Which sync protocol to use ?

[Matthias]

Hi guys,

since my studio equipment is constantly getting more and more, I am
wondering which would be the best protocol to use for synchronizing all
that stuff together.

I have equipment with wordclock only and with MIDI only - no question
for these - so far.

But if my equipment has both abilities (or even more, like AES/EBU or
ADAT), which one should I use ?

I know so far, that it is better to use a 'star' cabling compared to a
'ring' cabling. So there should be a central sync unit to sync all
attached material, right ? Or is there not much problem regarding the
BNC cabling for wordclock (I know that with MIDI, a 'ring' cabling CAN
BE a problem))

So, what's the best way to sync everything together with the minimum
possible delay and who could be the 'main driver' for the sync'ing ?

Any suggestions or links that point to documents where I can read more
about that issue ?

Thanks in advance for your answers
Matthias

[Romeo Rondeau]

You'll need to tell us what gear specifically that you need to sync up
and also what type of sync you need (positional vs. word or both)
Without that info, there is no clear answer to your question.


Matthias wrote:
> Hi guys,
>
> since my studio equipment is constantly getting more and more, I am
> wondering which would be the best protocol to use for synchronizing all
> that stuff together.
>
> I have equipment with wordclock only and with MIDI only - no question
> for these - so far.
>
> But if my equipment has both abilities (or even more, like AES/EBU or
> ADAT), which one should I use ?
>
> I know so far, that it is better to use a 'star' cabling compared to a
> 'ring' cabling. So there should be a central sync unit to sync all
> attached material, right ? Or is there not much problem regarding the
> BNC cabling for wordclock (I know that with MIDI, a 'ring' cabling CAN
> BE a problem))
>
> So, what's the best way to sync everything together with the minimum
> possible delay and who could be the 'main driver' for the sync'ing ?
>
> Any suggestions or links that point to documents where I can read more
> about that issue ?
>
> Thanks in advance for your answers
> Matthias

[Matthias]

Romeo Rondeau schrieb:
> You'll need to tell us what gear specifically that you need to sync up
> and also what type of sync you need (positional vs. word or both)
> Without that info, there is no clear answer to your question.

o.k. here we go :

I 'guess' I'll need both ways of sync'ing - I actually don't know a lot
about sync'ing yet so to know a place where I can get the overall
picture (which methodes are there, what are the negative / positive
parts of each an so on) would be an option too.

My equipment (some of):

- Otari RADAR II (24 track)
- Otari RADAR I (24 track)
- AKAI DD-8 (2 x 8 track)
- Fostex D-160 (16 track ADAT / Worclock)
- Alesis ADAT
- Software sequencer (PC/ATARI)
- DMP7(D) Console (YAMAHA used as effect console)
- Couple of ADDA Converters, like the WaMi 192
- Analog console (no sync'ing possible / nescessary)

Do you need any more information ?

Cheers,
Matthias

[Romeo Rondeau]

Matthias wrote:
> Romeo Rondeau schrieb:
>> You'll need to tell us what gear specifically that you need to sync up
>> and also what type of sync you need (positional vs. word or both)
>> Without that info, there is no clear answer to your question.
>
> o.k. here we go :
>
> I 'guess' I'll need both ways of sync'ing - I actually don't know a lot
> about sync'ing yet so to know a place where I can get the overall
> picture (which methodes are there, what are the negative / positive
> parts of each an so on) would be an option too.
>
> My equipment (some of):
>
> - Otari RADAR II (24 track)
> - Otari RADAR I (24 track)
> - AKAI DD-8 (2 x 8 track)
> - Fostex D-160 (16 track ADAT / Worclock)
> - Alesis ADAT
> - Software sequencer (PC/ATARI)
> - DMP7(D) Console (YAMAHA used as effect console)
> - Couple of ADDA Converters, like the WaMi 192
> - Analog console (no sync'ing possible / nescessary)
>
> Do you need any more information ?
>
> Cheers,
> Matthias
>

Wow! That's a lot of gear to have and not understand sync :-) Buy a MOTU
Digital Timepiece (not the MIDI Timepiece!) and a wordclock generator
and a distribution amp (Lucid makes a good, inexpensive one... you may
not need the distribution amp, it depends on how many wordclock outputs
you need... don't daisy chain them) The MOTU locks everything to
everything else (I mean everything) Use the RADARs as the positional
master and the wordclock generator as the wordclock master. Everything
will lock up and your digital devices will sound better and act more
consistently (it should get rid of clicks and pops and so forth)

Feed the wordclock outputs from the generator/ distribution amp to the
AD/DA converters, RADARs, AKAI, Fostex and ADAT and DMP7. This takes
care of word sync. The generator will be the wordclock sync master.
Decide which machine is your positional sync master, run that to the
MOTU (gonna be either ADAT sync or Tascam sync). Take the sync outputs
from the MOTU and run them to the other machines (you can chain these),
run the MOTU's MIDI output to your computers MIDI card input and set it
to MTC sync. Some devices will not need the wordclock sync if they are
using ADAT or Tascam sync, if they can use both use them both.