DA-88 and midi sync question

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grweldon

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I've just purchased a DA-88. I'm getting back into recording after a 10 year absence. I would like opinions on how to get a software midi sequencer to play back sequences while I record tracks on the DA-88. I was aware of an old technique that required Midi Time Code to be recorded on a track, but I never used it and I am ignorant of how it is done. I don't know how to generate time code to get it recorded and I don't know how to get the sequencer to play back after the MTC is recorded. Can anybody give me some ideas?
 
Nowadays you need both machines to be able to 'hear' MTC, and at least one of them to generate it. This requires having MIDI in/out jacks. Recording time code (actually it was STMPE) on tracks the way you described isn't as popular anymore, since more devices have it built in. As an example, the recorder would be the 'master' and feed MTC via it's MIDI out to your computer's MIDI in. This would drive the sequencer (as the 'slave') and then the music would be recorded via a separate cable from the soundcard out to the recorder input. In fact, I'm not sure how you could get your computer to listen to STMPE if you had it recorded on a track.
 
Ok, I can live with that method.

The DA-88 has a sync card installed (SY-88) that has a MIDI out. I could connect the MIDI out to the MIDI in of my sound card and run the sequencer that way, as you said. I would then run the signal of the MIDI out to my mixer as you have stated. I think I'm starting to get the hang of it.

Thanks...
 
Just remember that MIDI data is not audio - you can't listen to it as music. While the MIDI signal can sync up the two devices, to record the audio, you need to run from the soundcard's audio outs, not the MIDI out.
 
Got the Gina last night and installed it. It does not have any MIDI ports. I suppose I could sync with MTC from the existing time card?
 
In the menu of the da88, set tc out to abs time. That way the time displayed on the front of the recorderdisplay hh.mm.ss.ff will be outputted as smpte to the tc output on the back. It will not cost you an extra audiotrack. TC information is recorded on a subtrack of the tascam.

Connect the tc out from the tascam to an input of your soundcard and select that input as SMPTE in for your sequencer. Everything should be rocksolid stable afterwards. Just make sure you set the framerate 24 or 25 f/s the same fot both.
 
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