Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: AES connections question

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Posted by Michal Matys (Member # 8614) on 03-07-2015, 12:17 PM:

Hi guys,

I wanted to ask about AES connection. Is there difference in pinouts on different types of sound processors? Like AP20, 750, JSD80 etc?

As well about the servers - doremi dp2k4 and XDC solo g3 servers, what is the difference in AES sound cables?

Today I had to replace one of our solo G3 servers with doremi server. First, I have tried DP2K4 but the sound was not working. I have tried doremi IMB and I made it work, what confuses me is that I had to connect the 1-8channel from IMB to 9-16ch in the socket (patchcable > db25 the one that is part of the doremi/imb package) to make it work. The sound processor there is USL - JSD80. I have checked on the site where we have IMB with AP20 and it is the same, the 1-8 goes to the 9-16 on the socket.

Can anyone give me some quick explanation how this exactly works? Im kind of lost.

Thank you

Michal

Posted by Harold Hallikainen (Member # 5405) on 03-07-2015, 12:39 PM:

On the DB25, there are two typical pinouts for AES/EBU. One is the "Dolby DMA8" pin out. The other is, as I recall, based on a Tascam pin out and was the subject of a SMPTE draft standard that was never adopted. USL, for a while, called this second pinout the "DCI" pin out. A friend at Sony asked where DCI specified this. Turns out they didn't. I then found the SMPTE draft. Anyway, there are two pin outs, and USL has gone back and forth on what to use. The JSD-80 and JSD-60 use DMA8. The JSD-100 uses the SMPTE draft. Once you move to RJ45, everyone agrees on the pin out, so I like that! You can find the actual pin outs in the JSD-60 manual and JSD-100 manual at http://ftp.uslinc.com . The page at http://www.uslinc.com/index.php?option=com_maqmahelpdesk&Itemid=129&id_workgroup=1&task=kb_view&id=69 describes a series of adapters to convert various servers to a pair of CAT5/6 cables.

Finally, one year we did an HI/VI/Closed Caption demonstration at Cinemacon. I set up an "IR cell tower" in the middle of the room with panels pointed towards various servers around the room. These included Sony, Doremi, Dolby, and GDC, as I recall. We provided a sound processor, where needed, for each server. We then took the HI/VI audio from each processor and connected it to the IR panel in the middle of the room. People visiting each of the server companies could put on headphones and hear the IR from that server since it was directed that way. As you moved from table to table, the audio would change to the next server. Anyway, Sony had a cable with the DMA8 pin out, which did not match the JSD-100 we wanted to drive. A quick visit to the USL booth got us a DAX-602, which has two DB25 connectors, one with each of the pinouts. We used the DAX-602 as an adapter to convert the pinout between the Sony and the JSD-100.

I'm liking RJ45 more and more...

Harold

Posted by Stephan Shelley (Member # 8587) on 03-07-2015, 01:58 PM:

Odyssey Products makes a lot of useful adapters.

http://www.odyssey-products.com/

This PDF on the Odyssey site should be useful about AES DB25 pinouts.

http://www.odyssey-products.com/resources/DB25-Digital-Audio-Pinouts-7.13.pdf

RJ45 is replacing a lot of the DB25 connectors. All of the last installations I have done I have used a DB25 to RJ45 adapters when connecting to AES DB25 sources/inputs. They are available at electronic supply stores such as Fry's or online. You push the pins from the RJ45 into the holes of the DB25 where you need them. Good idea to use a network cable checker on your cat 6 AES cable.

Posted by Dave Macaulay (Member # 813) on 03-07-2015, 08:14 PM:

The Doremi adapter is a bit confusing but I can't positively say I've found one actually wrong. The label can look like it indicates 1-8 is on one of the jacks but it really says "1-8 is on A and 9-16 is on B" - you have to look for the A and B embossed on the shell plastic.
Not saying you didn't get one put together wrong, but it's very easy to misinterpret the label.
I like using the Odyssey adapters, they have something to handle basically every possibility.

Posted by Danial Simmonds (Member # 4638) on 03-08-2015, 06:38 AM:

Yup different sound processors and servers have different pin outs, so its best to refer to the user manual and wire them accordingly, or get an Odyssey board as everyone is mentioning it makes life seriously a lot easier.

For instance we use Doremi DCP2000 connecting to a CP650 with odyssey the standard cable supplied with the server works. Or IMB we use an Odyssey board behind the CP750 so we just plug across network cables from IMB AES out.

Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 03-08-2015, 09:08 AM:

Have a smartphone, tablet, notebook (digital or analog) with you, showing all pinouts. There are not that many, and you can collect them quickly over the internet.

But very often you find cables without proper indication, sometimes 1:1, sometimes converting to/from, etc. Trial&Error is possible, but better to use a cable tester oder probe through them.

- Carsten

Posted by Michal Matys (Member # 8614) on 03-12-2015, 12:07 PM:

Thank you all guys for your answers, I appreciate it.