6.5 Using the Digital Input and Output
About Digital I/O and S/PDIF
The SPDIF RCA (phono) sockets 5/6 on the rear panel of the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 are digital
connectors employing the S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interconnect Format) transfer protocol.
S/PDIF allows for carrying digital audio signals between devices without loss of quality. Typical
users of the RCA (phono) sockets 5/6 would be DAT tapedecks, synthesizers and CD players
with digital output.
In essence, Digital I/O transmits digital information in both directions (using two mono RCA
cables). The electronic data transferred is digital data and gets translated to sound waveforms
via S/PDIF. For this connection, a digital RCA cable should be used, although it is also possi-
ble to use standard RCA (phono) cables.
In order for the transfer to work, the devices need to be synchronized with each other, whereby
one of the devices acts as a master and sends a syncing signal and the other acts as a slave
and syncs to it. The KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 can be set to act as a slave, and sync to external
devices in such a setup.
6.5.1 Connecting a DAT Tapedeck
KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 connected to a DAT tapedeck.
Make sure to connect the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 to your computer as described during the in-
stallation chapter (chapter ā2, Installing KOMPLETE AUDIO 6) of this manual.
To use the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 in a setup with a DAT tapedeck:
Using the KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 (Setup Scenarios)
Using the Digital Input and Output
KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 - Manual - 47