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I needed pro-audio grade connection like that, and after many experiments with many devices I settled for RME HDSPE AIO devices on PCIexpress of both PCs. My re

I needed pro-audio grade connection like that, and after many experiments with many devices I settled for RME HDSPE AIO devices on PCIexpress of both PCs. My requirements were: low latency, flawless ASIO, bi-directional, many digital and analog inputs and outputs, and 192kHz sampling rate capability. What I unexpectedly gained as a bonus is a SMUX sample rate converter, meaning, one PC can be set at 48kHz, while the other is at 192kHz and they still work flawlessly. If you need one way only, then, a cheap USB device based on XMOS chip can be your output, while a not-so-cheap RME Digiface USB can be on the input side. I found out that USB digital optical or S/PDIF output device is easy to find, and can be cheap, while USB digital optical or S/PDIF input devices are rare and not so cheap at all. If you would like me to explain some more, please feel free to ask.

dusted 3y ago
Yeah, the RME Digiface USB seems like it'd fit the bill, and then just do optical from one computer to this device. However, it's rather expensive for my case where I basically just want to pipe audio from one computer into another without having to lose quality. If anything, such a device should be cheaper than even the cheapest USB ADC, since it doesn't even have to do any analog stuff, just carry bits between the input of one usb class device and the output of another, I'm going to build this, because it annoys the heck out of me that such a simple device don't exist. I'm way too principled, which is how I ended up with a USB AES/EBU output device to stay digital right until the speakers does their thing :\ (which is also partly why I'm extra annoyed at having the second computers output going through that extra unneeded DAC/ADC conversion for no damn good reason!) ;)
- atmanactive 3y ago
  I'm running my speakers from AES/EBU as well. RME Digiface USB is unfortunately not class compliant and RME is completely ignoring linux, so drivers for RME devices are a hit and miss affair on GitHub. If you ever build such a device (USB-to-USB cable with one-way class-compliant lossless audio transport), I would gladly be your first customer. Good luck!

dusted 3y ago

Yeah, the RME Digiface USB seems like it'd fit the bill, and then just do optical from one computer to this device. However, it's rather expensive for my case where I basically just want to pipe audio from one computer into another without having to lose quality. If anything, such a device should be cheaper than even the cheapest USB ADC, since it doesn't even have to do any analog stuff, just carry bits between the input of one usb class device and the output of another, I'm going to build this, because it annoys the heck out of me that such a simple device don't exist. I'm way too principled, which is how I ended up with a USB AES/EBU output device to stay digital right until the speakers does their thing :\ (which is also partly why I'm extra annoyed at having the second computers output going through that extra unneeded DAC/ADC conversion for no damn good reason!) ;)

atmanactive 3y ago
I'm running my speakers from AES/EBU as well. RME Digiface USB is unfortunately not class compliant and RME is completely ignoring linux, so drivers for RME devices are a hit and miss affair on GitHub. If you ever build such a device (USB-to-USB cable with one-way class-compliant lossless audio transport), I would gladly be your first customer. Good luck!