Re: Digital Output Cable Question

WarpedFrets wrote:
> 
> "Is this a picture of the device in question?"
> http://www.bosscorp.co.jp/en/floor_based_units_1.html
> 
> That's the guitar version of what is the equivalent model... so it is basically
> the same thing. I'm confused through. This is where I'm glad the internet and
> newsgroups exist.
> 
> How the hell do you know it's an RCA jack and that RCA is always a digital
> coaxial output. I NEVER knew that.


First, RCA is NOT necessarily a digital coaxial output.

The "S/P DIF" refers to a consumer version of a digital audio
interface standard. The standard defines how information is
packed into the bitstream. It also defines the interface method
(i.e. "jack") as well. The trick is that the standard defines
BOTH an "optical" interface format (usually know as TOSlink) and
a "coaxial" (or electrical) format. The coaxial format per the
standard requires the use of an RCA (i.e. "phono") style
connection or a BNC type connection.

Therefore:

"S/P DIF coaxial" means a digital audio connection that is
electrical and uses either an RCA or BNC connector and requires a
75 ohm coaxial cable to be used.

"S/P DIF optical" means a digital audio connection that is
optical and uses the TOSlink type mating plugs.

RCA plugs can (and are) used for audio, video, digital, and even
RF connections but by convention, they are typically colored
yellow for digital and composite video application. RCA plug
pairs used for stereo line level signals are typically colored
red (for the right channel) and white (for the left channel).

The EIAJ CP-1201 is another digital interface standard that also
applys to the protocol of the bitstream although I'm not certain
what it contains.

If the picture previously indicated is what your unit's connector
looks like, then you have a digital (using the S/P DIF protocol)
coaxial connector. You will need a 75ohm coax cable terminated
with at least one RCA plug to terminate on that unit.

There is no optics involved here.

Hope this helps.

- Jeff