Can you sync the tr-808 to the MPC60?

I've got a little CV-Midi sync box that converts Midi Clock to a CV signal. So i use my MPC2000 to sync my 808. A friend recently told me you can use the MPC60 pulse output (that i've never even messed with before) to sync the 808 directly. Does anyone know if this is true and how to do this exactly?

If he was a real friend he would have told you how.

You can use basic 16th's outputted to the 808's trigger input, which will work as a pulse trigger for the MPC's tempo.

However you said you have the converter box so no reason to.

Don't think this is possible.

You need a midi-sync24 converter to sync the 808. And the 808 (atleast not the ones i worked with) has some issues with sync, misses some starts and stops etc.

http://www.innerclocksystems.com/

Tools for reliable synchronization of boxes old and new.

Really !

Rohan

You guys are confused.
What his friend was talking about was triggering the 808 playback with time based output from the MPC.
You would just be giving the 808 a time based reference to use as tempo for stuff you have already sequenced on the 808.

Doesn't have anything to do with MIDI or triggering sounds in the 808.
This just goes back to pre-MIDI sync methods.

Sovereign wrote:You can use basic 16th's outputted to the 808's trigger input, which will work as a pulse trigger for the MPC's tempo.

TR808 has three trigger output signal generators, CB, CP and AC.

The only SYNC input on a TR808 is DIN SYNC (24 PPQ).

See page 9, 10 and 11 of the TR808 manual.

You could, on a TR808; try sending a sequenced part from a CB, CP or AC track to one of the associated TR808 trigger outputs --->>> into the MPC60 SYNC INPUT ( with appropriate precautions and awareness )

IE: Sync TR808 as clock master sending 1/4 NOTE pulses to the MPC60 SYNC INPUT. ( MPC60 set to sync as a slave against 1/4 note pulses received at its SYNC INPUT )

If this is what you meant to write then maybe you confused the issue by using the term
"808's trigger input", which implies by wording MPC60 as sync master driving via sync pulse, the TR808 as sync slave; and not the other way around.

Sovereign wrote:However you said you have the converter box so no reason to.

Then forum member "Apples" may not have a problem.

However...

As forum member "mikael__" said,

mikael__ wrote:(atleast not the ones i worked with) has some issues with sync, misses some starts and stops etc.

Then I made reference to a company that makes precision SYNC to SYNC converters for locking DIN SYNC/MIDI device time bases against each other.

Sovereign wrote:You guys are confused.

Really ???

Sovereign wrote:What his friend was talking about was triggering the 808 playback with time based output from the MPC.

What "his friend" was talking about is quite clear.

Synchronizing the sequence play back of two very different machines.

Sovereign wrote:You would just be giving the 808 a time based reference to use as tempo for stuff you have already sequenced on the 808.

The only "time based reference" pulse you can drive a TR808 with is via its DIN SYNC socket.

IE: It has no other trigger inputs.

Sovereign wrote:This just goes back to pre-MIDI sync methods.

True that, very true !!!

I don't see either of our responses as confusing.

Rohan.

Apples wrote:I've got a little CV-Midi sync box that converts Midi Clock to a CV signal.

Do you mean a MIDI CLOCK to DIN SYNC converter ?

Or a MIDI CLOCK to pulse generator ?

What is this box you have just out of curiosity ?

Apples wrote:So i use my MPC2000 to sync my 808.

It sounds like you have a MIDI CLOCK to DIN SYNC box.

Apples wrote:A friend recently told me you can use the MPC60 pulse output (that i've never even messed with before) to sync the 808 directly. Does anyone know if this is true and how to do this exactly?

Other way around.

TR808 sending a pulse to the MPC60.

TR808 "pulse part" played on either of its CB, CP or AC tracks.

Connected then via the associated CB, CP or AC TR808 trigger output.

Into the MPC60 SYNC INPUT.

The MPC60 then set to SYNC to 1/4 note clicks.

If the converter box you have is a MIDI CLOCK to DIN SYNC converter then that would be a preferable way than the above ( INMHO )

Good luck.

Rohan

The MPC-60 Midi Clock is as close to perfect as you can get. Conversion to Din-Sync will always introduce a very small delay and each and every single slave device (including the TR-808) has a fixed 'slave start lag'. If your TR-808 is doing 16th hats against the MPC-60 and you have a good ear for feel then your hats will sound late. Not sloppy. Just late. Unavoidable. We built the original MK1 Sync-Shift for that single purpose. Correcting Slave Start Lag. The MKII just adds Midi and reverse conversion to the original design. It is also passive - by that I mean it does not mess with the master Sync stability in any way.

http://web.webhost4life.com/innerclock/ ... ge&name=21

Best regards - David
www.innerclocksystems.com

mpc3000le wrote: If this is what you meant to write then maybe you confused the issue by using the term
"808's trigger input", which implies by wording MPC60 as sync master driving via sync pulse, the TR808 as sync slave; and not the other way around.


Rohan.

Yes

Thanks for the replies everyone..

mpc3000le wrote:What is this box you have just out of curiosity ?

This works great (to my ears) syncing the 808 to Midi Clock (Or MTC, can't remember: The one that the MPC60 doesn't generate) from the MPC2000:

Sovereign wrote:You guys are confused... You would just be giving the 808 a time based reference to use as tempo for stuff you have already sequenced on the 808.

Yeah, thats all i wondered if was possible, but directly from the MPC60, not using a conversion box.
I've just realised i can use my MPC3000 to generate the right midi for the box, so might use that as i'd prefer the swing from the 3000 over the 2000 to sequence the non-808 samples.

Apples wrote:
This works great (to my ears) syncing the 808 to Midi Clock (Or MTC, can't remember: The one that the MPC60 doesn't generate) from the MPC2000:

The MPC60 generates MIDI clock and MTC.
Did you try syncing to the 808 with out your converter box using the 1/4 note pulse thing that Rohan kindly described ?

Acid Mitch wrote:The MPC60 generates MIDI clock and MTC.
Did you try syncing to the 808 with out your converter box using the 1/4 note pulse thing that Rohan kindly described ?

Oh, ok, i couldn't find it (original OS?) but maybe i didn't look hard enough. Yeah thanks Rohan for the tips, i will investigate them next time i want to use the 808. Cheers

Apples wrote:

Acid Mitch wrote:The MPC60 generates MIDI clock and MTC.
Did you try syncing to the 808 with out your converter box using the 1/4 note pulse thing that Rohan kindly described ?

Oh, ok, i couldn't find it (original OS?) but maybe i didn't look hard enough. Yeah thanks Rohan for the tips, i will investigate them next time i want to use the 808. Cheers

As the SYNC BOX unit you have is either this one:

http://www.engineersatwork.nl/dtronics/ ... _ms06.html

...... or;

http://www.engineersatwork.nl/dtronics/ ... nc_cv.html

MPC60 MIDI CLOCK send out of MIDI OUT D.

MIDI OUT D connect to MIDI IN ( SYNC IN ) of DSYNC.

SYNC OUT ( DIN SYNC ) of DSYNC into TR808 DIN SYNC input.

TR808 DIN SYNC input set to external input mode.

More information on your SYNC BOX usage from:

http://www.engineersatwork.nl/dtronics/ ... manual.pdf

...... or;

http://www.engineersatwork.nl/dtronics/ ... manual.pdf

Rohan.

Acid Mitch wrote:The MPC60 generates MIDI clock and MTC.
Did you try syncing to the 808 with out your converter box using the 1/4 note pulse thing that Rohan kindly described ?

my os3.10 mpc 60 seems to receive both mtc and midi clock etc but will only send midi clock( or smpte). i.e. it doesnt send mtc.

As far as Rhythmic Sync goes MTC is by far the poor relation to good Midi Clock. MTC sync dictates that all slave devices run their own tempo calculations internally but resolve/calculate their grid position referenced to incoming absolute time. Midi Clock sync is more analogous to sprockets in a gear box. Every forward motion of the master sprocket is followed in time by the slaves. In rhythmic terms this provides a much tighter listening experience. More so if you get the sprockets lined up properly...

Best - David
www.innerclocksystems.com