Soundcard with SPDIF input?

[grarpamp]

Hi. I'm looking for a PCI interface soundcard with SPDIF
input that is supported by FreeBSD.

Specifically, I'd need S/PDIF coaxial input via RCA connector.
(Not fiber via TOSLINK, but if it also has that, that's a bonus.)

I'd like to use the card to capture the digital PCM (plain old
two channel 16bit/44.1kHz audio) coming off the device over
S/PDIF and then encode it losslessly to FLAC.

Any suggestions on the card? The path is all digital so
as long as it's supported it should do fine.

And what software do I use to grab the stream off the card?
It seems like it might be a different thing than using the
card to digitize a line level audio input.

Once I have the PCM (now converted by the card to WAV data?)
in a file I can of course use FLAC to compress it. I'm used to
ripping from my CD's, not from external audio devices. Thanks.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S/PDIF

[Ruslan Bukin]

Post by grarpamp
Hi. I'm looking for a PCI interface soundcard with SPDIF
input that is supported by FreeBSD.
Specifically, I'd need S/PDIF coaxial input via RCA connector.
(Not fiber via TOSLINK, but if it also has that, that's a bonus.)
I'd like to use the card to capture the digital PCM (plain old
two channel 16bit/44.1kHz audio) coming off the device over
S/PDIF and then encode it losslessly to FLAC.
Any suggestions on the card? The path is all digital so
as long as it's supported it should do fine.
And what software do I use to grab the stream off the card?
It seems like it might be a different thing than using the
card to digitize a line level audio input.
Once I have the PCM (now converted by the card to WAV data?)
in a file I can of course use FLAC to compress it. I'm used to
ripping from my CD's, not from external audio devices. Thanks.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S/PDIF

I use RME HDSPe AIO/RayDAT -- snd_hdspe(4)
It has S/PDIF TOSLINK input, not sure about coaxial one.

-Ruslan

[Ruslan Bukin]

Post by Ruslan Bukin

Post by grarpamp
Hi. I'm looking for a PCI interface soundcard with SPDIF
input that is supported by FreeBSD.

I use RME HDSPe AIO/RayDAT -- snd_hdspe(4)
It has S/PDIF TOSLINK input, not sure about coaxial one.

Yes, AIO has coaxial I/O also (using digital breakout).
But be aware -- the card costs like an airplane.

-Ruslan

[grarpamp]

Looks like Creative SoundBlaster made some stuff with SPDIF input.

Anyone know if FreeBSD drivers work with the SPDIF on these
boards?

"Live" card: SB0060 drive: SB0010C
"Audigy" card: SB0090 drive: SB0010D

There seem to have been various card model numbers in these
Live/Audigy series (SB* / CT*) that have SPDIF inputs.

Some cards show spdif_io pin headers on the cards (ebay pics)
vs. an external cable to an external "drive".

They're low cost so if driver support is there they would do fine.
Send relevant stuff to the list, not me.

Not to crimp your plan, but there aren't many cheap consumer cards out
there with coaxial digital in.
There are however masses of very cheap cards based on CMedia CMI8738
with optical SPDIF in/out, for instance this one is ~ $10
http://www.ebuyer.com/239251-xenta-8-channel-pci-soundcard-with-spdif-and-cable-included-n-cmi8768-8ch
You would then need to add a coax -> optical adapter, which should
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cable-Mountain-Optical-TOSlink-Converter/dp/B001U7ERU6
I would imagine the next step up is a prosumer card, so hundreds of dollars.
ffmpeg -f oss -i /dev/dspN out.flac
You can do it step by step (record to wav, compress with flac), but
ffmpeg can do it in one step.

[Clemens Ladisch]

Post by grarpamp
Looks like Creative SoundBlaster made some stuff with SPDIF input.

Many wavetable-based Creative cards resample their SPDIF input.

Post by grarpamp

There are however masses of very cheap cards based on CMedia CMI8738
with optical SPDIF in/out

But as far as I can tell, cmi.c does not support S/PDIF input.

(I touched the Linux driver; I'd be willing to provide information to
any FreeBSD developer.)


Regards,
Clemens