12 − Tempo and MIDI

2Use the cursor keys to move the cursor around the screen, and use the JOG/DATA dial to set the values.

3To add a time signature change, place the cursor on the time signature line that is after the location where you want to add a time signature change and press the INSERT key.

To erase a time signature change, select the line you want to remove with the cursor and press the

DELETE key.

4Press the YES/ENTER key when you are finished making settings.

MIDI synchronization

The 2488MKII can synchronize to external MIDI Time Code (MTC) or can generate MTC in order to synchronize other MIDI devices.

Other devices may be sequencers or DAWs which are enabled for MTC.In addition it is capable of generating MIDI Clock commands which are typically used by drum and rhythm machines, as well as by some sequencers.

With the transport stopped, from the SYNC/MIDI menu, select the SYNC option and press YES/ENTER:

•SOURCE can be INTERNAL (the 2488MKII acts as the master unit) or EXTERNAL (the 2488MKII takes its synchronization from another unit).

•FRAME TYPE refers to the format of the MTC sent and received by the 2488MKII. This can be either 24 (film), 25 (EBU TV), 29D (29 fps drop-frame, used with NTSC color), 29ND (29fps non-drop, also used with NTSC color), or 30 (NTSTC monochrome and often used for audio-only work)

•OFFSET allows you to select the offset of the 2488MKII relative to the incoming time code (outgoing time code is always the same as the absolute position). For example, your song always starts at the “all zeroes” position, but if you are dubbing it onto video at 30 minutes into the video, you should have an offset of 30 minutes set here.

•GENERATOR can be OFF, MTC or CLOCK. OFF and MTC explain themselves. See below for an explanation of the CLOCK setting.

ªMIDI clock

MIDI Clock and associated MIDI commands (Start/Stop, Song Position Pointer etc.) can be transmitted from the 2488MKII when it is in INTERNAL mode and the GENERATOR parameter is set to CLOCK. In this setting, the 2488MKII can be used to control an external sequencers, drum machines, etc. whose audio outputs are fed to the 2488MKII.

NOTE

Remember that there is no absolute time information contained in this MIDI Clock data. Any external devices synchronized to the 2488MKII which need timing information should either be synchronized using MTC, or have their own tempo maps.

T I P

Timecode (including MTC) does not include any information about bars and beats or tempo. MIDI Clock does not contain any information about the absolute time at which events take place.

TASCAM 2488MKII 89