Table of Contents
Advertisement
,I
I
\,
688
MIDI TAPE SYNC LOAD MODE
MIDI
IN
CLOCK-MIDI
EXTERN'AL
SeQUENCER
However, the MIDI Tape Synchronizer
(MTS)
built into
the
688
can translate the MIDI clock signals into a war·
bllng audio tone (called FSK) which can be recorded on
tape. If you listen to thIs FSK. you'll notice that the tone
varies according to the tempo of the sequencer.
On
playback, this tone has to be changed back into MIDI
language sO the sequencer cen -listen" to the clock via
MIDI, end follow the tape recorder. This Is done by the
MTS, whIch sends clocks to the MIDI OUT of
the 688,
to
be connected to the MIDI IN of the sequencer.
MIDI synchronization is analogous to that. The tape sig-
nal recorded on track
8
is the electronic equivalent of
a
click track, wIth the added element of 80ng position
pointer ("bar one, click, click, click, ber two, cllelc.
click....).
The sequencer has an internal metronome or "dock" th8t
it uses to 8et tempo. It transmits this clock to
its
MIDI
OUT jack, which is connected to the MIDI IN jack of
the
688.
MIDI can't be recorded directly onto
tape,
because
it
Is a digital signal at
8
very high frequency beyond the
reach of analog tape.
Click track and sync tone analogy
Before there was MIDI or sync tone, there was the
human equivalent a "click track". This was a metronome
that was recorded on one track of the recorder
88
a
time
base for the musicians doing ollerdubs.
The
drummer
would hear the click track In his headphones, and play
along in tempo.
• How
to
record
a
sequence
" How to set the tempo of the sequencer
(its
internal
c10clcl
• How to start it and make sure Its MIDI OUT
Jack
I.
sending clocks
• How to set the sequencer so it will not generate
in-
ternal clocks when it receives START,
but
will follow
clocks being sent from the
688'8
MIDI OUT to
Its
MIDI IN. This is called MIDI CLOCK, or
EXT MIDI
mode.
Know your seqyencer
You're going to have to open the manual for your se-
quencer, wh8tever It may
be, to learn the details of how
it works. Before you can stripe, you need to know:
The
688 is only concerned with MIDI clock,
start
stop,
and song pointer messages. All the other MIDI data the
sequencer transmits (such as note on, note off, and con-
troller commands) is Ignored, and not recorded onto ..
pe.
Note: Many sequencers and drum machines have their
own tape sync
system,
and typically have
3 clock
modes:
INTERNAL, MIDI, and TAPE. Don't be confused-. far ..
the sequencer is concerned.
it'.
In MIDI clock mode,
not
tape,
because the MIDISTUDIO III Mndllng the
tape
sync
chore by itself, and sending MIDI clocks to
the
sequencer.
-30-
MIDI
IN
MIDI TAPE SYNC SAVE MODE
On the other hand. MIDI is not magic. Great recordings
halle been made without ito-after all, MIDI is only a few
years old. MIDI sequencers very from the simple to the
extremely complex, but all of them require some level of
skill and musical knowledge. It's possible to get so tied
up in MIDI technology thet inspiration disappears; but for
those who take the time to practice using It it becomes
an extension to their musical ability.
You lose one track
(#8)
to the sync tone, but you gain
control of as many MIDI lIirtual instruments as you can
obtain.
MIDI Synchronization
688
• Tape tracks are freed for non-MIDI instruments such
as guitars and lIocals
• You can try different sounds on the keyboard to see
what fits best, while listening to playback
• It's easier to get a "perfect" performance out of a se-
quencer
• You can change or edit the musical performance in
the sequencer as a master tape "elloI1l8S' into a final
mix--for example a drum part can
be
totally
rewritten after the ollerdubs are recorded, but still
be in perfect tempo
• You can use one sequencer to play many different
MIDI instruments simultaneously
• You can use the sequencer to get the
parts
right and
the multitrack to record each sound on a different
treck. thereby getting 3 different sounds out of the
same synthesizer
I
INTRODUCTION TO MIDI SYNC
The advantages of MIDI Sync oporation
If your music includes electronic keyboards and drum
machines, MIDI sync allows you to use them without us-
ing up a tape track. Instead of recording the sound of the
keyboard on tape. you record the actual mOllements of
your hands on the keyboard into a sequencer, which is
the electronic equillalent to
a
player piano roll. The ad-
lIantages are:
This section of
the
manual
assumes
that you
have
read
the
preceding MCtions of
this
manual
end
understand
the operation of the
688's
mixer and assignment screen.
In this section we're going to focus on just those
functions that make the MIDISTUDIO different from pre-
vIous PORTASTUDIOs: the ability to
accept
MIDI
clocks
from a sequencer, translate them into
a
recordable FSK
sync tone with song position pointer Information, record
the tone on Track
8,
and when the tape Is played
back
translate that tone back into MIDI clocks and song point-
ers that allow e MIDI sequencer to "chase lock" the tape
tracks and control synthesizers In perfect synchroniza-
tion.
.
MIDI
OUT
L....
---J
Hide quick links:
Advertisement
Table of Contents
