welcome

If you have only one interface the Ad-16x ... it already contains the C777 clocking technology found in Big Ben.

so you don't require the Big Ben as well ... to start with

if your system gets larger, there may be some advantages with a Big Ben

gaoyang wrote: If i us Apogee AD-16 X 's clock be a master clock do i need to get Big Ben?

This is a highly debated topic, so i almost hate to open me mouth...

My opinion is during tracking, if you are using only 1 interface that is performing AD conversion, always use its internal clock as the master. The reasoning for this is that an internal crystal will always be more accurate than locking to a word clock signal that was generated based upon another unit's crystal.

For mixdown, always use the unit that is performing the DA conversion for the same reasons.

As Kev sed, when you get into a setup that includes multiple AD units, that's when the external clock becomes more important. (much more important...)

D/A units follow the clock source... as for using external clocks with single source A/D's... it depends on the A/D whether you're better off using the onboard or outboard clock.

If you have something like a MOTU box you'll be way better off clocking it to an external clock... way better off... if you're using some good converters, like the AD-16x, or a Lavry or a Mytek then you really don't want to bother with an external clock.

As previously mentioned... for all intents and purposes you already have the Big Ben's clock in the AD-16x so there is no reason to bother with adding a Big Ben. If you want to distribute that clock signal to several other units, Lucid makes a clock distribution box which if I remember correctly is under $500- that works like a charm for that sort of thing.

Fletcher wrote: As previously mentioned... for all intents and purposes you already have the Big Ben's clock in the AD-16x so there is no reason to bother with adding a Big Ben. If you want to distribute that clock signal to several other units, Lucid makes a clock distribution box which if I remember correctly is under $500- that works like a charm for that sort of thing.

Related question...Is a distribution box preferrable in a situation where I chain my word clock this way :

(AD-16x WC out) > (DA-16x WC in) > (DA-16x WC out) > (MOTU 2408 WC in)

...where I import the digital output of the AD-16x via the 2408's ADAT inputs and likewise take the ADAT outputs of the 2408 and send them to the inputs of the DA-16x?

Is there a better way to chain the WC or is chaining a bad idea in any event ? Until I invest in a few firewire cards I need to have the 2408 in the chain and use it as an input/output bridge for conversion...

Should I be concerned...?

Is there a better way to do this...?

thank you all