best way to sync drum machine

[yetipur]

Hello,

I am trying to separate drum parts from a drum machine and record them onto analog tape on separate tracks. I am having problems syncing each new part to its recorded part. I use a click guide and at first it syncs then starts to go off time. I am using a pre amp in the chain as well.
Is there a better way to do this? Can you sync drum machines to drum machines on analog tape? Could the tape be slowing down? Could the pre amp be the problem.

 

[fraserhutch]

is to tie a rock around it using industrial quality gaffers tape and throw it into a deep canal.

Hey, works for me

 

[TragikRemix]

yeah that works.

he's using an avalon pre too guys, just so you know.

the only way to do it really, is to use midi..

 

[witzendoz]

Hi,

You need a track of time code on the tape machine for the length of the song. You feed the time code from the tape to a synchroniser that can produce midi clock, this enables a sequencer to chase midi. The midi out of the sequencer goes to the midi in of the drum machine. The drum machine is then set to chase incoming midi (slave mode).

There would be 100’s of old midi sync boxes and sequencers around on the second hand market that can do this, the box should be able to produce time code for you to record onto tape.

Check out this link http://pages.videotron.com/guitbey/midi.htm and theis link http://www.philrees.co.uk/products/tapesync.htm for a simple explanation.

Cheers

Alan

 

[altitude909]

You could probably do the same thing via software. Cubase has a "generate SMTPE" plugin