Skip to main content

Hello,

I'm Running Logic Pro 9 with a Tascam TSR-8

The TSR-8 has both a 37 pin D-sub, and a 15 pin D-sub.

What I am after is a machine that will allow me to control the TSR-8 with logic (throuh Midi Machine Control MMC), then... after recording, all me to dump my tape tracks into logic with a striped smpte on the tape converting to MTC and slaving the daw so no drift.

I had another thread on here where the JL cooper PPS-2 was suggested as a Sync for SMPTE <=> MTC, but I'm curious if there is a unit out there that will also allow logic transport to control my Tape machine as the tape and the Daw both have the capability. Will a 15pin D-sub breakout cable to MIDI work?

Thank you kindly,

AD

Topic Tags

Comments

Boswell Thu, 09/05/2013 - 13:59

I haven't been able to find a website with either the pinout or the signal specification for MIDI interface on the TSR-8, so I don't know whether you would get MMC working from your Focusrite Saffire 56. If you have the operators' handbook for the TSR-8, you should be able to find the pinouts, but whether that has MIDI signal specification is another matter.

If the TSR-8 MIDI interface is standard opto-coupled, you would chain the TSR-8 in line with your logic controller and whatever box you get for the SMPTE - MTC operations.

Since you want to get more MIDI functionality than just SMPTE, I would draw your attention to the [[url=http://[/URL]="http://cdn-data.mot…"]MOTU Digital Timepiece[/]="http://cdn-data.mot…"]MOTU Digital Timepiece[/], which is a very versatile box for handling this sort of tape <-> DAW syncing.

Viceroy is a cat Fri, 09/06/2013 - 01:10

Well, the clasp by endless analog is essentially doing what I want. BUT! The tsr-8 is a 2 head machine so the clasp wouldn't work as intended and it's not compatible with Logic (Also, its very expensive). But logic does receive/send MMC and the TSR -8 does send/receive midi signals (as its compatible with midiizer) so i need a machine that will convert the transport commands rom logic into a format the TSR understands.

audiokid Fri, 09/06/2013 - 10:20

Boswell, post: 407176 wrote: I haven't been able to find a website with either the pinout or the signal specification for MIDI interface on the TSR-8, so I don't know whether you would get MMC working from your Focusrite Saffire 56. If you have the operators' handbook for the TSR-8, you should be able to find the pinouts, but whether that has MIDI signal specification is another matter.

If the TSR-8 MIDI interface is standard opto-coupled, you would chain the TSR-8 in line with your logic controller and whatever box you get for the SMPTE - MTC operations.

Since you want to get more MIDI functionality than just SMPTE, I would draw your attention to the [[url=http://[/URL]="http://cdn-data.mot…"]MOTU Digital Timepiece[/]="http://cdn-data.mot…"]MOTU Digital Timepiece[/], which is a very versatile box for handling this sort of tape <-> DAW syncing.

I'm with Bos on the MTP, it's what I've been using since 1998 right up to current. However, I have no idea if this will solve your needs.

My setup was, Pro Tools, Mac, MTP AV . I SMPTE PT to an MPC 60 via the MTP. The MPC 60 then connected all my midi gear and MMC PT. It was a bit clunky but it worked.
I now only use the MTP as a router. But what a rock solid router it is!

Hope this helps.

Viceroy is a cat Fri, 09/06/2013 - 10:27

audiokid, post: 407186 wrote: I'm with Bos on the MTP, it's what I've been using since 1998 right up to current. However, I have no idea if this will solve your needs.

My setup was, Pro Tools, Mac, MTP AV . I SMPTE PT to an MPC 60. The MPC 60 then connected all my midi gear and MMC PT. It was a bit clunky but it worked.

I now only use the MTP as a router. But what a rock solid router it is!

Hope this helps.

don't you get drift if its not reconciled with a word clock?

audiokid Fri, 09/06/2013 - 10:50

Its been years since I used that system ( I no longer use Apple or PT) but if I recall, smpte started to drift noticeably only during programming after about 6 min in real time. I got through that by working in segments. Once I was done programming, I re recorded all the MIDI tracks, then edited it to taste as audio tracks. It was a big process. I always blamed PT back then as the midi was very poor/ basic compared to using an MPC 60 as the main sequencer.
I am a very MIDI dependent/savvy engineer from the 80's, Yup, when MIDI was so awesome compared to now. Nothing has ever matched a rack of hardware connected to the MPC. When computers/ DAW's and VSTi came it, it all became latency and sync hell.

I am going back to hardware again via hybrid. My old MPC died so I've now just replaced that with the new MPC Renaissance. It does a fine job keeping track of the drums for both programming and editing. I dumped all my old hardware and bought a Korg Kronos X88 which does everything I ever need for sounds.
I use a Nord Lead for the basic Nord sound and as a basic controller for myself and the Kronos for keyboard artists that demand the full size and feel. The Kronos is all you need. It was a matter of rethinking the old ways and finding new ways to keep moving ahead.
The MTP will allow 8 in's/outs to be masters or slaves. Its rock solid.

audiokid Fri, 09/06/2013 - 10:57

Thinking more...

NOtE, I ended up slaving the DAW to the MPC via MMC or MTC ( don't quite recall). The MPC used smpte to keep track of it all. The MTP was the router and slave for all the midi. The MPC was the master clock which did MMC. MTC and SMTPE. The DAW was the slave. Some DAW's are good slaves and some are not.