Hi,

Does anyone know the way to set up a MiniDSP+MiniDIGI for use with external dacs?

My proposed setup is: toslink -> MiniDIGI->i2s -> MiniDSP(2 way crossover) -> spdif/toslink ->external DACs.


The question is, how do I get toslink/spdif out from the MiniDSP?
Can the MiniDIGI convert the i2s output of the MiniDSP to toslink/spdif at the same time as converting the input toslink to i2s?

If it can, I guess that would only be for 2 channels and I'd need another MiniDIGI for 4 channels (i.e. the output of the 2 way crossover)?

Thanks for any help,
Glen.

Glen,

You got the system designed right. No problem on this side.
- A single miniDSP sufficient to power your 2 way crossover
- No problem for receiving AND converting SPDIF at the same time. That's what the miniDIGI does by default. However as you already realized, since you want to use 4 x channels over SPDIF, you'll need 2 miniDIGI cards stacked on top of your miniDSP. The first miniDIGI will have the I2S routing for i2S_data_out1&2 (grabbing the processed channel from the miniDSP and converting them to SPDIF), while the second miniDIGI will have a jumper on I2S_data_out3&4 to get your second channels.
Have a look at the minIDIGI manual for more info.

Hoping this makes sense.

Let me see if I understand this. For digital input and analogue output, only one Digi board is required for each DSP board. But where digital outputs are required (SPDIF) then a second board is needed. Is that correct?

Paul.

SPDIF is only 2 ch so, yes if you have a 2 way crossover (4ch of processed audio total), you need 2 x SPDIF signals so 2 x miniDIGI. Makes sense?

Maybe have a look at the miniDIGI manual and one of the plug-in datasheet to understand a bit more what we mean. See the section that talks about Digital inputs in the plug-in datasheet.
It talks about I2S_Data_In, I2S_Data_Out. That's ultimately the signals that a miniDSP communicate with other stacked board.

miniDIGI is a SPDIF/Toslink Transceiver, i.e. can receive 1 x SPDIF or Toslink input and turn it into some I2S signal. It can transmit 1 x SPDIF&Toslink (output together) from an I2S signal.

Hope this clarifies

Would I be right in thinking that you could do the following:

Spdif/toslink > minidigi >I2S> minidsp >2 * I2S> 2 * DAC

Or in four way crossover:

SPDIF/toslink > minidigi > I2S> minidsp1 > 2*I2S > 2*DAC
I2S passthrough> minidsp2 > 2*I2S > 2*DAC

Ie: If your DAC was able to receive I2S, can the minidsp output the four channels (via two i2S connections) digitally.

The minidigi will have to be configured as master on the I2S connection, but then is it possible to output i2S to external DACs? The minidsp would be set to slave, yet outputting I2S. Is that possible?

Many thanks.

Jai Stanley

Jai,

Yes this configuration would indeed work.. But first, have a look at the I2S tech note for more info on our I2S ratio and setup because I2S connectivity isn't like analog or SPDIF. It is NOT plug&play. A lot of misunderstanding and a very clear reason why we don't support external I2S connectivity (i.e. you'll need to know what you're doing) is because there is a WIDE range of configurations, clock ratio and such and providing technical support for each of your custom configurations (which we have no control over) would simply be way too support intensive.

As for your last explanation, if using 2 x miniDSP + 1 x miniDIGI, please have a look at the app note already released on the downloads section. It's all explained in details.

Hoping this answers your questions,

DevTeam.