MOTU micro express-USB, User Manual

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S M P T E S Y N C H R O N I Z A T I O N
75
To regenerate SMPTE:
1
Connect the original SMPTE track to the
SMPTE IN on your Express interface, and connect
the SMPTE OUT from your Express interface to
the destination SMPTE track (which could even be
on a different tape deck).
2
Set the “Jam for” option in the Sync window to a
high enough number of frames to cover any drop
outs that may exist in the current time code.
Try setting it to between 2 and 8 frames, unless
there is an obviously large dropout. If so, set it
more than 8 frames. This ensures that drop-outs in
the old code are not reproduced in the fresh code.
3
Roll tape and set the SMPTE volume levels.
When your Express interface is reading the old
time code, it generates fresh time code via its
SMPTE OUT jack only when it is in LTC mode; it
won’t regenerate LTC in
LTC QuikLock mode.
4
When the levels are set, roll tape and convert as
normal.
your Express interface automatically creates fresh
SMPTE time code that matches the original time
code and its relation to the other tracks on the tape.
In addition, your Express interface freewheels over
drop-outs in the old time code so that the new,
clean code has none.
Lengthening a SMPTE track
If the time code on your SMPTE track ends too
early and you need to add more code, you can use
the “One time” jam sync option. To do so, feed the
original track into your Express interface and
record the fresh code onto a new track. Be sure to
start from the beginning so that you regenerate the
entire length of the original track. When your
Express interface reaches the end of the original
SMPTE track, it will begin striping on its own. To
stop striping, click the Stop button or wait until
your Express interface reaches the stop time.
And remember, your Express interface must be in
LTC mode to do this, not LTC QuikLock .
Regeneration and time code bits
Except for when it is in LTC QuikLock mode, your
Express interface always regenerates fresh time
code from its SMPTE out jack. Time code user bits
embedded in incoming LTC on its SMPTE input
are not preserved.
Measuring incoming time code
In LTC mode, your Express interface measures
incoming time code with an extremely accurate
internal clock to see how fast or slow it is running
and displays the results in the SMPTE display of
Express Console. For details, see “Time base
measurement” on page 44 (for micro express
users) or “Time base measurement” on page 64
(for Express XT users).
MTC MODE
Choose this synchronization mode when you want
your Express interface to slave to MIDI Time Code
(MTC) being sent from a device connected to one
of its inputs. This mode offers the least amount of
time base stability, so it is recommend that you try
to set things up so that you can use one of the other
modes.
MIDI Express XT or micro express
Fresh SMPTE
Time code
Original
SMPTE Time
code
!USB Interfaces Manual Book Page 75 Tuesday, October 10, 2000 12:43 PM