Syncing PT and Logic via MTC and midisport

[benhallen]

Hello all.

I'm running PT 7.3.1 on a Mac G5 and Logic 8 on a newer iMac. I've attached a Maudio midisport 2x2 to the PT rig and I want to send MTC to Logic to lock them up. I can get the midisport to show Midi Beat CLock, but not MTC. I have it checked on in the session setup window, the interface is recognized in the MIDI Setup page and the session is set 'online'. Any ideas? I know that I can do this with a Digi SYNC I/O, but I'm not looking to spend that kind of coin to get this done.

Any help would be, well, help.

Thanks.

b
e
n

[Roc Mixwell]

Originally Posted by benhallen

Hello all.

I'm running PT 7.3.1 on a Mac G5 and Logic 8 on a newer iMac. I've attached a Maudio midisport 2x2 to the PT rig and I want to send MTC to Logic to lock them up. I can get the midisport to show Midi Beat CLock, but not MTC. I have it checked on in the session setup window, the interface is recognized in the MIDI Setup page and the session is set 'online'. Any ideas? I know that I can do this with a Digi SYNC I/O, but I'm not looking to spend that kind of coin to get this done.

Any help would be, well, help.

Thanks.

b
e
n

All you need to do is go into Logic MIDI Song Preferences and set the MTC to output via your M-Audio MIDI interface and the specific MIDI wire used. This will send MTC down the MIDI wire to your PT interface which should be set to read MTC. Beat clock is strictly tempo related and not worthy for a good lock. MTC will work the best. You don't need a SYNC I/O or a USD.

[benhallen]

Adam

Thanks for the input. I should have been more clear. I'm running an Apogee Big Ben and Rosetta's on the PT system, in other words, no SYNC I/O. As far as I can tell, there is no way to set PT to be an MTC slave without the SYNC, but maybe I'm wrong.

I can however, select "Using MTC" in the Session Setup under Generator, which is why i was trying to lock Logic to PT instead of the other way around. I'm open to either way. Just need my stems to line up!


b

[Roc Mixwell]

If your on HD, you will need a USD like the SYNC I/O.

[benhallen]

That's what I was afraid of.

Thanks.

b

[benhallen]

Will a MIDI I/O generate MTC? THat would save me some coin, as I don't need a digital clock.

b

[Roc Mixwell]

Yea, the MIDI I/O does this, but the Digital Clock is all related with this kind of sync, so I would check out both to see which one fits your needs the best. We run Logic 8 in our studio and I recently purchased a Unitor 8 and its been FLAWLESS in operation with our RADAR and Logic for SMPTE master/slave lock.

You'll need to WC the systems for accurate sample sync when using a master/slave chain of command.

[benhallen]

Adam

Separate but related Q:

I just spent a few weeks mixing an album and was running PT HD through a desk, then printing mix passes to Logic through my Rosetta 200. I ran MTC out of the PT SYNC and into a midisport on the Logic rig. I did NOT sync the clocks, as the PT sessions were at 44.1 and 48, but I was running Logic at 96k.

Logic has several different modes that will modulate the sample rate (or not) based on the quality of the incoming MTC. Have you seen this window? Is there one that would be particularly suited for making sure that mix passes and stems all lined up properly when played back in Logic?

b

[matt82aust]

Originally Posted by benhallen

Adam

Thanks for the input. I should have been more clear. I'm running an Apogee Big Ben and Rosetta's on the PT system, in other words, no SYNC I/O. As far as I can tell, there is no way to set PT to be an MTC slave without the SYNC, but maybe I'm wrong.

I can however, select "Using MTC" in the Session Setup under Generator, which is why i was trying to lock Logic to PT instead of the other way around. I'm open to either way. Just need my stems to line up!


b

PT Can slave to MTC without a sync i/o, it is under Pereipheral / Syncro / MTC Reader and Generator

[benhallen]

MAtt

Excelent work! That's exactly what I was looking for. i KNEW there had to be a way to do it. I've been using PT for so long that I wasn't familiar with the peripherals dialog.

Thanks a bunch!

b
e
n

[Roc Mixwell]

Originally Posted by benhallen

Adam

Separate but related Q:

I just spent a few weeks mixing an album and was running PT HD through a desk, then printing mix passes to Logic through my Rosetta 200. I ran MTC out of the PT SYNC and into a midisport on the Logic rig. I did NOT sync the clocks, as the PT sessions were at 44.1 and 48, but I was running Logic at 96k.

Logic has several different modes that will modulate the sample rate (or not) based on the quality of the incoming MTC. Have you seen this window? Is there one that would be particularly suited for making sure that mix passes and stems all lined up properly when played back in Logic?

b

I was going to chime in again to tell you I was wrong with regard to my last post, and the above poster is correct......its been ages since I've used PT like this, so when I was driving home from work, I realized I'm a moron! [don't quote that]

Anyway, Logic's MTC can be configured for the type of sync needed, I've found that MTC Continuous, is the best way to use a trigger from another machine with Logic as the Slave so you should not have any need for these settings, but I could be wrong. The "Audio" settings in MIDI settings is what you're referring to, I've never had to mess with it.

I always use MTC Continuous with our Unitor slaving from RADAR SMPTE [which converts the SMPTE to MTC and uses the MTC functionality of Logic, but there is facility to slow, of speed up the sync with regard to sample rate. I would lock any converters from both systems via WC if there is audio in both sequencers playing back as you'll need not only frame accurate lock, but sample accurate lock.

If you're using Logic as a separate roll deck running 96K, its shouldn't matter much, but what will matter is the frame sync, if you have to go back and make moves on top of the print, but it should be more than fine in MTC Continuous.

Hope this helps
peace

[benhallen]

Yes, I'm running Logic as a standalone recorder, kind of like a souped-up master recorder. I'm typically mixing thru a desk, so my thinking is to create as resolute of a system as possible. Since they are at separate sample rates, Logic and PT are NOT synced digitally, but I need positional sync so that, yes, if I want to do edits later, or if a remixer wants the stems, everything lines up.

I tried using MTC Continuous mode to run mix passes this way, but it gave me a LOT of probems, as the variations in the sample rate produced by this mode were enormous. Frankly, it made me wonder whether the quality of MTC coming out of the SYNC box was up to par or not. I ended up using MTC trigger, but the stems don't perfectly line up and require a little bit of nudging.

Im' mixing another album now and will set up a test once I try Adam's suggestion for producing MTC out of the Midisport. I'll run an INST and ACAP of one song in each MTC mode in Logic and see how they do.

Thanks for the input regardless. This is a great way to learn!

b

[Roc Mixwell]

Originally Posted by benhallen

Yes, I'm running Logic as a standalone recorder, kind of like a souped-up master recorder. I'm typically mixing thru a desk, so my thinking is to create as resolute of a system as possible. Since they are at separate sample rates, Logic and PT are NOT synced digitally, but I need positional sync so that, yes, if I want to do edits later, or if a remixer wants the stems, everything lines up.

I tried using MTC Continuous mode to run mix passes this way, but it gave me a LOT of probems, as the variations in the sample rate produced by this mode were enormous. Frankly, it made me wonder whether the quality of MTC coming out of the SYNC box was up to par or not. I ended up using MTC trigger, but the stems don't perfectly line up and require a little bit of nudging.

Im' mixing another album now and will set up a test once I try Adam's suggestion for producing MTC out of the Midisport. I'll run an INST and ACAP of one song in each MTC mode in Logic and see how they do.

Thanks for the input regardless. This is a great way to learn!

b

MTC trigger is kind of like MMC, [MIDI machine control] I do no believe it follows frame sync, as its simply ON and OFF commands from the transpot of the master [again I could be wrong, as I'm no expert with this stuff, I just like getting my feet really, really wet.] Its does sound like your MTC was a bit weird...MTC sucks anyway, it goes nuts after 20 minutes.....BUT our SMPTE Lock is as tight as virgin on prom night.