• Registered: 2014-06-06
  • Posts: 5

Topic: MADIFace XT - LTC? Ideas?

Hi!
I'm currently designing a playback system for a multimedia show in Canada and would like to integrate two MADIface XT in the system.
My only problem at the moment is that I need the software (Digital Performer) to be locked to LTC (SMPTE) and I want the software AND the interface to be resolved to the same clock...
MOTU have a nice trick with their 828s; you just use one of the audio inputs and define it as LTC source and it takes care of everything.

That said, I prefer RME (!) and I need the MADI outputs, so...

I was wondering what my options are regarding this matter?
External box that converts incoming SMPTE to MTC AND WordClock?

Any suggestion will be accepted with pleasure! smile

Many thanks in advance!

J.S. Cote

www.jscote.com

2 Reply by Potscrubber (edited by Potscrubber 2014-06-06 05:25:17)

  • From: Aotearoa
  • Registered: 2007-10-23
  • Posts: 255

Re: MADIFace XT - LTC? Ideas?

What is your LTC source?  Are you on Mac or Windows?

Had a bit of a look around, doesn't seem to be a lot on the market at the moment that will resolve LTC to MTC AND generate wordclock.  If you LTC source is vision and you can take video as a reference clock,  then that will make it a bit easier.

Can you use the Motu as an in-between - take MTC and wordclock from it to the XT ?

Madiface XT, Madiface, 3x Micstasy, ADI8QS
Sequoia 17, W10 x64
https://bsound.co.nz/tools-nix
  • Registered: 2009-06-30
  • Posts: 228

Re: MADIFace XT - LTC? Ideas?

Switch DAWs, if possible. In Sequoia/Samplitude it is possible to define any audio input as SMPTE Sync.

Georg

  • Registered: 2014-01-05
  • Posts: 9

Re: MADIFace XT - LTC? Ideas?

jscote wrote:

Hi!
I'm currently designing a playback system for a multimedia show in Canada and would like to integrate two MADIface XT in the system.
My only problem at the moment is that I need the software (Digital Performer) to be locked to LTC (SMPTE) and I want the software AND the interface to be resolved to the same clock...
MOTU have a nice trick with their 828s; you just use one of the audio inputs and define it as LTC source and it takes care of everything.

That said, I prefer RME (!) and I need the MADI outputs, so...

I was wondering what my options are regarding this matter?
External box that converts incoming SMPTE to MTC AND WordClock?

www.jscote.com

LTC and wordclock have nothing in common, you cannot generate wordclock from LTC.
You can either convert LTC to MTC with an external box: http://www.rosendahl-studiotechnik.de/mif4.html
Or use a piece of software to do the conversion internally: http://figure53.com/lockstep/

5 Reply by MC

  • MC
  • MC
  • Administrator
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  • From: Germany/Thailand
  • Registered: 2007-04-06
  • Posts: 25,673

Re: MADIFace XT - LTC? Ideas?

Bacher wrote:

LTC and wordclock have nothing in common, you cannot generate wordclock from LTC.
You can either convert LTC to MTC with an external box: http://www.rosendahl-studiotechnik.de/mif4.html

...or look at the correct device that has such a functionality - the Nanosyncs. Apart from this unit (and many others) even our own TCO can do that.

Regards
Matthias Carstens
RME

MC's Website

  • Registered: 2014-06-06
  • Posts: 5

Re: MADIFace XT - LTC? Ideas?

Bacher wrote:

LTC and wordclock have nothing in common, you cannot generate wordclock from LTC.
You can either convert LTC to MTC with an external box: http://www.rosendahl-studiotechnik.de/mif4.html
Or use a piece of software to do the conversion internally: http://figure53.com/lockstep/

I don't think that's true...
It's an old article, but worth reading...

http://www.sweetwater.com/insync/issues … ord-clock/


In those cases where extremely tight or consistent timing is required across the board or where you are working with long form material, you are going to have to employ a method that allows all sources of timing information to be resolved together. This means you need a device that can generate MTC or LTC that is resolved to your high quality word clock source. One such (relatively affordable) device is MOTU’s DTP (Digital Time Piece).

  • Registered: 2014-06-06
  • Posts: 5

Re: MADIFace XT - LTC? Ideas?

MC wrote:
Bacher wrote:

LTC and wordclock have nothing in common, you cannot generate wordclock from LTC.
You can either convert LTC to MTC with an external box: http://www.rosendahl-studiotechnik.de/mif4.html

...or look at the correct device that has such a functionality - the Nanosyncs. Apart from this unit (and many others) even our own TCO can do that.

A good suggestion, MC.
From what I see the Nanosyncs is connected via USB and should be seen by DP as the source for sync.

Too bad there isn't any TC option offered by RME with external interfaces like the MADIFace XT; would have loved to keep it simple, but my requirements aren't that common.

  • Registered: 2014-06-06
  • Posts: 5

Re: MADIFace XT - LTC? Ideas?

jscote wrote:
MC wrote:
Bacher wrote:

LTC and wordclock have nothing in common, you cannot generate wordclock from LTC.
You can either convert LTC to MTC with an external box: http://www.rosendahl-studiotechnik.de/mif4.html

...or look at the correct device that has such a functionality - the Nanosyncs. Apart from this unit (and many others) even our own TCO can do that.

A good suggestion, MC.
From what I see the Nanosyncs is connected via USB and should be seen by DP as the source for sync.

Too bad there isn't any TC option offered by RME with external interfaces like the MADIFace XT; would have loved to keep it simple, but my requirements aren't that common.

As I pressed "submit reply", I realized there's a problem here... as the Nanosyncs doesn't have a midi out to send MTC, it has to be connected to the Mac via USB, a much better option obviously. Problem is, there's TWO macs (one master and the other backup), so we'd need TWO Nanonsyncs... and then two word clock sources? URGH!!

  • Registered: 2014-06-06
  • Posts: 5

Re: MADIFace XT - LTC? Ideas?

Potscrubber wrote:

Had a bit of a look around, doesn't seem to be a lot on the market at the moment that will resolve LTC to MTC AND generate wordclock.  If you LTC source is vision and you can take video as a reference clock,  then that will make it a bit easier.

Can you use the Motu as an in-between - take MTC and wordclock from it to the XT ?

Well, after fooling around with ideas, it seems it'd be simpler to use two MOTU 828x and connect them both to a ADI 648. That way I'd have LTC coming directly in the interface and I won't have to worry about discrepancies between word clock and LTC. It really bugs me out, though, as I used a quite a few 828s in designs and two came back with problems. Now I'm spec'ing RME products but it seems the device I want (A MADI interface with TC option...) doesn't exist yet... smile

Thanks to everyone taking the time to help with this, it is appreciated.

JS