Advance analogue tape sync!!! dither issue!

rafa_hauck · 26th October 2008

Okay gentleman... here it goes.
I am possitive that I heard that this is possible and I wonder if someone could wave me with opinios as if I should, or should not go forth with my idea! Please advice only if you really know what you are talking about.

The thing is I just bought a CS3000 console with 40 modules (80 faders - at least 80 lines) and would like to take advantage of as much of those lines as I can at mixdown. Now, at this first moment I will only have 40 chns of ADA out of my pro tools (2 16 Xs ADA units (2 16X in/2 16X out) with HD cards.. plus a digidesign 96 i/o which I hope that I won't even have to turn on...) and those will be runing with a Big Ben clock.

The thing is I have my old, but stil in excelent shape, 24 trks 2" MCI JH16 laying around and I would like to consider using it at mixdown, as I could then add at least 20 more chanels and take advantage of tape compression on specific tracks.

This is the part where the simple becomes a bit complicated! I won't consider using SMPTE from tape to sync the hole thing as I do not want my Appogges convertes to suffer from the oscilation of the tape machine motors (causing jitter)! I want the SMPTE generated by my DAW, or console if that is possible, to run the tape machine!!!! Any one follows? Please? Am I sugesting something out of this world?

I will keep searching for material on the net as I wait for sugestions... I think I came across this concept on Mastering Audio The Art And The Science, by Bob Katz.. I will try to find it there and will come back to add to the discussion if I do!

Understand that I won't be tracking to the tape... I will be recording at 24/96 and will only use this concept at mixdown.. seams a really nice aproach as tape will be preserved and euphonix total recall full automation would really pay off!

nlc201 · 26th October 2008

1. I believe you mean "Jitter" not "Dither". You are correct to not sync PT to the tape machine LTC track.

2. You need a synchronizer (Lynx).

3. Go here:

best way...2" as master or PT?

rafa_hauck · 26th October 2008

Great... I believe that preatty much points me in the right direction!

Thx for the corection also... not a native english spreaker as u can see.

dbbubba · 26th October 2008

With the correct sync box and interface the JH16 should work as a slave.

The trick will be finding a working sync unit like a TimeLine Lynx and then finding or building a cable harness that will interface to the JH16's transport board.

I used to do video sweetening and production and in the initial phase the multitrack (JH24 or MTR90II) would be the slave and follow the SMPTE off of the VTR.
This would be no different than what you want to do.

In fact, when slaving multiple multitrack machines one always has to be the slave and follow the SMPTE off of another master deck.
It really shouldn't matter where the SMPTE comes from.

26th October 2008	#1
rafa_hauck Gear interested Joined: May 2007 Posts: 10 Thread Starter	analogue tape sync!!! jitter issue! Okay gentleman... here it goes. I am possitive that I heard that this is possible and I wonder if someone could wave me with opinios as if I should, or should not go forth with my idea! Please advice only if you really know what you are talking about. The thing is I just bought a CS3000 console with 40 modules (80 faders - at least 80 lines) and would like to take advantage of as much of those lines as I can at mixdown. Now, at this first moment I will only have 40 chns of ADA out of my pro tools (2 16 Xs ADA units (2 16X in/2 16X out) with HD cards.. plus a digidesign 96 i/o which I hope that I won't even have to turn on...) and those will be runing with a Big Ben clock. The thing is I have my old, but stil in excelent shape, 24 trks 2" MCI JH16 laying around and I would like to consider using it at mixdown, as I could then add at least 20 more chanels and take advantage of tape compression on specific tracks. This is the part where the simple becomes a bit complicated! I won't consider using SMPTE from tape to sync the hole thing as I do not want my Appogges convertes to suffer from the oscilation of the tape machine motors (causing jitter)! I want the SMPTE generated by my DAW, or console if that is possible, to run the tape machine!!!! Any one follows? Please? Am I sugesting something out of this world? I will keep searching for material on the net as I wait for sugestions... I think I came across this concept on Mastering Audio The Art And The Science, by Bob Katz.. I will try to find it there and will come back to add to the discussion if I do! Understand that I won't be tracking to the tape... I will be recording at 24/96 and will only use this concept at mixdown.. seams a really nice aproach as tape will be preserved and euphonix total recall full automation would really pay off! Last edited by rafa_hauck; 26th October 2008 at 04:22 AM.. Reason: writing problems

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26th October 2008	#2
nlc201 Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2003 Location: NYC Posts: 532	1. I believe you mean "Jitter" not "Dither". You are correct to not sync PT to the tape machine LTC track. 2. You need a synchronizer (Lynx). 3. Go here: best way...2" as master or PT?

26th October 2008	#4
dbbubba Banned Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 7,099	With the correct sync box and interface the JH16 should work as a slave. The trick will be finding a working sync unit like a TimeLine Lynx and then finding or building a cable harness that will interface to the JH16's transport board. I used to do video sweetening and production and in the initial phase the multitrack (JH24 or MTR90II) would be the slave and follow the SMPTE off of the VTR. This would be no different than what you want to do. In fact, when slaving multiple multitrack machines one always has to be the slave and follow the SMPTE off of another master deck. It really shouldn't matter where the SMPTE comes from.