User`s guide

User's Guide HDSPe MADI FX © RME
31
Sync Check
RME’s exclusive SyncCheck technology provides an easy to use check and display of the cur-
rent clock status. The clock state column indicates whether no signal (No Lock), a valid signal
(Lock) or a valid and synchronous signal (Sync) is present at each of the digital clock source
inputs.
18.2 Clock Modes - Synchronisation
In the digital world, all devices must be either Master (clock source) or Slave (clock receiver).
Whenever several devices are linked within a system, there must always be a single master
clock.
A digital system can only have one master! If the card’s clock mode is set to 'Master', all
other devices must be set to ‘Slave’.
The HDSPe MADI FX utilizes a very user-friendly, intelligent clock control, called AutoSync. In
AutoSync mode, the system constantly scans the digital input for a valid signal. If any valid sig-
nal is found, the card switches from the internal quartz (Clock Mode – Current Internal) to a
clock extracted from the input signal (Clock Mode – Current MADI, Word, AES or Sync In). The
difference to a usual slave mode is that whenever the clock reference fails, the system will
automatically use its internal clock and operate in clock mode Master.
AutoSync guarantees that normal record and record-while-play will always work correctly. In
certain cases however, AutoSync may cause feedback in the digital carrier, so synchronization
breaks down. To remedy this, switch the HDSPe clock mode to ‘Internal’.
RME’s exclusive SyncCheck technology enables an easy to use check and display of the cur-
rent clock status. Input Status indicates whether there is a valid signal (Lock, No Lock) for each
input (Word, MADI, AES, Sync In), or if there is a valid and synchronous signal (Sync). See
chapter 30.2.
Via Clock Source a preferred input can be defined. As long as the card sees a valid signal
there, this input will be designated as the sync source, otherwise the other inputs will be
scanned in turn. If none of the inputs are receiving a valid signal, the card automatically
switches clock mode to ‘Master’.
In practice, SyncCheck provides the user with an easy way of checking whether all digital de-
vices connected to the system are properly configured. With SyncCheck, finally anyone can
master this common source of error, previously one of the most complex issues in the digital
studio world.