The Kitchen Sync

[Jack Hammer]

There are probably many techniques for syncing instruments, machines etc. To start, what are some of the techniques used for syncing drum machines and arppegiated (arppegiator synth parts) on bass, for instance. I find that the machines tend to drift off from each other dispite their being intially in sync. So, from some of the more experienced engineers amongst us, I would be happy to hear the various methods/solutions for acheiving these goals.

 

[BrettB]

the most common way is SMPTE or MTC, depends what you syncy and what you're interface in.

how do you sync them now?

 

[regebro]

To start, what are some of the techniques used for syncing drum machines and arppegiated (arppegiator synth parts) on bass, for instance.

MIDI Clock.

 

[Jack Hammer]

Actually, I use MTC and that works just fine for syncing my DAW, MP200XL and various synths and synth modules. Actually, I have been quite curious as to how electronic instruments are synced to real instruments. For instance, how does one go about syncing an 808 kick drum to a real kick drum.

I imagine this type of maneuver requires a special sync box but then again, maybe not. Some of the question comes from the fact that it seems to me this technique is or was used mostly when recording to tape and not to some digital medium where such an operation may require less additional gear?

 

[BrettB]

you mean a recorded live bassdrum syncing with a drumcomputer one to get it 100% in time? Is that possible? If I want to adjust a bad timed kick, I just cut and paste it digitally to the right place

 

[TexRoadkill]

Actually, I have been quite curious as to how electronic instruments are synced to real instruments. For instance, how does one go about syncing an 808 kick drum to a real kick drum

You dont sync synths to real instruments. You play a click track and the real instruments sync to that.

You can trigger samples with a drum trigger attached to a midi convertor or in a DAW there are many methods for replacing acoustic drums with samples.

 

[sjjohnston]

The question isn't totally clear, but:

- Syncing a "real" instrument, actually being played, to an electronic device that's playing on its own: the guy playing the instrument listens and plays in sync as best he can.

- Syncing an analog recording (of a "real" instrument, or whatever) to an electronic device that's playing on its own: the easiest way is probably to stripd one track of the analog deck with timecode in some format, and use a MIDI sync box to make the electronic device chase the tape. This assumes the electronic device has MIDI capabilities, which is usually a fair assumption. You can also make some tape decks chase the electronic device, with appropriate equipment.

- Syncing a digital recording to an electronic device that's playing on its own: probably do it the same way as the analog.

 

[littledog]

You dont sync synths to real instruments. You play a click track and the real instruments sync to that.

You can trigger samples with a drum trigger attached to a midi convertor or in a DAW there are many methods for replacing acoustic drums with samples.

You can sync synths to "real" instruments, if the synths are sequenced. One of the early devices for doing this was the Russian Dragon, (as in rushin'/draggin') which allowed sequence tempi to be slaved to a live drummer. In Pro Tools you can use a program called "beat detective" to accomplish much the same thing.

 

[TexRoadkill]

You can sync synths to "real" instruments, if the synths are sequenced. One of the early devices for doing this was the Russian Dragon, (as in rushin'/draggin') which allowed sequence tempi to be slaved to a live drummer. In Pro Tools you can use a program called "beat detective" to accomplish much the same thing.

Beat Detecitive would fall under triggering. I forgot about syncing to a triggered beat. I've never tried that but I can't imagine it working all that well. I could be wrong though.

 

[Sennheiser]

Hallo, Herr Hammer!