TwinQ problems again

[Bodhitto]

Hello!

I have a serious problem with my TwinQ digital output. I will describe it briefly. Regardless of electrical or optical type digital connection there is a terrible noise in signal path. Let us say by 60 dB. As regards cables, synchronization I think I did everything. I tested all possible settings. Nothing has changed. I owe RME HDSP 9632 sound card and it works fine with my other gear.
Another problem is rear microphone socket. It is tragic. It has blocked my cable connector and I can not unplug it. Really!
The latter problem I am able to manage. But what about the noisy digital output?

Thanks in advance for any reaction
:(

[Reid Mason]

Hello!

I have a serious problem with my TwinQ digital output. I will describe it briefly. Regardless of electrical or optical type digital connection there is a terrible noise in signal path. Let us say by 60 dB. As regards cables, synchronization I think I did everything. I tested all possible settings. Nothing has changed. I owe RME HDSP 9632 sound card and it works fine with my other gear.
Another problem is rear microphone socket. It is tragic. It has blocked my cable connector and I can not unplug it. Really!
The latter problem I am able to manage. But what about the noisy digital output?

Thanks in advance for any reaction
:(

Sorry you're having problems. Rather than respond here on the forum, we can best help you if you call us. Our Toll Free number (works everywhere in the US and Canada) is 877.563.6335. When you call, ask for Brent Casey. He'll get you straightened out.

If you're out of the US, you can call our regular line at 310.323.9050 during 9-5PM Pacific Time - or try contacting Brent by email (brent@pmiaudio.com)

Once again - sorry for your problems, and we'll get it sorted out.

[Brent Casey]

Hello!

I have a serious problem with my TwinQ digital output. I will describe it briefly. Regardless of electrical or optical type digital connection there is a terrible noise in signal path. Let us say by 60 dB. As regards cables, synchronization I think I did everything. I tested all possible settings. Nothing has changed. I owe RME HDSP 9632 sound card and it works fine with my other gear.
Another problem is rear microphone socket. It is tragic. It has blocked my cable connector and I can not unplug it. Really!
The latter problem I am able to manage. But what about the noisy digital output?

Thanks in advance for any reaction
:(


Hi Bodhitto,

Can you give me a bit of history here -
- Has the TwinQ digital output formerly functioned ok with the RME and has only recently developed problems?
- What kind of digital cables are you using? (Brand, etc.)
- What are the "other" digital devices that you have which are working normally with the RME?

The XLR release mechanism is obviously jammed. It's a somewhat rare problem, but I've run across it a time or two in the past. This is the first I've heard of it happening with a Meek. Does the lever move at all, or is it jammed?

Regards,

Brent Casey

[Bodhitto]

Hi Bodhitto,

Can you give me a bit of history here -
- Has the TwinQ digital output formerly functioned ok with the RME and has only recently developed problems?
- What kind of digital cables are you using? (Brand, etc.)
- What are the "other" digital devices that you have which are working normally with the RME?

The XLR release mechanism is obviously jammed. It's a somewhat rare problem, but I've run across it a time or two in the past. This is the first I've heard of it happening with a Meek. Does the lever move at all, or is it jammed?

Regards,

Brent Casey

The TwinQ digital output has never worked properly. I bought brand RME digital cables and they didn't helped. My "other" digital device is dbx ProVocal. Its noise is acceptable and much lower than TwinQ's (about 90 dB thru coaxial SPDiF).
The XLR mechanism is moving, but it is jammed.

[Bodhitto]

The TwinQ digital output has never worked properly. I bought brand RME digital cables and they didn't helped. My "other" digital device is dbx ProVocal. Its noise is acceptable and much lower than TwinQ's (about 90 dB thru coaxial SPDiF).
The XLR mechanism is moving, but it is jammed.

I use interconnect Klotz cables with Neutrik connectors. I was surprised I did not find Neutrik sockets in my TwinQ.

[Alan Hyatt]

This sounds like a sync issue to me. Something is making the sync drop out and that is why your getting the noise. It could be a bad digital board, but I do not think we have had one yet.

Interfacing is not always easy, and proper menu set up is the key. We are happy to look at your unit and test it. If it works for us and sync's up, then the issue is getting the right settings with your other products.

Our designer uses the same RME card in the UK and his works fine with the twinQ. So, if you have exhausted all other possibilities, then we should get your unit in so we can check it out. You may have to remove the top panel to get unstick the XLR's. The factory installed some XLRs with the lock. We did not want them to do it and had them change it out after the first run. We can fix that as well...

Give us a call and we will get you an ATR# to get it back to us.

[Bodhitto]

Now I will have to wait a little longer to test RME's digital inputs. I ordered dbx 162 SL, so I will check interfacing with this unit. If it occurs the problem does not disappear I shall concentrate on my sound card.

[x5pc]

Now I will have to wait a little longer to test RME's digital inputs. I ordered dbx 162 SL, so I will check interfacing with this unit. If it occurs the problem does not disappear I shall concentrate on my sound card.
Hello Bodhitto, I have the the same problem with the spdif digital output.
Did you resolve yours?
Alex

[Alan Hyatt]

Hello!

I have a serious problem with my TwinQ digital output. I will describe it briefly. Regardless of electrical or optical type digital connection there is a terrible noise in signal path. Let us say by 60 dB. As regards cables, synchronization I think I did everything. I tested all possible settings. Nothing has changed. I owe RME HDSP 9632 sound card and it works fine with my other gear.
Another problem is rear microphone socket. It is tragic. It has blocked my cable connector and I can not unplug it. Really!
The latter problem I am able to manage. But what about the noisy digital output?

Thanks in advance for any reaction
:(


If the noise you hear is that loud, it is a hideous digital racket caused by loss of synch between the interface you have and the Joemeek DB-1 and it is caused by ticking the wrong box in the Audio Setup software.

With interfaces, especially MOTU it is not sufficient to just select "SPDIF" as the control clock - you also have to set the interface sample rate to either 44.1/48kHz or 88.2/96kHz (ie: 1x or 2x clocking) depending on the speed the Joemeek is running at. We had a lot of complaints with the MOTU, so to verify this, we got a MOTU H896HD and fed the MOTU from "our" RME converter which you have and got "exactly" the same "fault" - without a Joemeek in sight. So if anything this "problem" represents a design shortcoming with MOTU and not with Joemeek, but more importantly it is about setting up "your" interface correctly so it will not lose sync.

Other manufacturers' products also have similar limitations. Note that the converse is not true: when clocking the Joemeek DB-1 module externally (as you can with the twinQ and oneQ), it simply responds to the incoming clock and adjusts itself automatically, ie: no setup is necessary. Ditto the RME.

Our designer re-measured the DB-1 noise floor using our Neutrik analyser. Using the RME as a receiver, the noise floor of the Joemeeks repeatedly yielded measurements around -76dBu. Now this may seem noisy for a digital device, but only to people who don't understand that digital noise is measured relative to FSD and not to 0dBu. As we have FSD pegged at +18dBu, this puts our noise floor at around -94dBr. Now, that is not as quiet as some more expensive converters on the market but it is still pretty respectable. Relative to average digital recording levels, it represents a signal to noise ratio of more than 80dB, which is typical of analogue outboard gear in any case.

We are still happy to test your unit, but I really belive it is not the fault of the Joemeek. If you will feel better about it, we are happy to test it. Contact us to get it back here. Leave the mic cable plugged in and we will remove it.