synchronizing 2 tsr-8s

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brooksy

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So, I have 1 tsr-8 and I thought I should have a backup so I bought another one! I know that track 8 can be used for time codes so it should be possible to synchrnize the 2 of them. I have no idea how to proceed, no idea as to what I need to do this. Any advice would be helpful. thanks.
 
brooksy said:
So, I have 1 tsr-8 and I thought I should have a backup so I bought another one! I know that track 8 can be used for time codes so it should be possible to synchrnize the 2 of them. I have no idea how to proceed, no idea as to what I need to do this. Any advice would be helpful. thanks.

You will need two sync boxes: a generic one for the master (Cooper or Rees are good ones), and a TASCAM box for the slave. For the slave you can use at least the following:

Tascam MMC100
Tascam MMC1000
Tascam ES50/ES51 (need to find the difference between those)

..this box must be connected to the Accessory 2 port, which IIRC is a regular RS232 connector. The two sync boxes should be connected together.
Record sync tones on track 8 of both machines, and hopefully, when the Master machine plays back its tone, the slave machine (set to run in EXT mode) should chase and lock to it.

I have never done this. I have all the bits except the second TSR-8 :)
 
With 2 tsr8's, all you need is on box...either an Mts1000 (Midiizer) or ats500...either one. Either one was specifically designed for controlling/synchronizing Tascam msr/tsr machines perfectly.

The e series was invented for synching non-Tascam machines with Tascam machines and predated the Mts/ats synchronizers by a couple of years.

I've had both the ats and mts synchronizers and a bazillion Tascam multitracks for years. The general hookup is .....

1. Connect an accessory 2 cable from one tsr8 to the master acc 2 connector on either the Mts1000 or the ats500.
2. Then connect a second acc 2 cable the same way from the 2nd tsr8 to the slave acc2 connector on the mts1000/ats500.
3. Connect smpte rca cable (2 of them total) via track 8 of each machine to slave/master t/c connectors on Midiizer/ats500.
4. Set the baud rate switches on the backs of the machines/synchronizers to 9600. There are a couple of other switch settings also since the mts/ats synchronizers were both designed to work with things like multiple tsr8s.
4. Turn off the dbx on track 8 of each machine (synclock or whatever the button says) and then stripe smpte from the synchronizer to track 8 of each tsr machine. You can stripe both machines in one pass.
5. Run "setup" with either synchronizer and you're set. Either synchronizer sees the two machines and knows exactly how to control them. The mts gives you a set of transport controls and extensive other stuff. The ats500 only gives you sync (you control movement from the master tsr transport controls).

With either synchronizer, you'll then have 14 tracks that will chase and lock to each other.

If you find either synchronizer, you'll also need two acc2 cables...which, for some reason or other are never included with used synchronizers. The cables are not wired as standard series and are not an over-the-counter item. However, I know of at least two places here in Los Angeles that make those cables (Tascam stopped making/stocking them 8 or 9 years ago)...or...you can build your own as the schematics are available from Tascam Montebello (you are in the U.S, right?). Call Jimmy and he'll mail/fax the schematic for acc2 cable wiring.
 
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BRDTS said:
However, I know of at least two places here in Los Angeles that make those cables (Tascam stopped making/stocking them 8 or 9 years ago).

Do you have the names, webpages, or phone numbers of these businesses? I have a buddy who might be able to help me build a set of accessory 2 cables, but I'd rather not bother him too much with this stuff because he's got a lot of other projects on his plate right now.

Thanks,
-MD
 
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