Apogee Big Ben Master Clock

Apogees BIG BEN is a stand-alone master clock, having the ability to bring amazing clarity and quality to your recordings while providing flexibility and features.

A Cure for the Jitters Apogees new C777 Clock
At the heart of any word clock regeneration is a phase lock loop (PLL). The PLL is a combination of analog and digital elements without the ability to dynamically adapt to the nature of the external clocks. In other words, the better the clock performance, the less flexibility it has. And conversely, the more flexibility there is in a PLL, the less effective it is at jitter reduction. Apogees new C777 is built to address these inadequacies. The C777 utilizes an entirely digital process that Apogee has developed using the most advanced Direct Digital Synthesis (DDS) technology available along with DSP based digital filtering. The result is the most aggressive jitter reduction ever. With the flexibility and stability provided the C777, Big Ben is able to re-clock devices with excessive jitter and function as if it were the master clock. The ultimate in flexibility combined with unprecedented levels of performance make the C777 unequaled in the world of clocking.

Added Flexibility with Format Conversion
Not that you would expect it from a master clock, BIG BEN gives you the option of real-time format conversion. Use BIG BENs intuitive digital display to go from S/PDIF to AES, AES to ADAT, ADAT to S/PDIF, etc.

Synchronization for the Native Studio with the X-FireWire Expansion Card
Like the Rosetta 200 & 800 and the AD & DA-16X, BIG BEN has an expansion slot for the optional X-FireWire card. With the X-FireWire card installed, BIG BEN can synchronize digital devices that provide inadequate clock signals such as keyboards, synth modules and other FireWire based devices to provide a stable, well synchronized environment for your entire studio.

X-Video Expansion Card for Video-Sync Generation
The multi-standard X-Video card will allow BIG BEN to function as a master video sync generator, outputting a composite video black-burst (including color burst for PAL and NTSC color). When functioning as a master video sync generator BIG BEN can perform as a clock slave to the video-board and generate digital audio clocks based on the video standard selected. Alternatively, the X-Video card can function as a Slave video sync generator. In this mode the output video will be a regeneration of the input video. The X-Video card will maintain the color-phase and field information through Genlocking, while simultaneously stripping the original signal from its pixel information.

Adaptive Loop Filtering (ALF)
ALF maximizes BIG BENs clocking ability with an intelligent low pass filter. Because the C777 has made all incoming signals into data (1s and 0s) BIG BEN is able to dynamically compensate for excessive jitter and even improve already acceptable clock signals to levels unattainable until now. No matter what your input looks like, ALF can adapt and overcome all obstacles to create a stable, reliable, low jitter clock source.

SureLock
So, BIG BEN is masterfully handling external clock signals and all of their anomalies and youve got your jitters under control. What if BIG BEN encounters the ultimate disturbance in clocking, a dropped signal? Not to worry, with SureLock BIG BEN will compensate by remaining locked on the last relevant frequency sent by the delinquent device. When the signal resumes, BIG BEN will gradually, and smoothly re-synchronize without interruption.

Termination Issues... A Thing of the Past
Very often in an elaborate audio chain word clock signals are improperly terminated. BIG BEN will chime in with a visual indication of over or under termination on its digital display for each word clock output, allowing you to troubleshoot more quickly and get back to business.

FEATURES
AES, S/PDIF, Optical I/O - Word Clock/Video In - 6 Word Clock Outs
Optional X-FireWire expansion card to facilitate clocking and format conversion with other FireWire devices
Optional X-Video expansion card to provide master video sync generator
Realtime format conversion between all digital formats
Direct Digital Synthesis (DDS) using Apogee´s C777 Clock Technology up to 192kHz
Adaptive Loop Filtering (ALF) to optimize clock performance and minimize jitter
Three stage Termination Sensing for each word clock output SPECS:
Sample rates: 44.1/48-88.2-96-176-192 . All +/- 10%
Video: PAL/NTSC/60Hz
"SuperClock" (256fs)
Pull up/down 0.1% and 4% from any sample rate
Apogee´s new Ultra Low Jitter C777 clock
Three stage termination indicator (under/correct/over) on each

INPUTS:
2 x AES-EBU on XLR 44.1k-192k single-wide and 88.2 k192k double-wide.
S/PDIF optical on TOS-LINK 44.1-48k
S/PDIF coaxial on RCA 44.1-192k
ADAT 44.1-48k
ADAT/SMUX II for 88.2-96k
ADAT/SMUX IV for 176.4-192k
Word Clock BNC 44.1 192k
Video
Optional FireWire (X-FireWire card)
Optional video sync (X-Video card)

OUTPUTS:
2 x AES-EBU on XLR single or double wide 44.1-192k
S/PDIF coaxial 44.1-192k
S/PDIF optical on TOS-LINK 44.1-48k
6 x BNC Word Clock 44.1-192k (of which 2 can output 256fs at low sample rates)
ADAT
SMUX II
SMUX IV
Optional FireWire (X-FireWire card)
Optional video sync (X-Video card)

Word Clock output:
"SureLock" technology for drop out prevention
4 digit numeric true sample rate indication
Universal power: 15 W 90-250 VAC 50-60 HZ