Specifications

Prism Media Products Limited AD-2 Dual-rate A/D converter
Operation Manual
Issue 0.2 © Prism Media Products Limited
11 August 1998 Page 5 of 58
1.2. Terminology for high-sampling rate interfaces
A variety of terms are in use regarding high sampling-rate interfaces. For more
information about these interfaces see sections 6.2 and 6.3.
1.2.1. Split96 or 2-wire AES3 interfaces
For recording applications requiring 96 or 88.2kHz sampling a solution is to use two
channels of a 44.1/48 kHz device for each audio channel at the higher rate.
It is possible to use a machine such as a TASCAM DA-88 with a suitable AES3
interface adaptor (such as the Prism Sound MR-2024T) to record stereo 88.2 or 96
kHz audio. Using the MR-2024T, this can be done with up to 24-bit precision.
This method of interfacing between equipment is referred to variously as ‘Two-wire’ or
‘Split 96kHz’. Using this method, recordings can be made at sample-rates of 88.2 and
96.0kHz.
These recordings cannot be replayed or copied without a suitable D/A converter or
format converter and sample-rate converter (for 44.1k/48k CD and DAT).
In the AD-2 menu system, references to this mode of operation are made using the
term ‘Split96'; in the Factory Presets the term ‘2wr’ (two-wire) is also used.
1.2.2. Double speed AES3, or 1-wire interfaces
Some manufacturers have implemented high sample-rate interfaces by operating an
AES3 interface at twice the normal speed. Equipment with only this type of interface
cannot be directly connected to equipment only supporting 2-wire or Split96 operation.
This is often referred to as ‘Double-speed’ or ‘One-wire’ AES.
In addition to high-sample-rate A/D conversion, the AD-2 can provide all the necessary
format and sample-rate conversion for monitoring using 44.1k/48k equipment.
The AD-2 supports both 1-wire and 2-wire formats for 88.2 and 96.0kHz operation for
digital input and output.
The Prism Sound DA-2 provides D/A conversion at sampling rates from 32kHz to
96kHz and will deal with 2-wire or 1-wire high-sample-rate interfaces in addition to the
normal AES3/IEC958 and SDIF-2 interface formats.