Can I do this? TDIF to ADAT via MOTU

[the_landlord]

This might be hard to explain, but here goes.....

My band is going to be recording with a local basement-studio/musician. He will be recording us onto a TASCAM MX-2424 with TDIF digital ins/outs. We would like to record drums/bass with him, and then dump a rough mix onto an ADAT XT20 that we own. We also own a MOTU 2408mkii. We are going to take this 2 track mix on ADAT and spend our own time recording guitar/vocals. We would then like to put the tracks back onto the MX-2424 for the other guy to mix and master. Will this conversion be a problem? Will we run into sync problems? Can anyone forsee any large issues? Thanks for any help you can give.

-landlord

[petimar]

I've never tried this, but as an owner of the 2408mkII, I'm looking at the amnual. I can't find it now, but I thought I'd read where it can be used in stand alone mode as a converter for flying into and out of ADAT and TDIF.

[Track Rat]

I've never tried it but I know you could transfer your TDIF tracks into the computer via some multitracking software and then dump them back out to ADAT or visa versa. I'd have to dig out my manual too but I do believe you're right about using it as a format converter in stand alone mode but it seems to me it would have to be a bank to bank transfer. I mean I don't think you could hook up 24 tracks of light pipe and transfer it directly to 24 tracks of TDIF straight accross. I could be wrong though.

[petimar]

Yes it would need to be a bank to bank transfer. In each bank, you can use only ADAT or TDFF (DA88). It sounds like in this case you are using only 1 of each machine, so it should work.

Make sure you set the "stand alone format conversion" on the front panel before trying, especially if hooked up to a running computer. This way you could avoid transfering to computer first, then back out.

Track, thanks for helping me with the ADAT transfer question earlier. Works like a champ!!

[Track Rat]

[the_landlord]

So, if the ADAT is set as slave it will get all of its timing info from the 2424, and will still be in sync after lots of hours of recording with the ADAT?

[mastahnke]

It will work fine, I do similar tasks all the time. Bring your manuals, remember clock settings.

[the_landlord]

mastahnke, can you explain how these devices should be configured? How should the word clock be set? The Motu? I'd appreciate any help you can give me. THanks

[the_landlord]

I am reading in the MOTU manaul that I may need MOTU's digital timepiece to do this. Can anyone explain. The guy has a SMPTE time piece, but I don't think that can hook to the ADAT. How will the ADAT get the time code? I think he is using the USB midisport 4 X 4 - 4 in / 4 out midi interface with cakewalk for the time code on his 2424, but am not really familar with Tascam products. Can anyone help me out? THanks

[the_landlord]

I feel like I won't be able to put the tracks that we record on our own back onto the MX2424 to be mixed with the original tracks that were recorded. The ADAT does not seem to have SMPTE, and the MOTU 2408mk2 does not convert SMPTE to ADAT Sync. Any help would be greatly appreciated........