Vice Versa Coaxial/Optical Converter from TerraTec
January 16, 2003
It's almost a universal problem--you'd like to connect your DAT recorder to the sound card of your PC to transfer files. Easier said than done. Unfortunately, the devices have different input and output connector types. TerraTec has now put an end to this annoyance with the Vice Versa. Vice Versa is a compact S/PDIF converter that connects devices with so-called optical TOS-Link ports to devices with electrical RCA connections--and vice versa.
The Vice Versa can serve either as a bidirectional converter or a signal repeater. In bidirectional mode, the input signal from the optical input is routed to the electrical output and from the electrical input to the optical output. As a result, it's possible to use a DAT recorder for recording and playback without having to swap all of the cables over when changing operating modes.
With the new TerraTec Vice Versa, the input signal--which is received at either the coaxial or optical input, depending on the switch setting--is always available at both output ports. Two digital recording devices can thus be connected if required. In addition, this switch position can be used to bridge large distances. The integrated signal amplification can be used to effectively increase the limited range of digital audio lines. This can be a great help, especially in live-performance environments.
A special highlight is the choice of power supplies, either via a standard USB cable or an external power adapter--the Vice Versa can therefore be used with a desktop or notebook PC without the need for an AC outlet. The RCA ports are completely isolated to effectively prevent ground loops.
The Vice Versa supports up to 24-bit/192 kHz as well as AC3 and DTS streaming for connections to DVD players and similar devices. For more information, visit their web site at www.terratec.net. | 
