experience, coupling things together via S/PDIF is hit and miss. If both the sender and receiver can't find a sampling frequency and bit depth that they agree on, it isn't going to work. For example: I could run S/PDIF out from my AxeFx to my audio capture unit, but I'd have to run my projects at 48kHz/23-bit because that's all the AxeFx outputs and trying to use it with a project running at any other sampling frequency or bit depth is sonic suicide. It just won't work.

Try it. But do so knowing it's all fraught with peril.

Would I be better off going sound card's RCA out --> direct box --> mixer?

For sheer interoperability convenience: yes. It'll Just Work(tm) if you do it that way. You are introducing another D/A and A/D conversion if you go this route (since the mixer is digital), but only your ears can tell you if that's bad. And as an aside: how strange it doesn't have an RCA connection for a tape unit input -- most mixers do for FoH music between sets and what not.