Can you lock the SPDIF IN of the MBP to an external SPDIF clock?

Question

I've read a lot of inconclusive posts about this. Can it be done?
The corollary question of course is: can the SPDIF OUT of the MBP sync to a clock at the SPDIF input?
Can both input and output lock to an external SPDIF clock?
TIA

Answer 1

Qzxptl wrote:
OK: once more into the breach... BTW, I really appreciate the followups Pancenter.
Heh... sorry if I misunderstood any of this.
This is the setup:
- The RME Digiface is synced to another device via ADAT Optical sync; it's set up as a slave to that sync signal.
- The Digiface SPDIF Optical (not ADAT: it IS set to SPDIF) out to MBP optical In.
- The Macbook Pro Optical out to Digiface SPDIF Optical In.
But now you have two different clock INPUTS into the Digiface, in fact you are looping the clock signal back in. Even though you have the RME Digiface set to ADAT sync input you are still receivng clock input at s/pdif. You can't have Two Inputs receiving digital clock as there is only ONE clock per device. This setup will not work as "a device receiving digital IN must lock to external that incoming clock." (unless of course there's separate wordclock for all devices)
This sounds similar to the infamous MIDI Y cable I invented in 1985, the one that didn't work!
Unplug the s/pdif out of the Macbook into the RME.
Of course the Digiface settles down, right?
- I can get audio into the MBP this way, no problem.
- I can get audio out of the MBP this way, no problem.
HOWEVER: the SPDIF sync on the DIGIFACE preferences keeps switching between "Sync" and "Lock" every 20 seconds or so indicating that the signal is not perfectly locked to the Digiface clock.
The Digiface clock is nonexistent as it's clock is running off of ADAT clock, whatever that external device is. There is not a separate s/pdif clock output on the Digiface... it's the ADAT clock.
pancenter-