Yes, it would bypass all preamplifiers AwedOne. The SPDIF is a purely digital bitstream. So there is no analog conversions taking place within that bitstream. But you may be required to synchronize internal clock structure to slave off of your Mackie output. So somewhere within your device control on your computer audio interface device, there may be a checkbox for which clock to use, internal, external or, SPDIF. This is also true of the Digidesign M-Box 2. It has 2 analog microphone inputs and a couple of line inputs along with SPDIF inputs and outputs. But if you want to use the input to the SPDIF, you have to change the internal clock structure so that the M-Box 2 is externally clocked from the SPDIF output source, from the Mackie.

I wasn't sure if I awed to answer this since awed don't got one of doze gizmos.
Ms. Remy Ann David

Thanks Remy Ann, and have a safe and Happy New Year's Eve!

AwedOne wrote: I'm a little confused as to how I would set this up.

I am using a Tascam FW-1082 as my firewire interface to Cubase 4. I would like to continue using the Tascam controls, but integrate different preamps like the Mackie 1200F. Since I can't use more than 1 ASIO driver at a time, I can't just connect a second FW cable from the Mackie.

After looking at the back of the Mackie, I see it has an S/PDIF output. Would routing this out into the FW1082 S/PDIF input bypass the preamps and converters in the Tascam?

S/PDIF is a 2-channel bitstream, so you could route any two of the Mackie's 12 inputs to come into the FW-1082 via S/PDIF. You would need to set the FW-1082 clock source to be S/PDIF, as Remy says.

Would you not be better off using the 1200F as the sole ASIO FireWire device during recording and switch to the 1082 as the control surface for mixing?

Boswell wrote:

Would you not be better off using the 1200F as the sole ASIO FireWire device during recording and switch to the 1082 as the control surface for mixing?

That does appear to be the best option. Thanks. I didn't know about S/PDIF only being a 2-channel bitstream.