When using only one digital device, miniscule errors in the clock (known as jitter) can go unnoticed because the system is “closed” and there is nothing to compare it to. If not, we run into problems (errors) that can create noise, loss of signal and possibly an undesired change in pitch. Each of these samples is represented by a number or a digital “word.” Every digital audio device has an internal clock to regulate the speed at which these samples are taken, and to make sure that there are in fact precisely the correct number of samples per second as specified by the sample rate (e.g. A sample rate of 44.1 kHz means that there are 44,100 slices of audio or “samples” per second. So here we go.Īudio entering our digital mixing consoles is passed through an analog-to-digital converter (A-to-D or ADC), where it is electronically chopped into slices called samples. Understanding word clock is critical when interfacing digital gear, and that requires a brief review of digital audio. Often (but not always) these signals are combined on a single cable, so we don’t realize that word clock is being sent along with the audio. Any time that digital audio is transferred between devices, there are two distinct components to the signal: the audio, and something called word clock. Last month, we touched upon the idea of routing digital audio from an outboard channel into a digital mixing console. Does Anybody Really Know What Time it Is?
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