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Using a basic MIDI syncBy: Stephen FosterStephen is the owner of On Course Publishing, Howler Recording, and maintains two domains besides IDN: yardageguides.com, for golf books, and golphoto.com, for golf photographs. |
| Question: I have had a MIDI sync box for a while along with a TASCAM 464, but have never gotten a chance to use it until now. Now that I have a decent keyboard, I would like to try it out, but am fuzzy on the exact procedure for using a MIDI sync. Do you record the MIDI tracks one-at-a-time with the sync to the 4th track, or do you pre-sequence the tracks, hook up the sync box, play them and hit "record" on that 4th track, or something different? I know how to hook it up, but the manual wasn't much help in this issue. Stephen's Suggestion: It depends on the MIDI sync box. Most have the ability to sync to a tape track, or your sequencer will. In most instances you will want to "strip" a track...1 or 4 to use as a driver track. This signal will usually be generated from your sequencer. The taped sync signal will drive your sequencer through the MIDI box. It is really important to strip your track first, because the MDI signal has a 16 millisecond delay on each thru split. This means that you want to cut your taped tracks as the sequencer runs with at least a nominal click track. If you cut the tracks first, you will experience an almost imperceptible stagger between the tape & the sequencer. So...strip the track, then go to your sequencer (no need to run the tape machine at this point) and record a simple time track (high hat, or kick) anything that will give you a "start" point. Then you can record to the tape, but ALWAYS with the time track running. Your tape-to-MIDI timing will then always be in sync. Some sequencers will let you put down SMPTE, and some use their own "pulse" or other sync system...it really doesn't matter, as long as the tape has a track which drives the sequencer. I run multiple synth brains from a Fostex D-80, which has a dedicated SMPTE sync system, so I can go both ways, but I started out doing exactly what I described above. You'll want to experiment with the level at which you record the sync track, but usually it is around -10 db. Too little signal, and the sequencer may slow down or stagger; too hot and it may run like a chicken. So... 1) Record the sync track 2) sequence a time & tempo track 3) drive the sequencer with the tape machine 4) record on either system with both running You can do your sequencing work without the 4-tk running, but you can't cut to tape without the sequencer running, or you'll have no reference without wasting a track to put down a reference track copying the sequencer time track. IMPORTANT: Your sequencer must be set to "internal sync" to strip the track, and then must be reset to "external sync" to listen to the tape sync track. You may also have a problem with the track right next to the sync track, so try running the system with say, track 1 as sync track, and NOTHING on track 2. If you then record something on track 2 and the system glitches, you have tape bleed and you'll have to forget cutting anything on track 2. Sync at its simplest!!! |