If your interface has SPDIF In - keep it occupied :)

I always use S/PDIF to record my Yamaha synth, bypassing its somewhat noisy analog path. Unfortunately, without a hub or combiner it's too much hassle to get back there and plug other things in, so other, less-used S/PDIF-enabled devices remain analog.

Caveat #1: if you don't set your interface's clock source to S/PDIF, you may get clicks in the recording.

Caveat #2: if you set the clock source to S/PDIF and your S/PDIF device isn't turned on, SONAR will hang on startup.

S/PDIF come in super-handy whenever you got a clean signal from a synth or drum machine that you don't necessarily have to slot through a pre-amp stage ... hence, I've used it to record the TD-20X drum module output or line pod X3 pro bass sounds

things have changed a little since the studio has grown; bass now almost always comes into sonar via a la610 tube preamp and the TD-20X is routed differently so i get multi-channel input, but now I figured I could use the S/PDIF on my Octa-Capture to route back the VS-700 S/PDIF output and thus make the Octa-Capture the center of my direct monitor / headphone mixes. The only trouble I got into was that this caused a loop since the 2nd S/PDIF connection is used to sync the Octa-Capture with the VS-700 ... so I route the VS-700 S/PDIF via the Line6 (bypassed) to avoid the loop issues and take full advantage of all routing options without having to plug/unplug any cables ever ...

Bottomline: Endless options ... just keep working on your setup

I use the S/PDIF on my Quad Capture to record effects from a TC Electronic M-ONE. The reverb sounds a lot better to me, and is easier to dial in a good sound, than any of the reverb VSTs I've tried. Works good for delay too. There's a button on the unit to set delay time that you can tap while the music is playing to keep the delay on beat.

I tried to duplicate a DAT with SPDIF hook up about twenty years ago.

It wouldn't let me and I haven't tried hooking anything up with it since.

It just never comes up when you have a bunch of good ol analog stuff to use instead.


best regards,
mike

I use my SPDIF outs to route to a Focusrite VRM Box. Works great!

I use S/PDIF for a 24 ch. digital mixer which I have most of my outboard synths connected to. Ya...too many synths....well, not really. No such thing as too many! 

i'd like to use the spdif input to handle my wk-7500 stereo out so i can record its midi but i can't seem to find an analog to digital converter 

this would save me unplugging the guitar and mic the ones i've see seem to be digital in to analog out or am i missing something