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M3 and MMC sync code

Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 3:16 pm
by afr
I've got an M3 + a digital HD recorder Korg D3200

I tried to record several tracks but I can't start the REC of D3200 with the play of m3

MIDI CLOCK on M3 is internal, instead on D3200 the settings are the following MTC Master and MMC receive, like written on the user manual

unfortunately it doesn't works

do you know if M3 supports MMC codes?

thanks a lot for your help

Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 1:03 am
by jazlover
Write your question at http://www.studiotrax.net/forums/. Good luck!

Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 5:55 am
by afr
I found the solution, first using the drum machine of D3200 I create a tempo track recording all the song coming from m3, second set d3200 as midi clock master ad external on M3. That's all :)

Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 9:09 am
by r12
but there is no way to sync your d3200 with the m3

i've tried to do that with my dps16, but in general, there is no solution to sync a digital recorder (slave) with a hardware sequencer (master)

digital recorders need high frequency clock (such Midi Time Code or Midi Machine Control) to run as slave (to match sampling frequencies)
Midi clock isn't speed enough to do that...

Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 1:19 pm
by Rob Sherratt
There is no MIDI based method that is suitable for synchronising the clocks for digital audio recording, not MIDI clock, not MTC, nothing.

With many digital recorders and CD player/recorders you can sync digital audio recording from the M3 using the S/P DIF TOSLINK optical interface. The M3 supports only a sample rate of 48 KHz, so your digital recorder must support that rate otherwise you will get sample drop outs (eg if you try to use 44.1 KHz rate on the recorder which the M3 does not support). S/P DIF interfaces are self-clocking, but note that the M3 generates the clock at 48 KbHz and must see an external clock of 48 KHz if you set it to use an external S/P DIF sync.

S/P DIF External Sync is configured on this page:
Global P0: Basic Setup 0–2: System Preference

Regards,
Rob

Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 1:29 pm
by Rob Sherratt
I just checked the specs of the D3200 and it supports both sample rates of 44.1 KHz and 48 KHz plus it provides an S/P DIF TOSLINK optical interface. So that is the way to go with the M3, just get a pair of optical TOSLINK cables from Ebay at $5 each. Set the D3200 to sample at 48 KHz. Leave the M3 as the master clock reference and set the D3200 to slave clock via the S/P DIF input.

You can also use MIDI transport control messages from the M3 to stop/start/rewind the D3200 if you wish. Or set it up vice versa. I think the M3 sends these by default but there is in any case a config page somewhere that allows transport controls to be set internal or external.

Best regards,
Rob

Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 4:43 pm
by afr
Thanks to everybody for your support :o

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2010 12:24 am
by vantripper
Hey Rob won't the SPDIF do only 2 tracks at a time max? How come you need 2 toslink cables? Is one for digital data feedback control back to the master, meaning that each cable is for one way communication?

Thanks

I'm trying to do the same thing, but using a Korg D16XD as opposed to the D3200.

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2010 5:40 am
by Rob Sherratt
Yes each TOSLINK cableis one-way, and each cable carries a digital audio stereo signal. Audio IN to the M3 and Audio OUT from the M3.

Best regards,
Rob