Sync To A Midi Sequencer Using Mtc (Midi Time Code) - Roland VS-880EX Application Manual

Sync To A MIDI Sequencer Using MTC (MIDI Time Code)

If your external MIDI sequencer is playing your music tracks from a sound module or sampler, you may
want to record your vocals or saxophone solos on the VS-880EX. However, they must be recorded in sync
with the music tracks.
The VS-880EX can easily be synced to your external MIDI sequencer using MTC (MIDI Time Code).
If you are not completely familiar with the terms MTC (MIDI Time Code), MMC
(MIDI Machine Control), SPP (Song Position Pointer), Tempo Map, and MIDI
Clock, please review their definitions in the Appendix glossary section (page 123).
You must first connect the VS-880EX to your sequencer with a MIDI cable, then make the proper system
settings in the VS-880EX.
ACTION: Sync To An External MIDI Sequencer Using MTC
S l a v i n g y o u r s e q u e n c e r ( s l a v e ) t o t h e V S - 8 8 0 E X ( m a s t e r ) u s i n g M T C :
MIDI TIME CODE (MTC) is a sync code based on real time (time on your watch: hours/minutes/seconds
etc.) as opposed to MIDI Clock which is based on tempo (musical divisions: measures/beats). If your
sequencer can slave to MTC, use the following steps to sync your sequencer as a slave to the VS-880EX:
1. Connect a MIDI cable from the MIDI output of the VS-880EX to the MIDI input of your
external sequencer.
2. Press the [SYSTEM] button until "SYS Sync/Tempo?" is displayed in the LCD screen.
3. Press [YES].
4. Using the [<<PARAMETER>>] buttons, scroll through the various pages and set each
parameter to the following settings:
`5. Press [SYSTEM] repeatedly until "MIDI PRM?" is displayed.
6. Press [YES].
7. Use the [<<PARAMETER>>] buttons to display "MIDIThr=" and use the Time/Value dial to
change it to "Out" (if it is not already set to "Out").
8. Press the [PLAY (DISPLAY)] button.
* These screens apply to MIDI Clock (not MTC) and are not used here.
9. Set your sequencer to "Slave to External Sync." Make sure that it is set to receive MTC and
that the MTC Type is 30 frame (if using a different frame rate, make sure that it matches
what was set in the VS-880EX).
10. Press "PLAY" on the external sequencer (it will probably indicate that it is waiting for MTC).
11. Press [PLAY] on the VS-880EX and both units will start to play in sync with each other.
(Continued)
54
VS-880EX Application Guide
Syn:Source=
Syn:Gen=
Syn:ErrLevel=
Syn:MTC Type=
Syn:Tmap
Syn:Ofs
Syn:Sync.Tr Rec?
Syn:Sync.Tr Cnv?
INT
MTC
5
30
*
*
*
*