Timeline Microlynx/Tascam TSR-8 sync problems

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troutmask

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Hi all,

I bought a used Timeline Microlynx a while back, so that I could sync up two TSR-8s. I had a friend custom-build the cables per the wiring schematics that are floating around online (I don't remember the web site name off-hand, but it also had the Microlynx manual). Tonight, I striped two tapes with time code so that I could see how everything works...

...and it isn't working.

I don't know a lot about this, so if somebody could help me diagnose my problem, I would appreciate it, since I'm not fully sure what the problem is.

I have both machines hooked up VIA the accessory 1 port. The cables were custom built to spec. Each machine displays a solid EXT led when the Microlynx is on (except when time code is being generated, at which point the EXT led flashes and the FIX led is solid).

The self test works correctly on the unit itself, and it seems to generate valid time code -- at least, it detects the time code coming from the tape.

However, I have no transport capability between the unit and either of the machines...at all. Play, stop, rewind, fast forward, SMPTE chase...none of it works. The keypad flashes 'no code', which I assume to mean 'no time code detected', but even playing one of the tapes doesn't accomplish anything, as far as achieving sync or anything goes...and that's the same with the basic transport functions.

I don't notice anything curious with the LEDs on either the keypad, unit or tape machine...just the fact that I'm not accomplishing what I hoped to do with the unit.

Is this a cable problem, a unit problem, or a user problem (I never rule myself out)?

Thanks
 
Does the MicroLynx need to be set up to match the deck? I remember the Lynx-I had a lot of preprogrammed settings for decks (and mine were programmed before the TSR-8 came out, which is probably why mine wouldn't sync properly). If the MicroLynx is generating the correct signals it should do something.

Is it getting a tach signal from the deck? (There should be a display option or an LED for that somewhere)
 
Sorry, I should have specified that I have selected the default parameters for the Tascam TSR-8 (which is one of the transport options). I did a system clear as well just to make sure I wasn't using something other than the default Microlynx options for the TSR-8 settings.

I can't find anything in the Microlynx manual, other than a passing mention to the specific pin in the 40-pin connector, to Tach...unless I'm overlooking it, as it doesn't even have a glossary listing, so I'm not sure what you mean.
 
I am pretty sure that on the Lynxes, if you put one of the machines into fast wind, the counter on the corresponding Lynx would change to match. That means that the Lynx the machine is attached to is receiving a tach signal from the deck (since there isn't a timecode signal in fast wind mode to give it the position).

With the Lynx I you had one Lynx per deck and they were joined together with a serial cable. The Microlynx is a single unit like the ATS, so it probably won't have a display per deck, but it should have a mode to show you the difference in timecode between the two. If that changes while the machine is winding you've got a tach signal. If you don't, that's a sign something is amiss.

I use the Lynxes as SMPTE regenerators and displays these days, it's been a long time since I tried to use them for sync so I can't quite remember how it worked.
 
The only time the sync signal is tracked is when I manually press play on one (or both) of the units - none of the other functions like tape shuttling are being automatically tracked by the Microlynx. Of course, time code detection is through the 1/4" input on the back anyway.
 
troutmask said:
I have both machines hooked up VIA the accessory 1 port.
Click to expand...

Not understanding what you did here...?

Each machine needs to be on its own, individual transport connection port.
The ML would have to have 2 ports installed for hooking up 2 machines. If you had a third machine, there is room for a third add-on port.

How many ports are on your ML...and how is one cable going to two decks......like "Y" split...?
 
miroslav said:
Not understanding what you did here...?
Each machine needs to be on its own, individual transport connection port.
The ML would have to have 2 ports installed for hooking up 2 machines. If you had a third machine, there is room for a third add-on port.

How many ports are on your ML...and how is one cable going to two decks......like "Y" split...?
Click to expand...

I took it to mean that each TSR-8 had a cable in its accessory-1 port, connecting to the back of the MicroLynx. Unless I'm much mistaken, the ML comes stock with two ports at the back so that one unit can control two machines (unlike the Lynx-I)
 
Well...they are labled Transport 1, Transport 2, etc....he's saying "both decks to Accessory 1 port"....
...so I just want to be clear how he has it hooked up. :D
 
That is correct - one cable from each TSR-8 (two cables total) to the ML using the accessory 1 port on the back of each TSR-8 and the first two transport cable inputs on the back of the ML. My ML actually has three transport inputs, although 2 is the standard (as I recall).

Sorry for not being clear - it was a long night last night and an early morning today, heh.
 
Ahhhh..."Accessory 1" refers to the deck's ports.... :) ....got it.

What do you have set for refernce sync on the ML?
Is it set to IntFix?

I'm not in my studio or in front of my Microlynx setup...so I can't just flip through all the settings to confirm them...but looking at the LEDs on the right, you might get some sense what is or isn't set. If LEDs are blinking on the right, some sync is not right.

Also...have you gotten any errors on the LCD screen?

Of course, it may also be a setting in your tape decks relative to the Accessory 1 port...???
 
The reference sync on the ML is set to IntFix, as well as the default IntFix setting (29.97/30)

The accessory 1 port is parallel, and the TSR-8 manual states that the switches on the back only affect either the accessory 2 port (which is serial) or the output levels on track 8 (which, in my case, are set to variable)

When I try to use the transport controls for the ML: I get a "tape out" error, which according to the manual means that the interface is unable to communicate with the deck because there is no tape threaded on the machine (or there's an error with the cable). The former is obviously not my problem...I'm leaning increasingly toward a cable issue.

For the right hand LEDs on the ML keyboard interface, I get a solid ref lock and a flashing video gen.
 
miroslav said:
Of course, it may also be a setting in your tape decks relative to the Accessory 1 port...???
Click to expand...

Accessory-1 is the parallel connection, I don't believe there is anything to configure (Acc-2 is serial and needs the baud rate to match). Most of the commands are logic low to trigger, and the tach is output on pin 10, so as long as the MicroLynx is honouring the protocol correctly, it should do things.
 
troutmask said:
The reference sync on the ML is set to IntFix, as well as the default IntFix setting (29.97/30)

The accessory 1 port is parallel, and the TSR-8 manual states that the switches on the back only affect either the accessory 2 port (which is serial) or the output levels on track 8 (which, in my case, are set to variable)

When I try to use the transport controls for the ML: I get a "tape out" error, which according to the manual means that the interface is unable to communicate with the deck because there is no tape threaded on the machine (or there's an error with the cable). The former is obviously not my problem...I'm leaning increasingly toward a cable issue.

For the right hand LEDs on the ML keyboard interface, I get a solid ref lock and a flashing video gen.
Click to expand...

OK...then from where did you get the SMPTE to stripe the tape with?
Did it come from the ML?

I would check for a SMPTE mismatch between the tape stripe and the settings in the ML (you may have already done that).
If OK...then yeah, recheck the cable. When I made mine, I missed one pin-to-pin wire, and my Otari MX-80 was doing all kinds of weird things.

Not sure which TASCAM cable diagram you worked off of, but here's 4 that I have for TASCAM decks:

70D117A.PDF

70D087.PDF

70D086.PDF

70D094.PDF
 
I striped both tapes using the ML, with the SMPTE set to IntFix and 29.97/30.

I'll have to check the continuity again on the cables...thanks for all of the feedback on this.
 
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