How to use MIDI with DA-88 to sync

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grweldon

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I would like somebody to explain to me how to be able to sync MIDI tracks with my DA-88. It has a SY-88 sync card installed and it will generate timecode. I've used a software sequencer back in the days of Cakewalk for DOS, so I'm familiar with how it works, I just don't know how to "tap in" to the additional virtual tracks for mixdown. Can anybody point me to "or give me" a MIDI sync primer?

Thanks
 
It's a good thing you got the SY-88 sync card with it, because they're scarce and getting harder to find without the DA-88 attached.

Look in the manual for the SY-88 - the timecode reception options may well include Midi Time Code, and that's what you would need to syncronize it as a slave to a software sequencer that's capable of generating MTC. The new flagship sequencer package from Cakewalk is called Sonar, and it does transmit MTC, as well as Midi Machine Control which will let you control the transport of your DA-88 from the computer up to and including dropping in and out of record mode. Other sequencer packages offer this capability too -if you Google 'Midi/Audio Sequencers' I'm sure you will get plenty of options.

Here's one and here's another link to articles on Midi Time Code.
 
Thanks for the info, and I appreciate your willingness to help. I know what CAN be done with MIDI sync, I'm looking for detailed information/instruction on exactly HOW to do it.

I'm going to be using an Echo Gina digital input card with some sort of software (n-tracks is looking to be a good choice) and I want to be able to extend the 16 track of my DA-88 and DA-38 with the audio data recorded onto my computer hard drive.

I don't exactly know how to do any of this. If anybody out there reading this does, please do tell!
 
Here's a link to the SY-88 manual in PDF form - LINK.

Syncing your DA-88 is done with Midi Time Code transmitted from a sequencer or other application over a midi cable. Plug the midi out from the Echo Gina into the midi in on the DA-88. Then set the dip switches inside the DA-88 as outlined in the manual. The one thing I had wrong in my last post - Midi Machine Control will not put the DA-88 into record mode, but you can control all other transport functions from the computer.
 
I've had the SY-88 manual all along and read through it several times and I am just now starting to understand it. The user "Trillium" suggested (in the Tascam forum) that I do what you said, only in reverse. I connect the MIDI out of the DA-88 to the MIDI in of my soundcard. The Gina doesn't have a MIDI interface, just strictly input, but I still have the onboard MIDI interface with and adaptor and cable. It would make sense to run sequencing software from timecode generated by the SY-88, then take the output from the sound card (onboard) and run it into a channel on my mixer and incorportate the signal at mixdown.

This makes sense to me. Am I missing anything?
 
I wasn't going to mention you crossposting your question, but since you brought it up --- 'crossposting' means posting the same question or a similar one in more than one forum. It's frowned upon for just this very reason - it makes it much more difficult to add to, to critique and to assess the worth of anwers you recieve. The open nature of these forums is subverted by crossposting, so in the future pick the most likely forum and post your question only once.

You must have a very old Gina because the new models have both midi in and out. My solution was based on you having a newer model.

Your solution will work, and be sure to post again when you get it all synced together just to let me know you were successful!
 
I apologize if I transgressed any spoken or non-spoken boundaries while posting similar questions in different forums. I couldn't really decide which was the most appropriate, hence two postings. I'll do the best I can in the future to refrain from doing so.

To be honest, I don't have the Gina yet, should be here today. It is a possibility that is does have the MIDI in and out...I can't tell from the pictures on the eBay listing. I did quite a bit of research before buying the Gina but mostly concerning full-duplex operation. I got a good deal on it. I hope it works well.

I'm basically in a theoretical mode right now becasue I don't even know what software I'm going to end up using for audio and MIDI sequences. I'm testing out Digital Sound Planet's different offerings right now, but I don't know how viable that option will be. When and if I get things sync'ed, even if just a trial, I'll post.

Thanks for your replies....
 
grweldon said:
I'll do the best I can in the future to refrain from doing so.
Click to expand...
K. Thanks.

If you haven't decided on software yet, give Tracktion a look. Download the demo here and if you like it as much as I do buy it here. It syncs to incoming MTC, too --- I've used it for almost two years now as my main sequencer and find it stable, easy to use and super-speedy as far as turning a tiny idea into a full blown song.
 
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