question about word clocks.

Posted on Mar 07, 2003 01:36 am
stupe
Member Since: Apr 03, 2002

hey yall, just had a few questions about word clocks. i was wondering if my current mixer tascam dm 24 has a play button and stop and fast forward and rewind and jog, is it possible to use these controls if i have a pc soundcard? or are they only compatible with tascam products that are built for the mixing controls.

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jues
Contributor
Since: Dec 30, 2002

Mar 07, 2003 07:28 am

It seems you are getting a little confused over the role of a word clock, Stupe.

A World Clock only have one funtion - keeping digital audio flowing at the same speed throught a digital enviroment.

Imagine, if you will, a world with no word clocks (ARRRRRRGH!) - digital audio would be transmitted by all your digital devices, but due to tiny little deviances, it would all be sent at slightly different speeds.

If you imagine at you mixing desk is outputing to a digital reverb unit and then the Reberb unit is outputting back to the desk.

The desk is configured so that 500ms = exactly 22,047 samples, but the reverb unit is configured so that 500ms = exactly 22,059 samples.

I think you can already see how this is clearly gonna be a BIG problem!!!!

So that is essential what the world clock solves - it just tells ever digital device which it is hooked up to exactly how long xxx samples equals and thus keeps everything in time.

And so, to answer you question - no, the world clock could not be used to enable your desk to control your PC software - you need midi for that :)

jues.

Walt
Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Member
Since: May 10, 2002

Mar 07, 2003 07:45 am

Jues covered it real well. You are talking about two different signals. Some equipment like Adat will have one plug that has both signals present. One signal is command information like record, play, etc. The other is the clock. That is like the conductor in the front of the band waving the stick that everyone follows.

stupe
Member
Since: Apr 03, 2002

Mar 08, 2003 12:06 am

thanks guys, is there somekind of music software that will work with my hardware digital mixer controls? will pro tools do it?

Loki
Cone Poker
Member
Since: Apr 07, 2002

Mar 10, 2003 01:20 am

Most pro level apps offer support for some kind of digital controll surface. Just go through you manual and see if teh app you are using right now supports your control surface.

Noize2u
Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Mar 11, 2003 10:30 pm

for the most part Stupe, you just gotta find out if the Tascam sends control messages via midi, and almost any app that can recieve midi messages for control of the transport will allow you to set it up. I know in Sonar I can map differant messages or note commands or whatever I want to control almost everything in the app I would ever need a button for.