Syncing ADATS, BRC and 8 trk 1/2 inch

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promodevil

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I recently added a TEAC 80-8 to my setup. I want to sync it to the computer (Korg1212) and the BRC (w/3 adats). I thought all I had to do was run a line from the smpte sync 1/4 inch plug in back of the BRC to the input of track 8 on the TEAC to create a sync tone. Then do the reverse to lock it. Obviously I am missing something. Can anyone help? (I know it's retro to go backwards to analog but it sounds sooooooo good ;-)) Specifics would be VERY helpful... Thanks in advance.

- G
 
So what is the problem? Are the ADAT's in External Sync Mode?

Another thing.....

Don't be surprised if the ADAT's don't stay locked with the TEAC. ADAT's have a very low tolorance for timing errors, and the TEAC probably doesn't have a stable enough tape transport motor to stay within the tolorances the ADAT's require.

I tried syncing ADAT's with an older MCI 2" machine long ago, and after much todo, and a bunch of frustrating nights, the idea was abandoned. Later, I find out from a consultant that I used to use that MCI's transport was nowhere stable enough for the ADAT's to sync to.

Let me know if it works.

But I am not sure what you are having a problem with right now, so the External Sync Mode, and letting you know about the strict tolorances of ADAT's are the first two problems that you could possibly be having, in that order.

Ed
 
Thanks for the response. At least I know I hooked things up properly. Now I am at first base. Let me ask a few more minor questions. Should/will the BRC control ALL transport functions on the 80-8 providing the hook up is made correctly? Or do I still have to control the
80-8's functions at the machine itself? Do I simply back the BRC up behind the "zero" mark, hit play and then hit record on the 80-8 (I assume that the timesync on the 80-8 would start when the tape hits signal on the playback) and then I can record in sync anywhere after the zero mark in the future? Sorry to ask so many questions but "syncing connections" are really not my forte. Thanks for the help so far.

- Regards
- G

PS: The BRC is not in external sync mode and the smpte output is set at +4 not -10 db (my entire adat system runs at +4 via elco so I thought that would be appropriate)
 
I was not able to find ANY information out about your unit.

I don't think that it will sync to the ADAT's, you have to have the ADAT's sync to it. In this case, you have to record a SMPTE time code track on the Teac from the BRC, which also requires that ADAT tapes are in the machine because the BRC needs the time code off of the ADAT tapes to generate SMPTE.

So, once you have the SMPTE recorded on one track on the Teac machine, you would then output that track back into the BRC and set the BRC to External Sync mode. Then, the SMPTE coming from the Teac's track will hopefully cause the ADAT's to sync to it. But, you should refer to my earlier post about ADAT's syncing to older, and cheaper analog tape machines. I seriously doubt the motor on the Teac is stable enough to provide a rock solid SMPTE output for the ADAT's to slave to. But who knows.....

If you do get it working in this fashion, you will have to rewind the ADAT's to the beginning of the song each time you reach the end. The ADAT's have no way of following the SMPTE when the analog tape is being rewound from the end of the song, and if you didn't rewind the ADAT's before playing the tape on the Teac which would be at the beginning of the song, the ADAT's would try to FIRST sync to the timecode that is coming into the BRC (the beginning of the song) and by the time they rewound to there, you would already be much farther along in the song, so then they would try to sync to where the song is....blah blah blah....

Your Teac is not going to follow the BRC's transport commands at all. I don't know of any functions that would allow it to do that.

I think you may be confused about syncing devices together. You didn't provide very much information about how you have things hooked up, and how you want to use them. Without that information, it is very hard to give good advice.

Please explain in GREAT detail how you are trying things so far, and how you have everything hooked up if you want any more help.

Ed
 
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