MOTU 896mk3, User Manual

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I N S T A L L I N G T H E 8 9 6 M K 3 H A R D W A R E
22
SYNCING TO SMPTE TIME CODE DIRECTLY
The 896mk3 system can resolve directly to SMPTE
time code. It can also generate time code and word
clock, under its own clock or while slaving to time
code. Therefore, the 896mk3 can act both as an
audio interface and as a digital audio synchronizer
to which you can slave other digital audio devices.
You can use the 896mk3 to slave your audio
software to SMPTE as well, as long as your software
supports sample-accurate sync, which is the means
by which the software follows the 896mk3. The
accuracy may not be sample-accurate, but in most
cases it will be very close.
Other digital audio device
slaved to the 896mk3
Mac running AudioDesk,
Digital Performer or other sample-
accurate software.
Figure 3-8: Connections for synchronizing the 896mk3 directly to SMPTE time code.
First, choose
SMPTE
as the clock source
in AudioDesk, Digital Performer, or
MOTU Audio Setup. This setting can
also be made in the MOTU SMPTE
Console (shown below).
896mk3 interface
SMPTE time code source
audio cable bearing LTC
(Longitudinal Time Code)
Any analog Input
(Input 8 in this example)
FireWire cable
Launch the MOTU SMPTE Console to specify the time code frame
rate and amount of freewheel. Also, confirm that the
Clock
Source/Address is SMPTE/SMPTE . For details about the other
settings, see chapter 12, “MOTU SMPTE Console” (page 103).
BNC
cable audio
cable
Analog
out
Word
Out
In AudioDesk or Digital Performer:
1. Choose Receive Sync from the Setup menu.
2. Choose the Sample-accurate option. (If this
option is grayed out, choose
SMPTE
as the
clock source setting first, as shown above.)
3. Make sure that
Slave to External Sync
mode
is enabled.
Use this setup if you have:
✓
A SMPTE time code source, such as a multitrack tape deck.
✓
An 896mk3 by itself, OR with another slaved device (such as a
digital mixer).
✓
Host software that supports sample-accurate sync.
This setup provides:
✓
Continuous sync to SMPTE time code.
✓
Sub-frame timing accuracy.
✓
Transport control from the SMPTE time code source.