An "old school" Midi-sync connections question:

[ric4hitsongs]

Sup people!..For some reason I can't seem to find the information that I need to solve this following question:1.) I use the Ensoniq SD1 32 for all my sequencing. I have 2 other sound modules connected via midi. (I understand the connections for those to work together)..2.) I use the Alesis ADAT-XT for vocals which is directly attached to the JLCooper dataSYNC2. 3.) Before adding the 2 sound modules mentioned in part 1., I used the basic midi connections from the SD1 to the dataSYNC (midi out - midi in to and from the datasync). Very easy no problems with that. **4.) Now that I have the 2 sound modules in the configuration I AM NOT SURE HOW TO CONNECT TO THE DATASYNC TO ESTABLISH A SYNC TO TAPE WHILE AT THE SAME TIME CONNECTING THE 2 MODULES TO THE SD1 MASTER KEYBOARD?? Does this make sense?..I want to know how to run the midi cables to and from each unit while establishing a midi clock sync to my ADAT tape machine.. **note: all units have midi in & out & thru capabilities including the DATASYNC which also has in & out and a "merging in" port (same as a thru)any and all info would be greatly appreciatedthanks!!

[steveha2865]

Maybe I missed something here but wouldn't you want to bypass the dataSync2 and print the synths directly to the ADAT? The dataSync just connects the ADAT (or analog tape track) with the DAW that you're using. It's been a long time since I used my dataSync2 so maybe I've forgotten something obvious.

[ibanez468]

ricci,I'll give this a shot. I think the most important thing to get runnin' is your master keyboard, the datasync, and the XT (not necessarily in that order). Once you've gotten that to work, then you can run a cable from your master keyboard's MIDI thru to one sound module's MIDI In, and run another cable from that sound module's MIDI thru, to the last sound module's MIDI In. Of course the master keyboard should control both modules at that point, and the XT, I'm assuming, will control everything, by triggering the datasync, which should in turn trigger your master keyboard, which should trigger the modules. I think that's right. Try it out and see. Of course you'll have to set up your master keyboard and your modules, so the modules can receive the MIDI information from the proper channel(s), but I'm going to assume you know that already. Good luck!I-468PS -- This is just one way that I can think of. There may be another.

[ric4hitsongs]

ibanez!So are you saying that I should first take the midi out from the master keyboard (sequencer) to the sync box midi in and back out of the sync to the sequencer midi in? After that if I go out of the sequencer midi thru to the 1st module's midi in will that actually allow midi information from the sequencer into the module? From what I understand the midi thru only echoes the information coming into the midi in of that device which in this case would be sending information from the sync box to the 1st module..correct?..See thats where Im confused cause i need the midi out of the sequencer both for the sync and to trigger the other modules..hmmmm Hope this makes sense bro and I appreciate your input...

[ibanez468]

Quote:After that if I go out of the sequencer midi thru to the 1st module's midi in will that actually allow midi information from the sequencer into the module? From what I understand the midi thru only echoes the information coming into the midi in of that device which in this case would be sending information from the sync box to the 1st module..correct?..See thats where Im confused cause i need the midi out of the sequencer both for the sync and to trigger the other modules..hmmmm Hope this makes sense bro and I appreciate your input...It makes perfect sense. I just recently had to use MIDI thru, and I'm almost sure it can work that way, providing you have all of your module channels properly set up to receive information from the master keyboard. You'd be surprised. I know exactly what you're trying to do. The MIDI thru is echoing the MIDI information from the master device's In, and sending it to any attached devices, in your case sound modules. "MIDI THRU - Also a connection for outgoing data, but on this one the same data that comes in on MIDI-IN is outputed. De data that is transmitted on MIDI-OUT is not transmitted on this MIDI-THRU connection."Give it a try and see. Here's where I'm getting the setup from. My explanations may not be accurate or crystal clear, forgive me, but I've certainly gotten it to work this way on more than one occassion. Make sure to read thru this to get a better understanding:http://www.midipage.nl/uk_midi_aansl_1.htmlThink of the computer as your datasync & XT, as basically the same type of thing has to occur. The computer (XT) sends MIDI clock information to a MIDI interface (like the datasync or some other MIDI interface) the interface sends information to your master keyboard's MIDI In, master keyboard echoes information to separate modules using MIDI Thru. You asked: "After that if I go out of the sequencer midi thru to the 1st module's midi in will that actually allow midi information from the sequencer into the module?" To that, I say, YES! All you're doing is triggering sounds out of the other modules, using the master keyboard, right? Try it out and see, if it doesn't work, then I'm full of s**t! I-468

[ric4hitsongs]

Ibanez..First let me say that you are quite the generous and helpful dude and I appreciate you taking the time to share your insight..So I tried what you mentioned and it did not work and I think I know why: You said pretend the "computer" is the XT rig (connected to the datasync)...The only REAL difference between my XT rig and the computer shown in the diagram you posted is that the "computer" is the device that contains all the sequencing software / recording settings / midi configurations, etc. which is being sent to the midi in on the master keyboard. Therefore, all the triggering information needed to make all the modules respond ARE BEING ECHOED VIA THE MIDI THRU OF THE MASTER BOARD. That would definitely work in that setup. BUT, in my setup all the triggering information needed to make the modules respond ARE CONTAINED INSIDE THE MASTER KEYBOARD AND WILL NOT BE SENT TO THE MODULES VIA THE MIDI THRU. So in my case the information being echoed via the midi thru is the sync box information because it is the the one connected to the midi in of the master board (sequencer)...See what im sayin?..I have to somehow get the midi out information of the master routed to the modules as well as the syncbox..SHIT! You know what i am going to wind up doing is stripe the tape with the timecode the change the cables so only the midi out of the sync box is connected to the midi in of the master board and keep the same cables running to the modules via the midi out of the master!!...I just assumed that the sync wil only work with the complete in out - out in connection between the tape and sequencer..IM GONNA TRY THAT NOW AND HEY THANKS AGAIN DUDE, IF ANYTHING THE SHARING OF INFORMATION HAS HELPED ME UNDERSTAND A FEW THINGS MORE CLEARLY SO YOU HAVE BEEN A HUGE HELP!! WISH ME LUCK!!

[mazz]

I just glanced at the DATASYNC2 manual online http://www.jlcooper.com/pages/datasync2.html#I think you're making this more difficult than it might really be.What I think you can do is to take the MIDI out from the DATASYNC2 to the Ensoniq MIDI in and the MIDI out from the Ensoniq back to the DATASYNC. Then from the merging output of the DATASYNC connect a MIDI cable to the first module and from the MIDI thru of that module connect to the MIDI in of the second module.As long as you have your Ensoniq in MIDI clock slave mode, your sequencer should chase the location of the tape at whatever tempo you program in to the DATASYNC. Of course, you could also go this route: Get a MIDI thru box http://www.midisolutions.com/prodthr.htm and take the MIDI output from the Ensoniq to the MIDI input of the thru box and then one MIDI cable to each module's in from the thru box. This way you don't have the modules daisy chained. A parallel MIDI connection is better than a serial one if you can help it.I think you only need the bi-directional communication from the Ensoniq to the DATASYNC if you're going to use the Ensoniq to control the ADAT, which might be a cool thing to do.Hope this helps.Mazz