using an Alesis BRC to varispeed w/ 828mk3

Masa · Post by **Masa** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 4:53 pm

Hi,
I run DP7 with a Macbook Pro / 828mk3 setup and I've heard for years about people accomplishing something analogous to the type of varispeed one could do with tape by slaving their clock to a BRC and manipulating the sample rate.

I do not own a BRC but have been considering getting one in order to do this and wonder if anyone has had any experience with it. How hard is it to set up, how flexible is it (can I change speed whilst playing back/recording?), etc. ... whatever else I'm not thinking to ask ahead of time. Can I control DP's transport and other functions via the BRC?

Thanks for your thoughts/experiences!

HCMarkus · Post by **HCMarkus** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 5:38 pm

I've done it with old Balckface ADAT machines and would love to hear if this is easy to accomplish with a BRC. I looked into it, but wasn't sure it would work.

BRC's are readily available for low cost these days. So, I second the OP's request for input for those in the know.

Or, we could statrt another debate on the subject of why varispeed is a heinous crime that should be outlawed / why it is true salvation for the masses and should be beatified...

mrbillet · Post by **mrbillet** » Fri Aug 05, 2011 11:22 am

How can I vari-speed my life? I need more time between my thoughts and my speech. I never get it right in the first take and I can't just quit this orchestra of 6billion. Practice, patience, and cookies.

I'm curious about the BRC too. It's fun to play with old gadgets

-ian

Masa · Post by **Masa** » Fri Aug 05, 2011 12:03 pm

Minor update... I talked briefly to a guy who owns one and he thinks it is likely not possible. He said you definitely (to his knowledge) can't change the speed on the fly anyway.

So my current solution of bouncing back and forth between DP and Reaper will have to suffice for now I guess.

Masa · Post by **Masa** » Fri Aug 05, 2011 4:14 pm

Masa wrote:So my current solution of bouncing back and forth between DP and R••••• will have to suffice for now I guess.

What the heck? really?!? So the mere mention of the name of another DAW gets blocked out here? That's crazy. As a pro tools of the trade of many types often coexist alongside each other, and it sure would be helpful to be able to discuss them without some sort of filter crippling the conversation. I doubt most people here use ONLY DP, right? What is the Reason for this? Is there any Logic behind it?

mikehalloran · Post by **mikehalloran** » Mon Aug 08, 2011 9:52 am

The idea that one can apply vari-speed, a mechanical motor override, to a solid state device and have it work... is strange at best.

I really wish it could be done - that would be so cool - and weird.

OTOH, I would think that vari-speed emulation shouldn't be too hard to do as a plug-in - if it hasn't been done already.

HCMarkus · Post by **HCMarkus** » Mon Aug 08, 2011 11:21 am

Mike, it's called variable clock, and in my experience it works great. The effect, IMO, is best achieved by varying clock not by digital manipulation. The variable clock leaves no digital artifacts, and works pretty much like varispeed used to when we recorded on analog tape.

I looked at the BRC manaual. It would work best for sessions running at 48k, the ADAT native speed. Looks like it would work via the MOTU interface ADAT Sync port, but varispeed is limited to +100 and -300 cents (at 48k)

Masa · Post by **Masa** » Mon Aug 08, 2011 7:14 pm

mikehalloran wrote:The idea that one can apply vari-speed, a mechanical motor override, to a solid state device and have it work... is strange at best.

It's more than strange at best. It's totally viable and it's a very useful tool. There is another (apparently unmentionable) DAW, in use by such sickle-wielding friends of mine as the Grim Reaper, that does it quite well. It works just like tape. The playback/record speed can be altered, making all kinds of great things possible. Since it's literally just playing back samples at a slower or faster rate it seems completely crazy that it hasn't been implemented in more programs. Have you ever played back a file recorded at 44.1 at 48? That is that principal in action - it isn't complicated.

Thanks for the info HCM. +100 to -300, while it might have some use, isn't worth having a whole new piece of equipment taking up space... not for me anyway.

Seems crazy no one has made a clock with a big "speed" knob on it yet. It would be so useful and it seems SO obvious. Then again, I'm not super technical so maybe there's more to it than meets the eye.

Masa · Post by **Masa** » Mon Aug 08, 2011 7:15 pm

... and seriously, could someone clue me in to the whole "R*******" being blocked out thing? I understand it's not my forum and I'm willing to abide by someone else's rules in order to use it, but I don't even see anything about that in the rules. I guess I'm not enough of a regular to know...

YouTube · Post by **James Steele** » Mon Aug 08, 2011 8:16 pm

No I suppose you're not. It is blocked because as the site owner, I personally dislike their business practices, building market share by dumping a non copy-protected DAW onto the market and relying on the "honor-system" for people to actually pay for it. They have amassed a good user base in this manner, by essentially giving it away. I feel this is BAD for the overall DAW marketplace and have called on them to at least employ serial protection to show that they're not using piracy to grow their user base. Until then, I will block the name of the DAW rather than give them any mention here. That's my policy.

mikehalloran · Post by **mikehalloran** » Tue Aug 09, 2011 6:05 pm

Well, if someone gives me a BRC (people give me stuff all the time), I'll have to check it out.

Masa · Post by **Masa** » Tue Aug 09, 2011 7:07 pm

James Steele wrote:No I suppose you're not. It is blocked because as the site owner, I personally dislike their business practices, building market share by dumping a non copy-protected DAW onto the market and relying on the "honor-system" for people to actually pay for it. They have amassed a good user base in this manner, by essentially giving it away. I feel this is BAD for the overall DAW marketplace and have called on them to at least employ serial protection to show that they're not using piracy to grow their user base. Until then, I will block the name of the DAW rather than give them any mention here. That's my policy.

Fair enough. Thanks for explaining. I'm not sure I understand completely but clearly, a thread about varispeed is not the place to discuss it. Using the search tool I found some talk about this... still not sure where I stand really but it's forcing me to consider things I had not before.

I'm not looking to continue the discussion here, but for the record I paid for both DP and "R" and never before this had any inkling that there were any (negative) ethical implications of what they do, so thanks for stimulating my brain a little and giving me something to think about.

In the meantime I will continue to use their program (a tool for which I did pay) for varying play/rec rate. Ethical and other considerations aside, it is the best tool I have for this as of now.

MOTUnation.com