Abandon SMPTE? Oh My GAWD!

[soundchaser59]

I have been striping with smpte code and feeding the smpte back to an old Atari 1040 with Hybrid Arts SMPTE Track Sequencer software. The software reads and writes true bit accurate binary smpte. I used to do this with a TSR-8 reel to reel, now I have been doing it with a smpte stripe on track 1 of my Tascam 2488 recorder. I did it because when the 2488 first came out it had a glitch in the midi time code that would not allow my sequencer to auto-locate correctly. If I hit FF and tried to random locate to any point in the song, the sequencer would always be a quarter or a half or a whole beat off. It only worked correctly if I started from the beginning each time. You know how frustrating that is if the guitar mistake is in the coda?

I was looking up something unrelated in the Hybrid Arts manual last night, and I stumbled across a paragraph that says if I have the "Midiplexer" connected to the modem port (which I do!) then I can connect a midi source like a keyboard or a master time clock to the second "priority input B" on the midiplexer, and still use the input A jack for keyboard input like a piano. Lightbulb moment! Time to investigate! Make coffee, pour another mug full of chocolate chips!

*running midi cord from 2488 out to priority input B*

Well, Tascam has fixed the midi glitch and now my Atari sequencer synchs to 2488 midi time code perfectly, including random locate in perfect synch. (Actually, Tascam fixed the glitch a long time ago, but it took me this long to loosen my death grip on smpte time code enough to run the midi time code thru the testing ringer! I did a full battery of tests last night -- finally!) Why is this important?

Because it means I now have track 1 free for MUSIC! No more smpte time code stripe. And that time code stripe consumed one of my direct outs. Now that direct out is free for music and mixing. I think I will dedicate track 1 to something vital like.......BASS! Or a guitar solo! Yeah, that's the ticket! I will let my lead guitar track have its own private channel in the mix! CoooooooL!

I cant wait to hit the "REC" button again! - SC

 

[The Ghost of FM]

I can't offer any technical advice on this as none seems to be asked for but just thought I'd say howdy all the same and wish you cheers in making more great music, which I know you know how do do very well.

Cheers!

 

[soundchaser59]

Thanks Ghost! Good to find you out and about! Hope everything is looking up more and more!

Yeah, the only catch is now that I've pulled all the cords out that I used for smpte, I got a really good look at how inefficient my patchbay has become. Every time I changed something in the last year, I just basically used the patch bay to do it. Now the patch bay itself needs to be completely unplugged and rewired. Might take all evening to do it, but it will be quite efficient when I get done with it!