Hi,

We frequently run into sync problems with our recordings. Not every time, some recordings are fine, some get sync problems. I've been reading the manual back and forth but can't really sort out how the sync settings should be.

Our setup:
Mac Pro 2.8 GHz Quad-Core
16 GB RAM
OS X 10.9.2 (just updated but we had the problems in 10.8.* too)
3x RME HDSPe MADI (Latest driver 3.07 and latest firmware Rev. 30)
DiGiCo SD7 running as master clock sending MADI via coax to the three RME cards

My first thought would be that all the three RME cards in our Mac would get sync via MADI from our mixer. That would mean all three cards would be set to "AutoSync" and "Sync Ref MADI". If we do that, the "SyncCheck" on all cards say "Sync" in the MADI field. However, this setting most often causes us problems.

If we instead set card 1 as master (we have the sync cable between the cards connected from 1 to 2 to 3) and the other as "AutoSync" with the master card having "Sync Ref MADI" and the others having "Sync Ref Sync In" we still have problems sometimes but more rarely than the other setting above. Now the "SyncCheck MADI" starts flashing between "Sync" and "Lock" on the master card while the other cards get "Sync" on "SyncCheck Sync In".

When things are working correctly, should the sync indicator be "Lock" or "Sync"?
Should all cards get clock from the mixer or should one card get that and the other be slaves to card 1?

Any ideas?

Thanks,
/Svante