Sync Issues

[vibrato]

Hi! All...

I have a few questions that some of you must know cauz you are running multiple computers.

I have three computers now.

1. Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 x 2 - 4 GB Ram running Pro tools LE 7 with Digi 002 Rack.

2. Intel Pentium 4 HT 3.2 Ghz - 1 GB Ram running Gigastduio 3 Orchestra with Opuns bundle, Epic Horns, Chamber Strings..etc

3. Intel Pentium 4 HT 2.8 Ghz with 2 GB Ram - Free for Vienna Instruments that I will buy next week.

I have purchased MOTU Microlite to extend my MIDI set up for perfect sync and no more sticky notes.

I will be triggering MIDI stuff in computer 1, 2 and 3 with two keyboards going into the mircolite. The microlite will be connected to computer 1 but will also give outputs to computer 2 and 3.

I want to know if there are going to be any sync issues in this kind of a set up. I do not have a world clock and neither have the money to buy one.

Digi 002 Rack has an internal world clock but it does not have BNC connectors on it nor do the other sound cards - M-Audio Audiophile 192.

My second question is can I connect computers 2 and 3 to the word clock inside Digi 002 rack via SPDIF.

In other words can a synchronisation be achieved by connecting computer via SPDIF or does it have to be BNC only? Audiophile 192 gives an option of syncing to an external world clock. So it willbe possible to do that in theory.

Will there be issues that others here have experienced or do I need to take care of soemthing?

Please advice. Otherwise, I was just going to connect these via analogue outpus.

Someone told me if its all going to be via analogue outputs from computer 2 and 3 - I dont need to worry about syncing anything. Its only when I have sound via Digital means is when synchronsation is important.


Any thoughts?

I will most appreciate any kind of advice.

Thanks.

Best,
Tanuj.

[Dietz]

@vibrato said:

So Dietz...

u mean..I can sync the machines by taking out SPDIF signals from machine 2 and 3 and plug them into the 002 Rack?

But, how can I do that ? I mean..Digi 002 rack only has one SPDIF Input right. They all have one out and one in.

How can I create a diasy chain? Or I cant? Like can I connect machine 3 to 2 and then 2 into machine 1?

Do let me know about this.

Thanks.
[...]

Hm - you _could_ daisy-chain machine 3 from 2 via S/PDIF - but then, you would have to send the actual audio-data to your master-machine from 2 via 3 too, and mix it with the respective signals from machine 3, to get them both back to the master digitally. This may (or may not) be a problem, depending on the features your audio-hardware offers.

That said, you have to be aware that the digital sync _may_ become faulty due to the daisy-chaining.

HTH,

[Dietz]

@vibrato said:

See the other problem is also this:

Even if I did buy a word clock - I dont have a BNC interface on any of the sound cards - What would I connect the Word clock to?

IS there a way round this?

Thanks.

Best,
Tanuj.

Apparently not without some serious headache (or new audio hardware), similar to the ones I lined out in my previous message.