MIDI and The 388

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Mark7

Mark7

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My friend with the conveniently situated house is leaving town to move to Brighton. So my opportunity to record live drums is slipping away rapidly. That, plus my band's drummer quitting us for her other band, means I'm back to using a drum machine ( :( ). This time I want to try something different, so...

Tell me about MIDI. And how to use it with the 388.
 
I do this with my Tascam 246 (cassette 4 track), but I think the 388 is a little different in the way it syncs. Basically, you'd stripe a time code on track 8 of the 388 with a time code generator. On the four track, the code generator just connects via an audio cable to a sync input (RCA jack I think) on the machine, but I think the 388 has a different type of input for the sync (though I could be wrong). In the 388 manual, there's an illustration showing a sync box, and it looks as though it's just connected to RCA inputs, but it's hard to tell exactly what's going on. If that is the case, then you could probably use something like a JL Cooper PPS-1 (or 2 or 3), which can be had for around $50 or $60.

Anyway, then you connect a MIDI cable from your drum machine to the code generator, which allows the drum machine to chase the 388.

Instead of using an external drum machine, though, I'd recommend the plugin EZ Drummer 2. At $150 (I think), it's cheaper than most of the better drum machines out there, and it will blow them away in sound quality/flexibility. The sounds are 100% pro level without a doubt, and its interface is awesome too.
 
Mark7 said:
I've put a bid on this

Tascam MTS-30 Midi tape synchronizer | eBay

Will I need anything else? Other than cables.
Click to expand...

The time code comes from a synchronizer box like you just bid on. It generates the signal that stripes the tape, and it also reads that signal on playback and converts it to a signal that the MIDI device (be it an external drum machine, computer sequencer, etc) can read. There are a bunch of different ones. The JL Cooper PPS series is another common one.

I'm not familiar with the MTS-30, so I'm not sure what cables you'll need. But assuming you have everything in order on that syncing end, then you just need MIDI drums (via drum machine or plugin, etc.).
 
I'm a bit confused as to how to use the MTS-30, the 388 and my Yamaha RX8 together.

Can someone walk me through it? Including connecting it all up.

Especially connecting the MTS-30 to the 388. The diagram on the electronic music production page of the 388 manual isn't super helpful.
 
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Okay. So, the 388 manual isn't exactly clear on this, and the MTS-30 manual doesn't even cover it. So...

How would I connect them together?

I'm thinking of using the Tape out for Track 8 to send the time code to synchroniser and PGM BUSS In 8 to stripe the time code to tape in the first place.
 
I'm sorry, but I don't know how to do it on the 388. I think Dave (Reel Person) would know how though, so if he doesn't jump in, you could try messaging him.
 
I'll be interested in this too. Once you get things hooked up and figured out, fill us in.
I got a piece of rack gear with my 2nd 388 when I bought it. It came from a studio. It's a midi unit of some sort. It's a Sonus SMX 2000. Has SMPTE/MTC on it so It is a midi unit for sure. I haven't done much research on it and can't locate a manual.
I'll probably start another thread in the future when I get some time.
 
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