Question

I recently purchased a Universal Audio Apollo 16, and was wondering if I could utilize my older Central Station. My goal is to have the talkback function and monitor functions, but the Apollo 16 only has AES/EBU and TOSLINK outs. Can the AES/EBU connector connect directly with the SPDIF? Or, if not, can the AES/EBU connector be converted to the SPDIF connector on the Central Station, and is that a viable option to utilize all the capabilities of the Central Station?

Answer 1

AES / EBU is 110 ohm where SPDIF is 75 ohm, it's just a matter of getting the right cable with the resistance change in the cable. Most often a converter box is needed that has the right circuitry to guarantee the impedance match needed to make the connection.

Looking at the Apollo output, you'd ned to go from the XLR Male out to the SPDIF Input on the Central Station.

Female XLR to RCA Coax - https://www.tecnec.com/product/aes-spdif-6/aes-spdif-xlf-to-rca-digital-audio-cable-6ft should work.

or you can go another route and use a format converter which is more expensive but does the same thing:

https://www.tecnec.com/product/cdl-313/hosa-coaxial-rca-to-aes-ebu-xlr-connectors-the-cdl-313-24-bit-96k