Chapter 8 Use With Midi Devices; Synchronizing With Midi Sequencers; Items Necessary For Synchronization; Master And Slave - Roland VS-1680 Owner's Manual

Chapter 8 Use with MIDI Devices

This chapter describes the MIDI messages that can be
handled by the VS-1680 and the operations that the
VS-1680 can perform using MIDI messages.
For more detailed information about MIDI, please
refer to "About MIDI" (Appendices p. 4).
Synchronizing with MIDI
Sequencers
The VS-1680 can be operated in synchronization with
a MIDI sequencer. Refer to the owner's manual for
your sequencer in conjunction with this manual.
There are two main ways to accomplish synchroniza-
tion, one is method using MTC (MIDI time code)
and the other one is method using MIDI Clock, with
MIDI Clock further divided into two types, Sync
Track and Tempo Map, either if which can be select-
ed. Use the method that is appropriate for your situa-
tion.
MTC (Appendices p. 64)
• Using MTC (MIDI time code) (p. 128)
• Using the sync track (p. 131)
• Using the tempo map (p. 133)

Items Necessary for Synchronization

- VS-1680 (1)
- Internal IDE hard disk (HDP88 series)
- Audio equipment to be connected to the MASTER
jack, or stereo headphones
- External MIDI sequencer or computer sequencer
software (such as Cakewalk Pro Audio)
- MIDI cables

Master and Slave

When synchronizing the VS-1680 with a MIDI
sequencer, the device that sends, or transmits MTC or
MIDI Clock and acts as the reference device is referred
to as the master. Conversely, the device that receives
the MTC or MIDI Clock signals from the controlling
device is called the slave.
When using MTC, you can choose whether to have the
MIDI sequencer be the master that controls the VS-
1680, or to have the VS-1680 be the master that con-
trols the MIDI sequencer. In contrast, when you use
MIDI Clock, whereas you can synchronize a MIDI
sequencer from the VS-1680 (VS-1680 as master), it
will not be possible to synchronize the VS-1680 from
the sequencer (VS-1680 as slave).
128

Using MTC

This section explains how the VS-1680 can be synchro-
nized with a MIDI sequencer that implements MTC
(MIDI Time Code). When using MTC, you can choose
to have the VS-1680 be the master that controls the
MIDI sequencer, or to have the MIDI sequencer be the
master that controls the VS-1680.
MTC Type
The VS-1680 can work with the following types of
MTC. Check the specifications of the MIDI
devices that you are using, and select the appro-
priate type of MTC on the VS-1680.
30: 30 frames per second non-drop format.
This is used by audio devices such as ana-
log tape recorders, and for NTSC format
black and white video.
29N: 29.97 frames per second non-drop format.
This is used for NTSC format color video.
29D: 29.97 frames per second drop format. This
is used for NTSC format broadcast color
video.
25: 25 frames per second. This is used for
SECAM or PAL format video, audio equip-
ment, and film.
24: 24 frames per second. This is used for
video, audio devices, and film in the US.
Frame (Appendices p. 63)
NTSC Format (Appendices p. 64)
SECAM/PAL Format (Appendices p. 64)