Sweers Review of the Behringer Ultramatch SRC2000

Enter the multi-functional Ultramatch SRC2000:

• Digital patchbay
• Signal refresher
• Jitter remover
• Format converter
• Sample rate converter
• Copybit (scms) modifier

 

Digital Patchbay:

The unit accepts digital information in SPDIF Coaxial, SPDIF Optical, and AES/EBU formats.

The unit will accept and output professional and consumer formats.

All inputs and outputs are XLR, RCA and optical. Digital Information can be passed through these connectors in any format. For example, AES/EBU formatted signal can be input via RCA. The unit will understand the signal and process it. The connectors are not limited to a specific standard.

Real world example: A recording is brought to me in the form of DAT. The machine brought to me to transfer the recording is a DAT machine with XLR connectors. The receiving unit is a minidisc recorder with optical input. Without the SRC2000, the only way to transfer the recording is via the analog connections. Noise will be introduced into the recording. With the SRC2000, the respective connectors are hooked up, and the recording is made digitally.

 

Signal Refresher and Jitter Removal:

Long cable runs can lead to decline in signal quality. The decline in signal quality can lead to noise and signal disruption. As the quality of the signal degrades jitter interference is introduced into the system. The SRC2000 can reconstruct weak signals and remove jitter.

Real World Example: If there is a drop in the signal, jitter may result. The jitter becomes audible with the jitter is beyond the error correction circuit in the digital device. The SRC2000 removes the jitter and reconstructs this poorly recorded signal.

 

Format Converter:

AES/EBU and SPDIF digital signals contain the same musical information, however the way the signal is transmitted makes the two formats incompatible. AES/EBU is known as a professional format. SPDIF is known as a consumer format. The SRC2000 will accept and output either format. The input is automatically selected, and the output signal is user selected (Professional or Consumer).

Real world Example: A recording is brought to me in the form of DAT. The machine brought to me to transfer the recording is a professional DAT machine. The receiving unit is a consumer minidisc recorder. Without the SRC2000, the only way to transfer the recording is via the analog connections. If a digital connection is made between the two units, the minidisc unit will read the wrong information in the digital signal. The minidisc unit will terminate the digital connection due to malfunction in reading the emphasis bit being read as a copy bit. The AES/EBU signal has no copybit standard set. The bit locations differ between the formats. With the SRC2000, the respective connectors are hooked up, and the recording is made digitally.

 

Sample Rate Converter:

The SRC2000 performs an enormous amount of oversampling and automatic digital anti-aliasing to the input signal ranging from 25 to 60 kHz, and outputs it to a user selectable frequency (32 or 44.1 kHz).

Real World Example:

I own a MD deck that is capable of converting the sample rate of various recordings. I have found that the unit does not fair too well at this task. The SRC2000 does an excellent good job at converting the signal. I had a recording presented to me that was run on a variable speed CD Player that increases the sample rate in order to increase the speed of the music. My Minidisc setup did not fair too well with the variable sampling rate. With the SRC2000, the output signal was always converted to 32 or 44.1 kHz. The recording made turned out right on the minidisc.

Why use the 32 kHz sample rate? The 32 kHz sample rate is used by DAT machines to double the recording capacity. It is also used by some hard disc recorders to save disc space. I was very surprised at the quality of signal output at 32 kHz.

 

Copybit (scms) limitation remover:

The SRC2000 removes the notorious copybit limitation. This eliminates the need to record using analog connections when recording a digital source that was initially recorded on a consumer deck.

Real World Example: Suppose a musician records a show onto digital audio tape. Later the musician gives his friend permission to record the show onto a consumer CD recorder. Later this CD is given to me. If I tried to copy this CD to a consumer deck, the recording would be disallowed even when I have the artist's permission to do so. There is no button to press that tells my consumer deck that I have rights to record. With the SRC2000, the copy bit limitation is removed permitting further digital copies. Since most studios are starting to use inexpensive digital recorders, the copybit can lead to daily problems. The SRC2000 ignores the SCMS copybit and generates SCMS free signal on the output side. Keep in mind that this unit was not developed to create illegal copies. Copyrights must always remain preserved.

Testing with and without the SRC2000 (Sample Rate and SCMS Testing)

Output Device Sample Rate	Output Device (Source)		Input Device Sample Rate	Input Device (Target) First Digital Generation	Input Device (Target) Subsequent  Digital Generations	Sample Rate
CD 44.1kHz		With SCR2000	DAT 32kHz 44.1kHz 48kHz		Unlimited	32 kHz or 44.1 kHz
		Without SRC2000			Not Allowed	44.1 kHz only
CD 44.1kHz		With SCR2000	MD 44.1kHz		Unlimited	32 kHz or 44.1 kHz 44.1 kHz Recommended
		Without SRC2000			Not Allowed	44.1 kHz only
DAT 32kHz 44.1kHz 48kHz		With SCR2000	DAT 32kHz 44.1kHz 48kHz		Unlimited	32 kHz or 44.1 kHz
		Without SRC2000			Not Allowed	32 kHz, 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz No conversion between sample rates allowed
MD 44.1kHz		With SCR2000	MD 44.1kHz		Unlimited	32 kHz or 44.1 kHz 44.1 kHz Recommended
		Without SRC2000			Not Allowed	44.1 kHz only
DAT 32kHz 44.1kHz 48kHz		With SCR2000	MD 44.1kHz		Unlimited	32 kHz or 44.1 kHz 44.1 kHz Recommended
		Without SRC2000			Not Allowed	44.1 kHz only
MD 44.1kHz		With SCR2000	DAT 32kHz 44.1kHz 48kHz		Unlimited	32 kHz or 44.1 kHz
		Without SRC2000			Not Allowed	44.1 kHz only

Pro:
Sample Rate converter, digital patch cord converter, Jitter remover, user selectable emphasis remover, Anti-alias digital filter, copybit limitation remover. Easy to use. Low cost ($250), Small Size, and positive effect on recordings.

Con:
Track marks are sometimes omitted due to recording errors on the CD. The utmost priority of the machine is high quality sound. Track marks are sometimes given up in order to produce the best possible sound in occasions where the recording contains errors. The unit's unprecedented features may be overshadowed by the SCMS removal feature. Many may be attracted to this feature. Given the nature of the SCMS limitation removal mechanism, the unit may end up under regulation by a governing agency.

Future Features worth Seeing:
A digital readout of the incoming sample rate would be nice to have. It is not necessary, however the information provided would be interesting to know when the device is used. A switch that would allow manual setting of the SCMS bit would be useful for certain occasions.

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