Contemporary digital audio equipment commonly uses serial data transmission internally as well as externally and this makes it necessary to have an internal bit clock which is in the range of 64 to 128 times the sample frequency.ĭue to advances in serial transmission technology and the fact that contemporary digital audio systems operate with a much higher frequency bit clock, the internal clock frequency is significantly higher than the one cycle per sample Word Clock frequency and better methods are available to deal with issues related to very high frequency transmission.
As Wordlength increased from 16, to 32, to 64 bits the advantages of serial transmission became even greater.
Technology advanced and as the speed of circuitry increased it became commonplace for digital systems to use high-speed serial transmission with the obvious advantage of fewer conductors needed to move the data from device to device. With reasonable care to use of the proper cable and termination cable reflections (one of the main sources of jitter) have the time to decay before the next transition occurs which is not the case with serial formats. In other systems the left and right channel's digital audio data was transmitted in a serial manner, in parallel with a Word Clock signal which was used to synchronize the receiver with the beginning of the transmission of each serial word.Īs digital audio systems grew in complexity and the need for synchronization with video equipment arose, Word Clock was used as the system "clock" even though newer formats, such as the AES3 digital audio format were "self-clocking."ĭue to the fact that the Word Clock format is a relatively low frequency signal compared to the serial formats with an embedded bit clock, with two transitions per sample period as versus hundreds of transitions per sample period the Word Clock signal did offer advantages in terms of jitter issues. Some were parallel in which case each bit was carried on a separate conductor and a Word Clock signal was used to synchronize the timing of the transmission of each complete word of 16 bits, once per sample period. The signal is typically “TTL level” which is nominally 5 volt p-p and is carried on 75 Ohm coaxial cable with BNC connectors.Įarlier digital audio systems employed a number of formats of interconnection, many of which were proprietary. But, no matter what, you will always be better of with a dedicated clock, regardless of the kind of system / chain you use.The term "Word Clock" is used to describe a one cycle per sample period "square wave" signal used for synchronization of digital audio equipment.
Mainly a question of trial and error, unless you have a particularly good item in the chain, like for instance a good A/D converter or something like a Genex recorder. That is why an independent clock with its outputs feeding each peace of gear individually, is more or less essential to maintain quality throughout a system.Īlso in response to a previous question If you don't have an external clock it is difficult to say what piece of gear should "lead". Not the best option, you'd be better, and cheaper of using a distribution clock for that.Īlso, in response to a previous question, it is important to realise that, when you daisy-chain a clock signal, the signal deteriorates significantly with each link added. The sync in is for feeding it another clock, in which case the GEN will balance that clock and transmit it down the line. Sorry, I missread that question (having one of my stupid days it appears).