User's Manual

Apollo x8 Hardware Manual Rear Panel 27

(32) S/PDIF Ports

The S/PDIF ports provide two channels of digital I/O with resolutions up to 24-bit at

192 kHz via female phono (RCA) connectors. For optimum results, use only high-quality

75-ohm cables speciﬁcally designed for S/PDIF digital audio.

SR Convert

Sample rate conversion can be performed on the S/PDIF input; this setting is enabled

within the S/PDIF channel’s input strip in the Console application. When the sample rate

of the incoming S/PDIF signal does not match the sample rate speciﬁed in the Console

application, the S/PDIF signal is converted to match Apollo x8’s sample rate. If Apollo x8

is set to use S/PDIF as the master clock source, sample rate conversion is inactive.

Mirror Monitor Outputs

The S/PDIF output can be conﬁgured to mirror the Monitor Outputs (#35), for routing the

stereo monitor signal to the stereo S/PDIF input of other devices. This feature is set with

the DIGITAL MIRROR menu in the Hardware panel within the Console Settings window.

(33) Thunderbolt 3 Ports

Apollo x8 has two Thunderbolt 3 ports. One port is used to connect Apollo x8 to a

Thunderbolt 3 port on the host computer. Thunderbolt 3 peripheral devices may be

serially connected (daisy-chained) to the second Thunderbolt 3 port.

When Apollo x8 is properly communicating with the host computer via Thunderbolt, the

HOST indicator (#15) illuminates.

Note: Apollo x8 can be used with Thunderbolt 1 and Thunderbolt 2 ports on

Apple Mac computers via the Apple Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter.

Connections to Thunderbolt 1 or Thunderbolt 2 ports on Windows PCs are not

supported.

Thunderbolt Bus Power

Per the Thunderbolt speciﬁcation, bus power is supplied to downstream (daisy-chained)

Thunderbolt peripheral devices. Apollo x8 must be powered on for the daisy-chained

peripheral to receive Thunderbolt bus power.