Time code and Word clock

[hoptune]

I am using a 2408 mk3 and an IZ RADAR in tandam. My question is this... I need to use word clock in to transfer tracks from RADAR to DP (4.12) but I also want the two of them to sync up in time code. In Hardware setup, I must pick 1 or the other..word in is what I choose, because it won't transfer without talking to each other properly...But I wish for them to be in sync as well...Later after editing and mixing within DP, I could then use some tracks from the existing session in RADAR, if they were synced up...any suggestions?

Hoptune
2408mk3
(2)1224's
IZ Radar mk2
G5 dual2.5
G4 dual 500
Reason,DP4.12,Peak,Waves.etc
Soundcraft Ghost
lotsa outboard

[fm_xtk]

If I understand you correctly you are recording onto RADAR and you want to dump stuff in to dp for editing, programming, etc and then run the two in sync for mixing?

In that case I would have the RADAR be the master clock in your setup, and leave the MOTU hardware locked to word clok via BNC all the time. That way you won't get into trouble dumping stuff back and forth digitally.

I don't know about the TC but it should be possible to have the MOTU hardware set to WC sync and use TC for positional reference (I am new to dp, but this is how you would do it in PT).

Just try setting the MOTU clock to external WC/BNC and feed it SMPTE from the RADAR and see if dp starts playing in sync. If your MOTU hardware doesn't allow to play in sync to TC whilst being locked to an external clock (which would be stupid...) then you will have to be a bit more savvy and change the Master>Slave relationship for both, word clock and TC each time you do a transfer. All of this will be less complicated when you do the transfers analogue because there is only TC to worry about.

Anyway, come to mixing everything should be straitforward: The MOTU will lock to the external TC of the RADAR and even if it can't be locked to WC at the same time that will be accurate (albeit not phase accurate so don't run two sides of a stereo track split on the two).

[dtobocman]

1) Investigate MIDI Machine Control... This is the best way to interface a standalone HD recorder and DP. I used to do it with an EMU Darwin and it works really, really well.

2) You're confusing "System Clock" and "Receive Sync"... they're two different, independent settings. Timecode sync is set in the "receive sync" page.

Word clock is the means by which two machines run perfectly at the same speed. Timecode is used for accurate positioning between the two machines. You can have two machines running at exactly the same speed but are a constant distance apart, or you can have two machines that locate and start from the same place but drift. You need both word clock and timecode for them to synchronize playback and remain locked.

<small>[ March 18, 2005, 11:06 AM: Message edited by: dtobocman ]</small>

[hoptune]

Thanks, Y'all..I will give it a try...My only other concern is that I use the RADARS converters back through my analogue console via tdif from DP..It works great, but will the issue basically be I will be running the RADAR all the time, and letting DP sync, be it smpte or MTC? and also, can I get my console online with all this syncing, via MTC...I don't know that I need to, but it can do mute automation, and as we all know, the more you mute, the cleaner the final product, especially when you are dealing with an analogue board...

[Splinter]

There are three necessary components to acheiving sync:

Clock, address, and transport (machine control)

Any of these can be driven from any device (within the limitations of the devices used), you just have to know which device is the master for what and assure the other devices are correctly receiving all 3 components as needed.

Ex.: You could have an A/D converter providing clock via Word Clock, the sequencer providing transport via MMC, and a tape deck providing address via LTC (SMPTE). The sequencer receives LTC from tape via a SMPTE reader and clock via Word clock input. The tape receive machine control via MIDI in from the sequencer and clock from a word clock distributor driven by the A/D converter via Word in. The converter doen't need anything else because it doesn't have any address features.

<small>[ March 18, 2005, 01:36 PM: Message edited by: Splinter ]</small>

[dtobocman]

What Splinter said so well...