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Hello there,

i'm building a mobile recording rig consisting of DP 4.61 and 2408MKIII on an old G4MDD. This system will be a back-up rig and can easely record and output 48 audio tracks from DP.

All this rig will be sync to an Antelope Isochrome OCX-V.

I've got wordclock and sync questions for you today that i can not fin in my manual.

- In DP, if i choose 2408 SMPTE sync : what happens with the video and wordclock sync? Is it still syncing to external or becomes internal sync?

- If i need to sync to video with SMPTE : what do i need to sync DP to? Video or SMPTE?

Thanks for your time.

Martin

martinruel wrote:In DP, if i choose 2408 SMPTE sync : what happens with the video and wordclock sync? Is it still syncing to external or becomes internal sync?

When the PCI-424 system clock source is set to SMPTE, the system synchronizes to the LTC signal present at the input chosen in the SMPTE Source menu in the MOTU PCI SMPTE Setup application. The video input and word clock input are ignored. (The system can have only one time-base clock source.)

martinruel wrote:If i need to sync to video with SMPTE : what do i need to sync DP to? Video or SMPTE?

Whether you use a video signal or LTC signal for the clock source depends upon whether you need DP to chase timecode or not. If you do need DP to chase timecode, then the PCI-424 system clock source should be set to SMPTE and DP should be set to chase sample-accurate sync. (Keep in mind that the timecode source should probably be properly synchronized with the video you're working with.) If you don't need DP to chase timecode, then it will probably be easier to connect a composite video signal to the 2408mk3's video sync input and set the PCI-424 system clock source to 2408mk3: Video.

OK so i guess i have to make things clear.

SMPTE time code or LTC is POSITION

Word Clock is SPEED

2 very different things.

So yes i will have to chase to time code. So where does the wordclock, video / blackburst is coming from?

I was told that from the video guys i'll receive the 2 : TC and video.

So how DP will sunc to all that.......i need to understand.

up!!!!

What, no one uses DP / MOTU hardware on pro mobile recording sync with video.

martinruel wrote:OK so i guess i have to make things clear.

SMPTE time code or LTC is POSITION

Word Clock is SPEED

2 very different things.

So yes i will have to chase to time code. So where does the wordclock, video / blackburst is coming from?

I was told that from the video guys i'll receive the 2 : TC and video.

So how DP will sunc to all that.......i need to understand.

If you had read either the PCI-424 manual or the DP manual, you would know that MOTU audio interfaces used in combination with DP have a special feature where they can derive both timebase (speed reference) and address (positional reference) from an incoming LTC signal.

Knowing that, reread my previous message.

1nput0utput wrote:When the PCI-424 system clock source is set to SMPTE, the system synchronizes to the LTC signal present at the input chosen in the SMPTE Source menu in the MOTU PCI SMPTE Setup application.

…

If you do need DP to chase timecode, then the PCI-424 system clock source should be set to SMPTE and DP should be set to chase sample-accurate sync. (Keep in mind that the timecode source should probably be properly synchronized with the video you're working with.

OK so now i understand.

I get it.

MOTU software and hardware are not pro, relative to mobile recording. What about their "support". I've swithed from Nuendo 6 years ago to work with clients at the time and bought numerous MOTU gear.

Surfing on Nuendo's website............i guess i'll be switching then.

Having worked with Nuendo before, everything is simpler anyway. They also have their new sync unit which do everything i need. I also remember having way more support from Steinberg back then.

Here.......sorry about that.........but it's only a forum with kids around.

I never got good anwser on this forum.

Competitive upgrade : here i come!!!!!!!!!

martinruel wrote:OK so now i understand.

MOTU software and hardware are not pro, relative to mobile recording. What about their "support". I've swithed from Nuendo 6 years ago to work with clients at the time and bought numerous MOTU gear.

Surfing on Nuendo's website............i guess i'll be switching then.

Having worked with Nuendo before, everything is simpler anyway. They also have their new sync unit which do everything i need. I also remember having way more support from Steinberg back then.

Here.......sorry about that.........but it's only a forum with kids around.

I never got good anwser on this forum.

Competitive upgrade : here i come!!!!!!!!!

You may not like the way the question was answered, but it was answered for you.

Your question is primarily in regards to hardware (the 2408). When the 2408 locks to LTC SMPTE, it derives time base from that LTC SMPTE. When slaving a 2408 to LTC, you do not need a separate word clock or video sync signal.

If you do need to slave to word clock or video sync, as well as LTC SMPTE the 2408 will do that, but you will need a separate LTC to MTC converter.

Based on the info in your original post, you don't need a separate synchronizer. All you need to do is feed LTC SMPTE into the 2408 and lock DP to that signal. Use the MOTU SMPTE Setup utility to set the sync mode of the 2408.

Dave

Hey Dave,

i already know all about syncing DP with the 2408. Maybe my question was off a little and since i gave MOTU a lot of money over the years i expect pro support........which they don't have.

The thing is that MOTU hardware do sound way better with external sync. On internal, a real joke. Tried it with : Big Ben, Isochrome, Rosendal. The converters do become "usable" even on my 2nd set-up which uses 828MKII. I work mostly ADAT I/O from my AD16x / DA16x and that's fine. I use some MOTU converters when i need more than 32 Apogee I/O.

So how can i sync from SMPTE TC and still use external WD sync at the converters? Is this possible?

I see that Steinberg have their new sync unit.........if i have to switch, i'll do it without hesitating.

Thanks again.

Martin

martinruel wrote:So how can i sync from SMPTE TC and still use external WD sync at the converters? Is this possible?

The simple answer is that it is not possible with the PCI-424 system, which, as Dave pointed out, is the answer I already gave you.

For your information, I have measured the audio quality (SNR, THD, frequency response, etc.) of some MOTU audio interfaces that I have used. I've done the test while synchronized to the internal clock and while synchronized to a "high quality," very expensive clock generator. The measurements were the same in both configurations. So if you claim that you hear a difference between internal sync and word clock sync from a Big Ben (or similar generator) with a relatively recent MOTU audio interface, I would attribute that claim to the overall feeling of well-being after your wallet was made lighter by the Big Ben purchase.

Hey 1inputOutput,

ok i get you now. You're full of crap man. Stop posting about what you read on forums and let the pros with experience speak.

If you can not hear the difference between MOTU's clock and your "high quality" clock........then don't post about it or just simply clean your ears. It's free!

Clocking MOTU's HW with "high quality" as you say is quite revealing. I've tested my mobile rig with 3 different "high quality" clocks and they all made my MOTU HW sound better in their own way.

Thanks for your precious time anyway.....

777artin

PS i got my simple question anwser elswhere. Thanks.