AES and SPDIF? What is the truth about mixing and matching these cable formats??

I am reading up on people plugging in AES devices directly into SPDIFs devices but I have read that it can damage your equipment because of the voltage difference.

Then I read that you can do it as long as it is not a long cable.

What exactly is the truth about it? Anyone here mixing up different formats?

I have an effects unit that only has SPDIF outs but my DAW interface only accept AES/EBU. I was going to consider doing a straight rca to xlr cable but a little concerned that it could burn out my interface or effects unit.

How are people wiring this? RCA Tip to XLR 2, RCA shield to XLR 1?

Is this article overexagerated
http://www.focusrite.com/answerbase/en/article.php?id=114

check with the manufacturer of the gear. My RME multiface can accept aes/ebu even though it only has s/pdif. I can even tell it to output professional format aes/ebu over the s/pdif line, albeit unbalanced.

greetings,

Thomas

You may have already seen this Rane-note, but just in case:

http://www.rane.com/pdf/ranenotes/Interfacing_AES3_&_SPDIF.pdf