Roland VS-1824 Using External Midi Devices, Synchronizing with Midi Sequencers, Using MTC

Chapter 15 Using External MIDI Devices

This chapter describes the MIDI messages that can be used by the VS-1824 and the operations that the VS-1824 can perform using MIDI messages. For more detailed information about MIDI, refer to “About MIDI” (Appendices p. 3).

Using MTC

This section explains how the VS-1824 can be synchronized with a MIDI sequencer that implements MTC (MIDI Time Code). When using MTC, you can choose to have the VS-1824 be the master that controls the MIDI sequencer, or to have the MIDI sequencer be the master that controls the VS-1824.

Synchronizing with MIDI Sequencers

The VS-1824 can be operated in synchronization with a MIDI sequencer. Refer to the owners’ manual for your sequencer in conjunction with this manual. There are two main ways to accomplish synchronization via MIDI. One method is to use MTC (MIDI Time Code), and the other method is to use MIDI Clock. MIDI Clock provides two methods within itself; sync track and tempo map, either of which can be selected. MIDI Time Code is more precise and should be used for applications such as syncing to video and syncing the VS-1824 as a slave to another device. MIDI Clock references tempo and time signature settings and can be used when slaving a sequencer or drum machine to the VS-1824.

MTC (See Appendices p. 12)

Items Necessary for

Synchronization

•VS-1824

•Audio equipment to be connected to the MASTER jack, or stereo headphones

•External MIDI sequencer or computer sequencer software (such as Emagic® Logic™)

•MIDI Cables

Master and Slave

When synchronizing the VS-1824 with a MIDI sequencer, the device that sends or transmits MTC or MIDI Clock and acts as the reference device is referred to as the “master.” The device that receives the MTC or MIDI Clock signals from the controlling device is called the “slave.” When using MTC, you can choose whether to have the MIDI sequencer be the master that controls the VS-1824, or to have the VS-1824 be the master that controls the MIDI sequencer. When you use MIDI Clock, you can synchronize a MIDI sequencer using the VS-1824 as the master, but it is not possible to synchronize the VS-1824 as a slave to MIDI Clock.

MTC Type

The VS-1824 can work with the following types of MTC. Check the specifications of the MIDI devices that you are using, and select the appropriate type of MTC in the VS-1824.

30:30 frames per second non-drop format. This is the VS- 1824 default value, which is used by most sequencers, audio devices such as analog tape recorders, and for NTSC format black and white video.

29N: 29.97 frames per second non-drop format. This is used for NTSC format color video.

29D: 29.97 frames per second drop format. This is used for NTSC live broadcast color video.

25:25 frames per second. This is used for SECAM or PAL format video, film, and audio equipment.

24:24 frames per second. This is used for film and some audio devices in the US.

Frame (See Appendices p. 12),

NTSC Format (See Appendices p. 13),

SECAM format/PAL format (See Appendices p. 13)

Drop Frame and Non-Drop Frame

There are two types of time code used by NTSC format video recorders: drop frame, in which the time code is not continuous, and non-drop frame, which features continuous time code. In drop, which is used for NTSC color video formats, the first two frames of every minute are dropped, except for those at ten-minute intervals.

fig.08-01

Non-Drop Frame (29N)

00m59s01m00s

... 25 26 27 28 29 00 01 02 03 04 05f ...

Drop Frame (29D)

00m59s01m00s

... 25 26 27 28 29 02 03 04 05 06 07f ...

Non-drop is generally used for most video and audio productions, since formats with continuous frames are easier to deal with. In contrast, in situations such as live broadcasts, where the time code clock must match actual clock time, drop frame is used.

Chapter 15

197