Sample-Accurate Sync - MOTU 828mkII User Manual

SAMPLE-ACCURATE SYNC

Your 828mkII system provides you with the most
advanced, accurate synchronization possible with
Alesis modular digital tape decks and hard disk
recorders — or any device that supports sample-
accurate ADAT sync. Figure 3-10 below shows a
few best-case scenarios. Below is a brief
explanation of the benefits you achieve with these
setups.
Sample accurate locating
With sample accurate locating, when you transfer
audio between AudioDesk (or any other sample-
accurate host software) and a sample-accurate
recorder, the audio will not drift in time — even by
as little as one sample. This is the tightest possible
synchronization between digital audio devices.
The timing in your audio will not be affected in any
way by the process of transferring it between the
828mkII and the recorder.
Is your audio software sample-accurate?
Sample-accurate locating is only possible with
software that supports this feature, such as
AudioDesk or Digital Performer. For third-party
software, sample-accurate performance (if it's
supported) is achieved through the 828mkII's
ASIO Version 2 driver (Mac OS 9 only).
Sync format Software
ADAT AudioDesk, Cubase or
Digital Performer
ADAT AudioDesk, Cubase or
Digital Performer
ADAT AudioDesk, Cubase or
Digital Performer
Figure 3-10: These recommended combinations of hardware and software offer the tightest sync possible between the 828mkII and digital
audio recorders in the form of sample-accurate locating between the software and the tape decks. Sample accurate locating is possible even
without a MIDI Timepiece AV or Digital Timepiece, although you give up transport control from the computer.
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Transport control from your computer
If you have a MIDI Timepiece AV, Digital
Timepiece or any ADAT synchronizer that also
supports MIDI Machine Control (MMC), you can
play, stop, rewind and locate all of your ADATs
using the transport controls in the audio software
running on your computer. This includes cueing
features like markers, position bars, playback
wipers, time rulers, etc.
Figure 3-11: AudioDesk and Digital Performer support sample-
accurate transfers with ADAT Sync compatible digital tape decks and
modular hard disk recorders.
Sample
accurate
Synchronizer locating
MIDI Timepiece AV Yes
or Digital Timepiece
BRC (or any MMC capa- Yes
ble ADAT synchronizer)
None Yes
I N S T A L L I N G T H E 8 2 8 M K I I H A R D W A R E
Transport
control Continuous sync
from computer to SMPTE / MTC
Yes Yes
Yes Yes
No No