Procedures For Midi Sync Recording - Tascam 688 Midistudio Owner's Manual

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The flow of MIPI commands IChannel Vojce sjgnalsl
Another type of MIDI data
is
the actual perlormance in-
formation: NOTE ON, NOTE OFF (for each of the 128 dif-
ferent notes in the MIDI spec) Is the most basic-it's like
a
command saying, "Play C# in the middle of the keyboard
until
r
tell you to 'stop," Besides what note is played, it's
capable of transmitting
~it
was played-loud or soft
(VE LOCITYI information, AFTERTOUCH, and other
controllers including PITCH BEND, MOD WHEEL,
SUSTAIN PEDALnthe possibilities are almost endless.
(For a complete list. see the MIDI chart on page 58).
These are called Channel Voice messages because the
MIDI stream may control different voices, each on its own
MIDI channel. A NOTE ON message Is always
"broadcast" on one channel or another, so that a note
meant for the piano doesn't wind up going to the trumpet.
(An instrument cen also be set to OMNI mode, where It
will play any note no matter what channel it's on).
The 688's MIDI Tape Sync feature works only with Sys-
tem Common messages, while Channel Voice messages
are handled by the sequencer. The Channel Voice mes-
sages PORTASTUDIOs are NOT recorded on tape. The
MIDI THRU jack of the 688 simply echoes them from the
sequencer to the instruments.
However. if desired. the 688 will respond to and Issue a
limited number of Channel messages. Program Change
cen change the 688 from one scene to another. and cer-
tain NOTE messages can turn individual mutes on and off.
For more details on how to do these, refer to the section
"MIDI Mixer Control" on page 34.
I
PROCEDURES FOR MIDI SYNC RECORDING
Just as MIDI sync adds 4 components to the system, it
adds one more step to the process: before you can start
tracking, you have to record the sync tone. This
is
called
striping the tape. If you could see the bursts of timing
information on the tape, they occur regularly In stripes
like the lines across frames of film.
Get the seQyencer ready to plav:
1. Enter a song into the sequencer. If there
is
a tempo
setting or conductor track In the sequencer, set that.
2. Set MIDI Clock out enable to ON: Some sequencers
will not send clocks to the output unless you tell them
to.
3. Connect the MIDI OUT of tha sequencer to the MIDI IN
lack of the MIDISTUDIO usIng
II
stllndllrd MIDI cable.
Get tho MIDISTUDIO ready to record tho FSK tono'
4. Set the SYNC switch of the MIDISTUDIO to MIDI. The
green light will turn on.
5. PreS5 the SAVE/LOAD 5witch
of
the MIDISTUDIO so
that
the word SAVE appear:s In the LCD window under
the SCENE number. You are "saving· the tempo of the
sequencer to tape: later you will "load" it back into the
sequencer.
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6. Put TRK 8 Into REC READY. The red LED will start
flashing.
Blf:ord the
MIS
SynC ton.
7. Press RECORD and PLAY simultaneously.
8. A few seconds later, pre•• START on your sequencer.
The SCENE number will begin to increase: it i.
showing
the number of bars (calculated four beats to a bar).
9.
When the sequencer .tops (either automatically or
because you press STOP on it), wait a few seconds,
then pre.. STOP on
ttae
MIDISTUDIO.
PJav
back the
MIS
tone
into
the llequenCOr
10. Rewind the tape.
11. Connect tho MIDI OUT of the MIDISTUDIO to the
MIDI IN
of
your sequencer using
a
standard MIDI cable.
12. Set your sequencer to follow external MIDI clock
input.
13. Turn the RECORD FUNCTION of Track 8 to OFF.
14. Press the SAVE/LOAD swItch so that the word
"LOAD" appears under the SCENE number.
15. Press PLAY on the MIDISTUDIO. When the tape
reaches the STAAT point, It should start the sequencer.
You will be able to hear the virtual tracks that are
being controlled by the sequencer.
CAUTION: There are sequencers that may not
be
able
to start within
a
song because they do not implement
Song Position Pointer. If you have the problem check
with the manual for vour seQuencer.
Overdybblng Into a sequencer during sync moclt
During sync operation, you may want to add more tracks
to your sequencer (·virtual overdubs") while listening to
the tape. If your sequencer has only one MIDI IN, though,
it must be patched to receive clocks from the 688 instead
of receiving Channel Voice messages from the controller
keyboard. The 688 does not have MIDI Marge, so
plugging the controller into the 688's MIDI
IN will
not
~lve
the problem. There are selleral other things you can
do. however:
• Obtain a MIDI Merge box (2 MIDI IN, 1 MIDI
oun.
This will merge the output of the controller with the
clocks from the 688.
" If you have a sequencer based on a personal
computer, you can obtain a second MIDI interface to
plug into another port of the computer, and use it
exclusIvely for clocks from the 688 while the first
port i8 used for the controller•
• Put your sequencer back into CLOCK INTERNAL mode
and perlorm the overdub onto the tracks without
using tape sync.