Secret project (Svart AD/DA converters)

And it's 99% surface mount devices.  It's also about 300 parts per board, and any failures would take debuging skills and tools that 99% of DIYers don't possess, sadly.

It's very non-DIY.

Anyway, the converters are SPDIF/AES only.  You'll get some benefit from using a DAC side only, but since the DAC would be fed by a clocked stream generated by the 2408 internal clock, it wouldn't be as great an improvement as it would be if the 2408 was clocked by my ADC's SPDIF output.

SPDIF is a serial data/clock stream, and each device is seen as the master to the device after it.  There is no need for wordclock in a setup like this, and attempting to use wordclock would not only invalidate the way SPDIF was designed to function, but would also likely cause multiple clocking issues like clicks/pops.

ADC(spdif master clock)  -----> Interface(spdif slave) ------>  DAC(spdif slave)

Is that actually true in all instances ?

If I was sending sending or receiving spdif with my apollo I could just sent it as in input to a track and solo/print that and use the volume control on the apollo (actual or virtual in console).


I used to do this all the time with my dbox.

It's not required at all.

I explained why before, but I now see I must have not explained it well enough.

In your DAW, typically you assign the master faders to streams, or directly to an output if your drivers allow.

You simply assign your master faders to "SPDIF OUT 1/2" or something like that, and simply adjust your master fader to the output level you want.

OR

You can assign a send from your master fader to a secondary stereo bus with it's outputs assigned to "SPDIF OUT1/2" and use that as a virtual monitor level control that won't effect the mixdown.

OR 

Most interfaces have some kind of software control that can adjust the level of the SPDIF stream after the DAW output, but before the interface.

OR

Use Windows mixer or MAC's equivalent to adjust your output.


I mean there are a million ways to do this without a hardware volume control, and it's not up to me to determine how hoards of people are supposed to use this device.  It's up to each person to evaluate their own needs and workflow, and learn how to use all the ins/outs (pun intended) of their DAW, nevermind the fact that the Pro-Audio market is only HALF of the market potential for this device.  Plenty of audiophiles have expressed interest in using the DACs as-they-are and don't want fancy volume controllers and such.  What I've produced is a balanced product with just enough features for everyone to live with, while keeping the price/performance ratio as balanced as I can.




EDIT:

For my workflow, I use "ECHO Console" application as a glorified monitor controller.  It interfaces with the drivers for my ECHO MIA soundcard that I use as my digital interface to the ADC/DAC.

I simply click on the "D 1-2" button which gives me a fader for the digital output levels.  I simply adjust that fader to adjust the output of my DAC. (example picture below is not mine)

Wow, maybe I'm misunderstaning this post, the large-font capitals are blinding me.  Yes, it's outrageous that SVART doesn't give you a monitor controller with a $400 DA.  This is bad news, I was planning to get one.  Next you'll tell us he didn't throw in a U87, a Neve pre, a Sta-Level, and a set of monitors.  The nerve of the man, he's crushed my dreams.

Nevermind that the Forssell MDAC-2 ($2900) doesn't have a volume control, which is what I think you meant by monitor controller.  Nor do many other high-end DACs, but I guess those are no good either.  A high-end volume controller with relay-controlled precision resistor arrays costs more than SVART's DAC, and I certainly wouldn't want even a good pot on SVART's box unless you can bypass it.  I prefer a separate monitor controller, which includes speaker switching, phase, mono, channel mute, and high-quality headphone amp in addition a a high-end volume controller.

What high-quality DAC-with-monitor-controller are you looking at for $400 instead of the SB?

svart it would be really helpful to some of us if you would provide a list of the next set of buyers for the next batch of SB's.  I would like to know if there is a good possibility I could get one in the next batch in the next few months, or if I should seriously look elsewhere.  The old thread is just too convoluted to figure out where I would be on your list.

Thx Tony, I do get all the possible i/o still confused sometimes but I did understand that the way I used to use my dbox created another pass through the converters.  Actually I found the dbox cleaned up the apollo signal in a way that I preferred so I used to print that return.

Thx Svart, I do recall we talked abut this way back in the thread and I understood that if you had a daw and or software gui that allowed you to control spdif virtually this would be your fader (control).

So, you can use the SB stand alone and or with a controller if you already have one.

Personally, Im still in the in the, the SB represents very good value camp and if the CDN dollar and my ex hadn't deep sixed my finances this summer , would have one sitting here now.

JohnKen are you using the SB with a controller too or how exactly with your apollo ?


Tony your reference to synth, not certain if you meant in the context of apollo, but you can send VI from your daw to apollo console and then load ua plugs in console for monitoring and or tracking back to your daw.

I had the Svartbox for a week, no problems at all. It was the easiest device to use I've ever had. Monitoring was no problem at all in Logic X. Need monitor controls? Buy a Music Source or a D-Box

"The S/PDIF output can be configured to mirror the Monitor outputs, for patching the stereo Monitor signal to the
stereo S/PDIF input of other devices. This function is configured in the Console application."

So, I connect the SPDIF out of the Apollo to the to the SPDIF in of the Svartbox. Whatever would come out of the analog outs of the Apollo is now being sent/mirrored to the SPDIF out and going to be converted from D to A by the Svartbox. Then I have the analog outs of the Svartbox connected to power amp and then monitors.

Now, the Console application - master volume - digitally controls the volume level, but it is digital until it hits the Svartbox. So, really the master volume becomes a "SPDIF Volume" by mirroring the Analog outs. At least that's the way I understand it.

For A to D, Mic to pre to Svartbox Analog ins, then SPDIF out to Apollo.

$49 - www.ebay.com/itm/TC-Electronic-Level-Pilot-Desktop-Studio-Monitor-Volume-Control-XLR-Connectivity-/251835991798?hash=item3aa29846f6

smhttp.41820.nexcesscdn.net/8016262/magento/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/t/c/tce-levelpilot_2.jpg

Thx Johnken,

basically you are doing what I used to do with my apollo/dbox combo in terms of i/o but the dbox was also a manual controller.

I thought an apollo owner could use the sb as you described.

The sb is a real complement to the original sf apollo and although the bf have improved converters ( I am liking my new apollo) I bet the SB would complement the bf too !

I think the controller JK pasted was reviewed by pro tools expert last winter and it was well received ?