User guide

Chapter 4 Setting Up Your System 93
AES/EBU, S/PDIF, and ADAT
The AES/EBU, S/PDIF, and ADAT protocols provide a digital connection between
professional and consumer audio equipment, including audio interfaces, DAT (digital
audio tape) machines, mixing consoles, hardware samplers, and more.
S/PDIF and AES/EBU provide two channels of audio, and ADAT optical provides eight
channels of audio. You can use optical TOSLINK connectors to carry digital audio
streams between S/PDIF and ADAT components.
Connecting Your Audio Interface
Logic Express supports plug and play for audio interfaces, making it possible to
connect and switch on a new audio interface while Logic Express is running. An alert
appears when you connect a new device, and will prompt you to select and confirm
the audio interface and driver that you would like to use.
All digital audio interfaces can be susceptible to latency—a noticeable delay between
the time the audio signal is produced, and when you hear it. You should always attach
your audio interface directly to the computer, rather than through a hub, or daisy-
chaining it through another device. Doing so can cause an unacceptable amount of
latency, particularly with slower USB 1.1 devices.
MIDI Cabling
MIDI is an abbreviation for Musical Instrument Digital Interface—a universal 5-pin
connection standard and computer language—that allows communication between
MIDI devices.
Toslink optical digital connector
MIDI Connector