TerraTec Sync Xtension EWS ClockWork User manual

SyncXtension EWS ClockWork (English) 1
Quick reference (English)
Version 1.0, Status 01.09.00

2 SyncXtension EWS ClockWork (English)
CE declaration
We:
TerraTec Electronic GmbH, Herrenpfad 38, D-41334 Nettetal, Germany
hereby declare that the product:
Sync Xtension EWS ClockWork
to which this declaration refers complies with the following standards or standardizing documents:
1. EN 55022
2. EN 50082-1
The following are the stipulated operating and environmental conditions for the said compliance:
Residential, business and commercial environments and small-company environments.
This declaration is based on:
test report (s) of the EMC testing laboratory
TerraTec®ProMedia, SoundSystem Gold, SoundSystem Maestro, SoundSystem Base1, SoundSystem
DMX, AudioSystem EWS®64, AudioSystem EWS88, XLerate, XLerate Pro, Base2PCI, TerraTec 128iPCI,
TerraTV+, TerraTV Radio+, TerraTValue, WaveSystem, TerraCAM USB, MIDI Smart and MIDI Master Pro
are trademarks registered by TerraTec®Electronic GmbH Nettetal.
In most cases, the designations used in this manual for software and hardware are also registered
trademarks and are thus subject to the relevant regulations.
©TerraTec®Electronic GmbH, 1994-2000. All rights reserved (01.09.00).
Meticulous care has been taken in the preparation of all text passages and illustrations in this manual.
TerraTec Electronic GmbH and its authors, however, accept no liability, legal or otherwise, for errors or
the consequences of such errors. We reserve the right to technical modifications.
All text passages in this documentation are copyright. All rights reserved. No part of this documentation
may be reproduced in any form whatsoever, by photography, microfilming or other process or rendered
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use and propagation by presentation, radio and television are also reserved.

SyncXtension EWS ClockWork (English) 3
Preface
Great, that you have expanded your TerraTec AudioSystem with the capacity to process Word-
Clock and SuperClock Signals. The EWS ClockWork not only allows you to externally synchro-
nise an EWS with EWS®-Connect connection, it can also function as the central clock for your
entire digital studio. Moreover, the EWS ClockWork can be adjusted to a wide variety of de-
mands. How to adjust the special settings of this module and how all other components are to
be connected will become clear from the following chapters.
Scope of delivery
The kit is comprised of
•the EWS ClockWork Module
•5-pole connection cable  5-pole
•3-pole connection cable  3-pole
•Registration documents
•Service information

4 SyncXtension EWS ClockWork (English)
The Design of the EWS ClockWork
e
d
h
g
f
j
k
l
m
n
i
dWordClock / SuperClock IN
eWordClock / SuperClock OUT
fLED, Input Status - WordClock
gLED, Input Status - SuperClock
hDIP switches
iJumper 3 (J3), connection for EWS88 Master Sync IN
jJumper 4 (J4), connection for EWS88 Slave 1 Sync IN
kJumper 5 (J5), connection for EWS88 Slave 2 Sync IN
lJumper 6 (J6), connection for EWS88 Slave 3 Sync IN
mJumper 7 (J7), connection for EWS88 Master Sync OUT
nLED, EWS ClockWork operation mode

SyncXtension EWS ClockWork (English) 5
WordClock or SuperClock?
The serial transfer of digital audio data was already standardised by the AES (Audio Engineer-
ing Society) in the mid-eighties and dictates as such a 64 bit basic word width per stereo sam-
ple. Irrespective of the original word width (e.g. 16 bit) 32 bit is to be transferred for each mono
sample. A WordClock Generator produces per stereo sample, a cycle whose frequency corre-
sponds exactly with the actual sample frequency. A SuperClock Generator transmits the signal
in a 256 times higher clock frequency (256 FS). The question of which clock is the most suited
one has been under frantic discussion for some time now, but one must keep in mind that a
SuperClock can be a maximum of over 24MHz (256 x 96KHz) and may distort other equipment
in the studio. In addition, modern digital equipment also features high-quality error correction
components by means of which any disadvantage of a slower WordClock can be compensated.
The connections can be made by means of ordinary coaxial 75 Ohm antenna cable, or alterna-
tively you can buy ready-made standard cables in the specialised music stores. In particular
for use in the "gig scene" you are advised to use highly flexible and technically robust cables.

6 SyncXtension EWS ClockWork (English)
Versatile range of applications
If you wish to synchronise your digital studio by means of a central clock, you must first desig-
nate one device as master. This may be any EWS card in the PC fitted with an EWS®-Connect
connection, but also an external digital device such as e.g. a digital mix pannel.
You may decide which one will be given the master, but there are some things that should be
taken into account:
Should the audio files when played by means of a software application, e.g. a sequencer pro-
gram (Emagic Logic, Steinberg Cubase VST, etc.), often have various sample rates then the
EWS-Master Card in the PC should be designated as Clock-Master. Your entire digital system
(including all external equipment) will be set to the appropriate frequency each time you
switch to play mode. Some devices may, however, cause problems and will consequently ref-
use audio processing if there is no external clock connected, e.g. when the PC with the Master-
EWS has not been switched on. In this case the external device is to be designated master and
the sample rate is to be set.
A further feature of the EWS ClockWork is the possibility to include external devices which
have no BNC connections for a Word / SuperClock Signal in the synchronisation.
Should a DAT recording for instance be transferred to the PC where the DAT recorder does not
have a Word or SuperClock connection, the S/PDIF source may be designated master. If the
EWS-Master Card is an EWS88 D then this also holds for the ADAT™ signal.

SyncXtension EWS ClockWork (English) 7
Dip switch settings
14
23
O
N
Master: WordClock-/Super Clock- IN
EWS88 ControlPanel Setting
EWS ClockWork is included in the external chain
Master: WordClock-/SuperClock- IN
Switch
ON
OFF
External W.-/S.-Clock
Internal
SuperClock
WordClock
Format Source S/PDIF
S/PDIF
Termination Off
Te rmi n a t i o n O n
Te r m .
Mast er: EW S m as te r car d
Master: S/PDIF Interface on EWS master card
EWS ClockWork is last Devic ein the external chain
ON
OFF
(X)
X
X
X
X
Su p e rC l oc k
ON
OFF
XXX
don't care
don't care
ON
OFF
(X)
X
X
X
don't care
don't care
ON
OFF
XX
X
don't care
don't care
ON
OFF

8 SyncXtension EWS ClockWork (English)
1. Master: EWS Master Card
The concept "EWS Master Card" does not prescribe the card as the Clock-Master of the entire
internal and external Systems. Only when the Master-Clock is to be generated via an EWS-
System, will the EWS-Master card also be the Clock-Master. All other EWS cards with EWS®-
Connect connection are basically operated in slave mode. An exception is the "Independent"
mode option on the ControlPanel of the EWS-Systems (for further information please refer to
the manual of the EWS card).
Should you operate an external device in this operation mode via the S/PDIF Interface of the
EWS-Master card, please remember that this device can only be synchronised in record mode.
In play back mode, an S/PDIF device without Word / SuperClock connection only functions
according to its own internal clock generator. Even if the sample rate of the S/PDIF device cor-
responds with that of the Clock-Master the sources will nevertheless run unsynchronised
which will result in distortions during play back. In such case it is adviced to choose the mode
"Master: External S/PDIF (ADAT™) IN" described on the following pages.

SyncXtension EWS ClockWork (English) 9
Master: EWS Master Card
DA TDA T
E-Kai
EWS88 MT
EW S 88 D
Digital Mixer Sa mpl er
DAT-Recorder
(M as t er )
(Slave 1)
CN1 Sync-INLink*
CN1 Syn c -IN L i nk
J3 to Ma ster Syn c I n
to S l a ve 3 Sy nc I n
to Slave2Sync In
CN2 Sync-OUTLinkJ7 to Master S ync -OUT
Digital I/O
INOUT
J4 -J6 to Sl ave 1-3 Sync -I N
EWSClockWork
Clo ck So ur ce
MASTER
S/PDIFLink
* Please note: The Hardware-Revision 1.0 of the EWS88 D contains a deviant labelling of the
pin strip. Here, the 5-pole Sync IN has been labelled CN2 and the 3-pole Sync OUT CN1. As of
Hardware-Revision 1.1 of the EWS88 D the labelling of the EWS®-Connect connections to the
EWS88 MT has been made correspondent.

10 SyncXtension EWS ClockWork (English)
2. Master: WordClock (SuperClock) IN
If the Clock IN bus receives a good signal, both blue LEDs in the slot plate will indicate this
(each for WordClock or SuperClock). If the EWS ClockWork Modul is last in a Word or Super-
Clock chain the termination will have to be activated by means of DIP switch 4. Switch 1
(WordClock / SuperClock switch) is idle in this mode since the module adjusts to the external
Clock format present.
Should you operate an external device in this operation mode via the S/PDIF Interface of the
EWS-Master card, please remember that this device can only be synchronised in record mode
In play back mode, an S/PDIF device without Word-/SuperClock connection only functions
according to its own internal clock generator. Even if the sample rate of the S/PDIF device cor-
responds with that of the Clock-Master the sources will nevertheless run unsynchronised and
this will result in distortions during play back. In such case it is advised to choose the mode
"Master: External S/PDIF (ADAT™) IN" described on the following pages.

SyncXtension EWS ClockWork (English) 11
DATDAT
E- Kai
EWS88 MT
EWS88 D
Digital Mixer Samp ler
DAT -Reco rde r
(M as t er card)
(Slave 1)
CN1 Sync -IN Link*
CN1 Sync-IN Link
S/ PD I F Li nk
J3 -> t o M a s t er S ync I n
t o Sl a v e 3 Sy n c I n
to S lave 2 Sync In
CN2 Sync -OUT LinkJ7 -> t o Ma ster Sync -O UT
Digital I/O
INOUT
J4 - J 6 -> t o Sl a ve 1-3 Sync-IN
EWS Cl oc k Wo r k
Clock Source
MASTER
* Please note: The Hardware-Revision 1.0 of the EWS88 D still contains a deviant labelling of
the pin strip. Here, the 5-pole Sync IN has been labelled CN2 and the 3-pole Sync OUT CN1. As
of Hardware-Revision 1.1 of the EWS88 D the labelling of the EWS®-Connect connections to the
EWS88 MT has been made correspondent.

12 SyncXtension EWS ClockWork (English)
3. Master: External S/PDIF (ADAT™) IN
The S/PDIF-IN of the EWS-Master card may function as central Clock source. If the EWS-Master
Card is an AudioSystem EWS88 D then this also holds for the ADAT™ signal.
In the event that multiple EWS-Systems are connected via the "EWS®-Connect" inside the PC,
the external digitale IN of all slave cards will not function as Clock source and the respective
button on the EWS ControlPanel will no longer be available.

SyncXtension EWS ClockWork (English) 13
Master: External S/PDIF (ADAT™) IN
DA TDA T
E-Kai
EWS88 MT
EWS 88 D
Digital Mixer Sa mpl er
DAT-Recorder
(M as t er )
(Slave 1)
CN1 Sync-INLink*
CN1 Sync -IN L i nkJ3 to Ma ster Syn c I n
to S l a ve 3 Sy nc I n
to Slave2Sync In
CN2 Sync-OUTLinkJ7 to Master S ync -OUT
Digital I/O
INOUT
J4 -J6 to Sl ave 1-3 Sync-I N
EWSClockWork
Clock Source
MASTER
S/PDIFLink
* Please note: The Hardware-Revision 1.0 of the EWS88 D still contains a deviant labelling of
the pin strip Here, the 5-pole Sync IN has been labelled CN2 and the 3-pole Sync OUT CN1. As
of Hardware-Revision 1.1 of the EWS88 D the labelling of the EWS®-Connect connections to the
EWS88 MT has been made correspondent.

14 SyncXtension EWS ClockWork (English)
Technical data
•Clock Modul for EWS cards with EWS®-Connect*connection
•Clock Receiver for up to 4 parallel connect EWS Audio systems
•Clock Transmitter for the Clock Signal of the EWS Audio systems
•Switchable between Standard Wordclock ad Super-Clock ( 256 FS )
•1 BNC IN and 1 BNC OUT
•Switchable termination
•Jitter below 3 ns by use of high-precision microchips
•LEDs for operation mode and external Clock dectection
*Audio systems with an EWS-Connect connection can be cascaded and synchronised. Up to four systems
can be operated on one single PC with only one driver and one ControlPanel.