sync adat R2R and IBM

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supper

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Can I use a layla card to sync Adats,R2R and IBM? I say no. Buddy says yes using word clock. I do have a old opcode studio3 for mac. Is there any way to make that work.
Thanks for your help.

Supper
 
if you can find an old analog R2R (Reel to Reel) that has a word clock IN you'll blow my mind!
no you cannot. word clock is NOT a transport sync signal. it's purpose is to align the timing of the transmission of DIGITAL signals. if you hook up say a tascam DA-88 to a Mackie d8b without connecting the word clock cable (usually BNC type of connector)
you'll have a signal that keeps dropping in and out OR get a bunch of digital trash.
AES/EBU and S/PDIF signals are "self-clocking" the signal itself contains a word clock of sorts...so there is no word clock connector. to sync up transports you'll need either SMPTE or MTC....( or FSK or MIDI clock w/SPP)
in any case the R2R would have to be the sync master....you could stripe a track with SMPTE, then figure out how in the heck to get the ADAT to chase that.. (means buying more equipment)then convert the SMPTE to MTC (MIDI time code) ....so you would have to buy yet MORE equipment, to get the Computer to chase the MTC.
no telling how many days it would take for it to all lock up.

[This message has been edited by Take5 (edited 07-14-2000).]
 
All the above is true. Also, digital recorders and computers have very little (I mean very little!) for speed fluctuations, so using an analog tape machine with SMPTE stipped on the tape could prove to be hard to do unless the tape machines tape transport is EXTREMELY stable and reliable. I one time spent a week in a studio trying to sync an old MCI 2" 24 track to ADAT's. I would only work for maybe one pass at a time, then the next time, no sync for more then 20 secs. Very frustrating.

Your R2R is the weak link. If it has an excellent stable motor for the tape transport, you will have more success. But if the motor fluctuates quite a bit, syncing will be a nightmare.

Ed
 
Thanks for the input.Could I strip a track of Adat with smpte and the R2R and then sync them?
 
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