Controlling a Roland VS-890 with Logic by MMC

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Controlling a Roland VS-890 with Logic by MMC

Hi everyone,

I am about to embark on what I call a "search and rescue" project of a friends album that was recorded in a Roland VS-890. I would like to know if anyone has tried this and knows if it is impossible.

Any other tips on getting these machines to talk to each other would be great.

PowerBook G4 1.67 2GB, Mac OS X (10.4.5), Logic 7.2 / MOTU Traveler / RME Octamic-D / Tascam US-2400

Posted on Aug 16, 2006 3:19 PM

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Answer 1

11th Hour Author

Level 1

10 points

Aug 17, 2006 7:02 AM in response to 11th Hour

A little more detail to clarify:

I am digitally dubbing tracks two at a time from the Roland VS-890 to Logic via S/PDIF. (This machine has only two outputs in any format.) To get the six tracks per song, I need to make three passes. Instead of manually adjusting the region position after recording, it would be nice to have them all start at exactly the same time.

What I would like to do is run the VS-890 transport with Logic as the sync Master [by MTC? MIDI clock? which is better?] Then the regions would be all together, and I could proceed.

I have a few songs that already have all of the MIDI tracks laid down (these are playing on an external synth.) It would be especially nice to have these synced from the start.

Does anyone know where I should begin? And especially how to configure Logic as a sync Master?

Thanks everyone.

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Answer 2

Aug 17, 2006 8:13 AM in response to 11th Hour

I transfered my VS-1680 track a couple of years ago to Logic. It was actually quite easy. Logic and the VS sync very nice and I made 10 to 12 passes per song (took a few days) and got all of it into Logic. I sent everything thru the digital outs to my Motu's digital in, to Logic, to keep it all in the digital world

This subject was discussed a couple weeks ago

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=595838

The only difference is I was talking about the VS as the master and Logic as the slave. but it can work either way. you just need to get into the midi section of the VS and set it to sync to MTC as a slave and set Logic to transmit MTC. Make sure the MTC format is the same on both machines

Logic Synchronization is discussed in the manual on page 605, I suggest you read it, it will help you.

Also you will ned to check the VS manual to see where to set it to send and receive MTC, It's been a while but I believe it is in the midi section, but I think there were things to set under a couple of different menu's. if you don't have a manual, then just look through the menu's to see what applies. Maybe you can google a manual on line also.

hope this helps

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Answer 3

11th Hour Author

Level 1

10 points

Aug 17, 2006 8:47 AM in response to Donald Hoeber

Thanks! I will try it out.

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Answer 4

11th Hour Author

Level 1

10 points

Aug 21, 2006 7:02 PM in response to Donald Hoeber

Hi Donald,

Thanks for your help. I got part way along pretty well, but I have a couple of questions yet:

1) With VS as Master, Logic seems to begin regions at different times though the tracks are in sync. This was fine until I had a song that began immediately upon playback. Logic did not write fast enough, so I always missed the 1st 1/2 second of those tracks. I tried changing the recording delay and setting a pre-roll on record, but I was unable to change Logic's behavior.

2) There are a few songs in which I have pre-recorded MIDI tracks already in Logic. I need to slave the VS to Logic, right? Is it best to use MTC or MIDI clock? Do I need a MIDI connection both in and out of Logic for this?

Thanks very much for your help.

PowerBook G4 1.67 2GB Mac OS X (10.4.5) Logic 7.2 / MOTU Traveler / RME Octamic-D / Tascam US-2400

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Answer 5

Aug 21, 2006 8:31 PM in response to 11th Hour

1) there is probably a slicker way to do it, but the only thing I can think to do is move the audio in the VS by a few seconds later

2) I always used MTC, I have heard it is more accurate

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Answer 6

Aug 21, 2006 8:51 PM in response to 11th Hour

I was just thinking (which usually gets me into trouble) That if you change the SYMPTE offset in Logic it may do the trick. But since I have nothing to sync to, I can't experiment.

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