Flying in ADAT Tracks?

OK, I need a sync guru... I'm about to try something that I'm not sure will work with the Digi001. Hopefully, someone has tried this: Here's the concept... I have a song with midi drum tracks that I want to replace with real drum tracks and a different bass part to go along with the new drums. 1. I will bounce to disk while muting all drum tracks and the existing bass track. 2. I will transfer this stereo mix plus a click track to three tracks of an ADAT. 3. I will give the ADAT tape to a drummer who will record an additional 8 tracks of drums for me on a separate ADAT tape (he'll lock his ADATs together). 4. He'll give me the tape with drums on it back (it will have 4 clicks on each track before recording starts). With the 001 and a MOTU MTP A/V (w/ADAT Sync), will I have any sync problems? Oh, an additional issue: The session is 44.1, NOT 48K, so I'll be doing an analog transfer. I can't re-record the rest of the tracks at 48K. (Should the ADAT be set to 44.1 - I know this is not necessarily precise and must be done manually). Q1: Do I have to do anything while bouncing to disk or transfering to ADAT to make the process easier when bringing them back in? (such as record the "4-pop" myself and have him use it). Q2: Is this a hopeless task (verse after the bridge will be WAY off), or will I be able to sync them? Q3: Will the MTP A/V help with it's ADAT Sync-to-MTC option? I'd sure like to know before I pay the guy to do this... ------------------ LW

hi lwilliam,, I have been doing a few analog transfers from my DA 38's with Pro Tools LE. I am pretty sure that if you are doing anolog tranfers that you don't have to worry about 48 or 44.1 If you have a MOTU midi time piece syncing the ADAT to your session ( Offset times) so that when you hit start in Pro Tools the ADAT start playing at the same spot. Then you should be set. also I wouldn't bounce the tracks to disc. If the Session is in SNYC with the ADAT. just plug the outputs of say 78 from you 001 to the inputs of the ADAT and change the outputs of the tracks you want in Pro Tools to outs 7 & 8. When you get te ADAT Tape back and want to put the live drums into Pro Tools. Your ADAT should be in SYNC with the Session. Also since you have and ADAT and a way to SYNC it to PT LE why not just do a digital transfer (optical) to ADAT. If you do it that way then the drummer is forced to use what ever format 48 or 44 that you are using. Everything should be locked. I hope that i have helped and not confusing. Larry :-)

I guess the key is getting MMC to work so that PTLE is the master? I thought the problem was that there is no continuous sync, only trigger sync...??? ------------------ LW

LW: I may not have read you post closely. If I'm off the point, forgive me. ( I'm still trying to get over Schom buying Logic, Which I already have, but use PT LE more. Maybe I misread that post, too. Maybe Schom meant that that he bought logic. But, if he did, it has had no effect on his thinking, considering the nature of his posts. But, I digress.) Anyhow, you can maintain continuous MTC lock if the Digi001 has its wordclock slaved to the ADAT via light pipe. I assume, but do not know, that it works in the other direction. There may be a kernal of wisdom in here somwhere. It's been a long day.

Larry, You think you've got problems. Tickle me with features/ stop/ lest I digress too/ stop/ stop/ The guy's gotta be a marketing genius. Ol Shaggy had that Hot & Nasty tape transfer thing down (in a previous incarnation) i.e.Stripe simpte on track 8 of the "new" adat tape. Lock PTs to tape A via the Motu box prior to transfering a monitor mix. Then have your friend digitally transfer track 8 (A) to track 8 (B) before the session. Do I actually remember this: 1/4 frame resolution for MTC or about .006 seconds? Or was that 802.1q ISL trunking convergence delay. Ok. I'm really getting confused. ...and did someone just mention whirled peas? Say your prayers brethren and sistren. Say your prayers.

You are both right. I did a little research (and called digi tech support) . It IS 1/4 frame accuracy (didn't know it was 6ms, tho') which should be good enough. PTLE, using MTC, will continuous sync via optical clock. I have to either use the MTP as an "ADAT sync to MTC" converter or stripe the tape. I'd prefer not using a track for SMPTE. The main technical difficulty seems to be that my session is 44.1 and ADATs normally roll at 48K. This means that I will RECORD the tracks to the ADAT at 44.1 since that's the rate of the optical clock and the ADAT will be set to external clock when recording the initial tracks on it. Then the drummer will have to manually set his ADATs to run at 44.1 while he records his drum tracks. Then, when I bring the tape back, I'll have to manually set the ADAT speed to 44.1 since the 001 will be set to external sync at that time. Hope this isn't more confusing. Actually, Digi had an internal technote on doing this exact thing which Digi support emailed to me. It lays it out (ADAT > MTP > 001) step-by-step. Thanks for pitching in... ------------------ LW

Here's the rub. Can you have PTs set to sample rate 44.1 and still send 48k clock via optical? Today's million dollar question. Good luck and Happy Tracking.

aka21stCentury: Technically it's possible but I don't think you'll like the result. If you can, you'll most likely get a pitch change. I think the higher probability is that you won't get a good clock lock, which will result in excessive jitter, or no audio at all. I think I did it once by accident (forgot to check the setting on the ADAT). I don't remember the exact result (due to traumatic shock, I guess). I just know I did not like it.