Word clock

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In digital audio electronics, a word clock or wordclock (sometimes sample clock, which can have a broader meaning)^{[further explanation needed]} is a clock signal used to synchronise other devices, such as digital audio tape machines and compact disc players, which interconnect via digital audio signals. Word clock is so named because it clocks each audio sample. Samples are represented in data words.

S/PDIF, AES/EBU, MADI, ADAT, and TDIF are some of the formats that use a word clock. Various audio over Ethernet systems use communication protocols to distribute word clock. The device which generates the word clock is the clock source for all the other audio devices.

The signal is used for synchronizing digital audio signals between devices, such as CD players, audio I/O cards, etc.^[1] It allows all the components in the signal path to process the data and remain synchronized with each other.^[2]