EMU0404 USB Digital Input from DVD player?

[frankR]

Can the EMU0404 accept and playback a bitstream from a noncomputer component such as a DVD player or digital cable box while not connected to a computer?

I have the S/PDIF coax from an old Samsung DVD player plugged into the EMU0404, the external sync light is flashing while the CD is playing, but I hear nothing coming out of the EMU0404 headphone output.

Is this possible? If it is, what am I doing wrong?

 

[sejarzo]

The flashing sync implies that it sees a signal but it's not able to sync to it, as far as I know.

The suggested solution is to leave the 0404 USB off, turn on the external source, and then turn on the 0404 USB so a good digital signal is present on the input when the 0404 USB starts up.

If that doesn't work, try starting the CD playback before powering up the 0404 USB.

Sometimes shutting the 0404 USB down for 30 sec or so then turning it back on seems to allow it to sync, as a last resort.

Always be careful not to power cycle the 0404 USB too rapidly.

I tried to get it to sync to the output of an older Marantz CD player, and it absolutely wouldn't, no matter what I tried.....E-MU tech support replied that some older S/PDIF outputs don't have sufficient peak-to-peak voltage to drive the 0404 USB input.

 

[nick_charles]

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankR /img/forum/go_quote.gif Can the EMU0404 accept and playback a bitstream from a noncomputer component such as a DVD player or digital cable box while not connected to a computer? I have the S/PDIF coax from an old Samsung DVD player plugged into the EMU0404, the external sync light is flashing while the CD is playing, but I hear nothing coming out of the EMU0404 headphone output. Is this possible? If it is, what am I doing wrong?

This should be possible. My guess is that you have an issue with the direct monitoring settings, also if your DVD is outputting a 24/192 then direct monitoring will not work.

 

[sejarzo]

Unless the external sync is steady, it matters not how the Direct Monitor is set......I just re-read page 20 of the manual, and flashing external sync LED means the external rate doesn't match that to which the 0404 USB is set.

EDIT:

frankR....with the latest firmware, you probably have to attach it to your computer, call up the E-MU Control Panel, reset the sample rate to 44.1k, and then disconnect it from the computer.

The way the "box" worked has changed a bit between firmware releases.

 

[frankR]

sejarzo,

I cycled power a couple of times. The blinking light went away but there is no audio. I'll try another digital source.

The signal should be 24/44.

 

[frankR]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sejarzo /img/forum/go_quote.gif Unless the external sync is steady, it matters not how the Direct Monitor is set......I just re-read page 20 of the manual, and flashing external sync LED means the external rate doesn't match that to which the 0404 USB is set. frankR....if you powered down the 0404 USB when it had been running at a 192 kHz input sample rate, it might be "stuck" on that at power up, depending on the firmware version. I can't find the reference at the moment, but I think infinitesymphony posted that the newer firmware acts differently than the old regarding resetting to external sync.......I will do a bit more searching and post again when I find that.

Thanks for looking into this.

I'll hook the 0404 back up to my PC and see if I can get it going that way.

Edit: I'm trying the firmware update.

E-MU: Downloads

It looks like this update might fix this problem.

 

[frankR]

Very strange...

The control panel says the external 44.1 khz singal is internally locked, but I hear no audio.

Got it!

The DVD player Coaxial output was set to bitstream. I changed it to PCM and it now works.

 

[nick_charles]

Now redundant.

 

[frankR]

It seems the digital out on my DVD player is not buffered, it's very sensitive to shock. It's a very early DVD player.

 

[sejarzo]

OK, finally found my optical cable and did some experimenting.....

First, my 0404 USB tends to lose sync with the coax output from my Marantz SA8001, and never did sync with the coax output from a MF CDPre24 nor the coax output from a Marantz PMD 320 "pro" CD player. However, it does lock on very well to the optical output from the SA8001. I wonder if the behavior you note from the DVD player might not be the same thing....that the 0404 USB somehow requires an unusually high voltage on the coax input, rather than the DVD player output being the problem!

If the 0404 USB is connected to my PC, and I set the sync to external at 96 kHz, and plug in the coax or optical cable out of the SA8001, the E-MU control panel shows that the digital input status is 44.1k, but the ext sync status LED on the unit flashes (as it should, based on the manual.) If I turn off the box, disconnect the USB cable, then turn it back on, the 0404 USB re-syncs quickly to the optical input at 44.1k, but it's iffy when it comes to syncing with the coax input from the SA8001 at 44.1k.

 

[sejarzo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankR /img/forum/go_quote.gif The control panel says the external 44.1 khz singal is internally locked, but I hear no audio. ...

If you are using it in true standalone mode (not connected to a computer) then it has to sync to the external source to operate.

If one is using an external S/PDIF input, it seems as if it's best to have the box completely disconnected from the PC--because then it automatically attempts to sync to the external digital input on power up.

Then, one still must choose the coax input (because it defaults to optical, or at least mine does on power up!) and set the Direct Monitor to Main.

I hope it's clear that the device is really not intended for use as a standalone external DAC, but it does have that functionality if one needs it in a pinch.

 

[DefectiveAudioComponent]

Actually, you can use the optical in at the same time as the USB in. It will play both inputs at the same time, as long as you set the direct monitor to main. (why you would want to listen to two inputs at the same time is a different story since ... well... I don't have to explain maybe...).