Roland Vs-880 Synchronizing to a MIDI sequencer Slave, Source Sync source, Gen Sync generator

Chapter 5 Use with MIDI devices

Synchronizing to a MIDI sequencer (Slave)

When you want to synchronize the VS-880 to the MIDI sequencer, use the following procedure.

1.Use a MIDI cable to connect the VS-880 and the MIDI sequencer as follows.

	MIDI	DIGITAL (5,6) FOOT PHONES
OUT THRU	IN	IN	SWITCH
		OUT
		MIDI OUT	MIDI sequencer
			(implements MTC)

2.Make settings so that the VS-880 will synchronize to incoming MTC messages.

Hold down [SHIFT] and press [SYSTEM]. The display in the SYNC MODE field will change from ÒINTÓ to ÒEXT,Ó and the VS-880 will synchronize to MTC mes- sages from an external device.

3.Select the type of MTC.

Press [SYSTEM], select ÒSYS Sync/Tempo ?Ó, select ÒSYS Syn: MTC Type=Ó, and select the type of MTC.

4.This completes synchronization settings on the VS-880. Press [PLAY (DISPLAY)] to return to Play condition.

5.Make settings on your MIDI sequencer so that it will transmit MTC. On the VS-880, press [PLAY] to prepare for playback. Start playback on the MIDI sequencer, and the VS-880 will begin playback in synchronization.

Source (Sync source)

This determines how the VS-880 will synchronize with other devices.

INT: The VS-880 will be controlled by its own internal clock. Select this setting when you are not syn- chronizing with other devices, or when you want external MIDI devices to be controlled by syn- chronization signals from the VS-880.

EXT: The VS-880 will be controlled by synchronization signals (MTC) from an external MIDI device. In this case, the VS-880 will not operate unless it is receiving MTC signals. Select this setting when you want to use MTC from an external MIDI device to control the VS-880.

Gen (Sync generator)

This selects the type of synchronization signal that will be transmitted from the MIDI OUT connector. When using a synchronization signal from the VS-880 to synchronize external MIDI devices, set this to the desired type of syn- chronization signal.

Off: Synchronization signals will not be transmit- ted.

MTC: MIDI Time Code will be transmitted.

MIDIClk: MIDI Clock will be transmitted.

SyncTr: MIDI Clock data recorded on the sync track will be transmitted.

ErrLevel (Error level)

When MTC from an external MIDI device is used to syn- chronize the VS-880, this parameter sets the interval (0Ð10) at which the MTC reception status will be checked. If MTC is not transmitted continuously, the VS-880 will check the MTC, and will halt synchronized operation if a problem is found. In such cases, increase the checking interval so that synchronized operation will continue even if there are slight problems with MTC reception.

MTC Type

This sets the type of MTC. Check the specifications of the MIDI devices that you are using, and select the appropriate type of MTC on the VS-880.

30:30 frames per second non-drop format. This is used by audio devices such as analog tape recorders, and for NTSC format black and white

video (used in the US and Japan, etc.).

29N: 29.97 frames per second non-drop format. This is used for NTSC format color video (used in the US and Japan, etc.).

29D: 29.97 frames per second drop format. This is used for NTSC format broadcast color video (used in the US and Japan, etc.)

25:25 frames per second frame rate. This is used in SECAM format / PAL format video (used in

Europe, etc.), and for audio equipment and film.

24:24 frames per second frame rate. This is used for film in the US.

<Non-drop format and drop format >

NTSC format VCRs use two formats; non-drop and drop. In non-drop format, the frames are continuous. However in drop format, two frames are skipped at the beginning of each minute except for the minutes which fall at ten- minute intervals.

In most video production and music production, continu- ous frames are easier to handle, so non-drop format is widely used. However in broadcast studios, where time code must match actual clock time, drop format is widely used.

In particular when using computer-based MIDI sequencing software, the MTC that is transmitted may be unstable. As far as possible, we recommend that the VS-880 be used as the timing standard (Master).

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