MOTU PCI-424, User Manual

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I N S T A L L I N G T H E P C I - 4 2 4 H A R D W A R E
44
SYNCING TO ADAT OR TASCAM DEVICES
USING SMPTE TIME CODE
The 2408mk3’s built-in SMPTE time code sync
features described on page 41 and page 42 are ideal
for small PCI-424 systems. But if your audio
software doesn’t support sample-accurate sync, or
if you have an elaborate setup that perhaps involves
multiple Alesis and/or Tascam digital recorders,
then a dedicated synchronizer such as the Digital
Timepiece can serve as the “sync hub” for your
digital studio. The Digital Timepiece becomes the
clock master over the PCI-424 system, your audio
software, and other slaved devices so that they
remain phased-locked with each other and share a
unified time code address. This setup is also the
one to use for syncing your PCI-424 system to time
code or video if your audio software does not
support sample-accurate sync.
Tascam
sync cables
Macintosh computer running
any audio software
USB cable (or other bi-directional MIDI
communication) bearing MMC transport
commands from the software and MIDI Time
Code from the synchronizer
Figure 3-26: An ADAT synchronizer like the Digital Timepiece or MIDI Timepiece AV gives you the best possible synchronization setup for a
2408mk3 with audio software and ADATs. A Digital Timepiece is ideal for Tascam decks (or both ADAT and Tascam).
Sync In
Sync Out
Sync In
Sync Out
Sync In
Sync Out
etc.
Set the PCI-424 clock source as follows:
1. Run the MOTU PCI Audio Console application.
2. If you have a Digital Timepiece, MIDI Timepiece AV or other
ADAT synchronizer, connect the PCI-424 card to the end of
the ADAT chain and choose
PCI-424: ADAT from the Clock
Source menu.
3. Make sure the Sample Rate setting matches the tape decks.
Alternately, you could send word clock from the synchronizer to
the 2408mk3 interface (instead of ADAT sync). In this case,
chose
2408mk3: Word Clock In as the clock source.
Set up MIDI Machine Control in your audio software. Doing so
makes the audio software send MMC transport commands (play,
stop, rewind, locating, etc.) to the synchronizer. The synchronizer
then generates MIDI Time Code for the software while at the same
time driving the ADATs and/or Tascam decks connected to it. This
provides continuous, hardware-based synchronization among your
audio software, the 2408mk3 and the digital recorders.
If you have a DTP or
MTP AV, set their sync
mode to
Internal.
ADAT
Sync out port
Tascam
Sync Out port
Optional ADAT sync chain
MMC transport
commands
MIDI
Time
Code
PCI-424 card
ADAT Sync In
Tascam Decks
Digital Timepiece, MIDI Timepiece AV or any
other MMC-compatible ADAT synchronizer
Use this setup if you have:
✓
ADATs, Alesis hard disk recorders or any ADAT SYNC
compatible device(s),
AND/OR
Tascam DA-series digital tape decks or hard disk recorders.
✓
A MOTU Digital Timepiece, MIDI Timepiece AV or other
ADAT synchronizer.
✓
Host software that does not support sample-accurate sync
(although you can use this setup even if it does).
Note: for transport control from the computer, your software
must support MIDI Machine Control (MMC).
This setup provides:
✗
No sample-accurate locating.
✓
Sub-frame timing accuracy.
✓
Transport control of everything from the computer, OR
continuous sync to SMPTE time code and other sync sources
(the other source is the transport master in this case).