Possible to sync/link PC-based rigs?
 

Now that my new rig seems to be settled in, my old 6 core rig looks lonely in the corner:D I got to thinking it might make a great VI host, but all my searching on linking 2 machines only relates to Mac setups. I'd love to know how to do it with 2 PC's. Any hardware requirement? I see SYNC IO boxes really cheap but Sync HD boxes are all over a grand:eek:

Re: Possible to sync/link PC-based rigs?
 

Nobody has sync'd 2 PC rigs??:o

Re: Possible to sync/link PC-based rigs?
 

I synced a G5 and a PC, that was a while ago.

I ran Logic 8 on the G5 and Tascam Gigastudio on the PC (Logic 8+ was Mac only and Gigastudio was PC only). Gigastudio never really resolved its bugs and when Tascam announced there was no more support, poof! Garratin bought the ashes from Tascam, but I think Gigastudio is in a coma.

My Logic MIDI files were triggering the Gigastudio samples. I am certain I could use a similar method to have Logic or PT trigger Kontakt samples (on a separate machine), but have not done so yet.

I used a Aardvark Aardsync II into a wordclock distribution box so all devices had a direct run. At the time, the G5 had a PCIx MOTU card connected to a 2408, a 308 and maybe some other hardware. The PC had an RME HDSP 9652.

There was ADAT connected between the RME HDSP 9652 and the MOTU rig. I also had a MOTU digital timepiece.

The positional reference was an Emagic Unitor 8 MkII connected by USB to the G5. The Unitor sent a SMPTE/LTC positional reference to both the MOTU DTP and the MIDI I/O hardware on the RME HDSP 9652.

I would boot up the hardware, set the Aardvark wordclock to 44.1, 48, or 96, set the timing to 30 frames per second, and then start striping from the Unitor. Kind of a funky setup, but the MIDI files on the G5 played back the Gigastudio samples on the PC through ADAT. Seems to me I had the Miroslav samples loaded in Gigastudio as well.

The shortcoming was the Gigastudio element, which was too buggy.

I never tried the Ethernet soft MIDI stuff, but I have an EMU e5000 Ultra with wordclock, ADAT and MIDI that can do the same thing as Gigastudio. FYI, the EMU box has 32 bit digital resolution.

As a heads up, Apple still provides the USB MIDI driver for the Unitor 8 MKII that works with the current Mac OS.

Did not respond earlier because Aardvark, Emagic and Gigastudio are kaput.

Re: Possible to sync/link PC-based rigs?
 

Wow, that's convoluted:eek:(but thanks for sharing). I was hoping for something easier on my one brain cell:p. I spent an afternoon trying to get the slave PC to follow MTC and never was able to make it happen(but in fairness to me, I am NOT confident about my midi routing thanks to the iConnect midi box I am stuck with since my MOTU Fastlane refuses to work on windows 10). The iConnect is a 2 in/2 out box, but the damn setup lists 4 ins and outs with cryptic numbering that makes zero sense(to me anyway):-)

Re: Possible to sync/link PC-based rigs?
 

I never had luck syncing MIDI between two machines until I used BOTH wordclock and SMPTE/LTC to lock speed AND position. It required software drivers and hardware with both wordclock and MIDI ports the way I had it set up.

I bought a Focusrite 8Pre X because it has ADAT, analog and a MIDI jack, so it looks like a good candidate. Still use Unitors, but I also bought a Digidesign MIDI I/O for good measure. And I have a few PCs for my two RME HDSP 9652s: they still update the drivers for those puppies.

You could probably use a Digidesign "Sync" for use with MIDI, instead of a Unitor. I bought one for my "collection," but have not used it that way yet. For MIDI, I think the "HD" version (4-5x more expensive on ebay) might be overkill. The problem with the Digidesign stuff is it is NOT generic. The problem with the Unitor is it runs under Mac OS. But the Unitor will generate the LTC.

Is it really true that all PC uses have lulled themselves into thinking that Apples are overpriced?

There are some pretty powerful CPUs floating around. The PC I built had Athlons in it. I switched over to Opterons.

I kind of miss my Z80 accelerator in my Apple IIe. But between two 5,1 MPs and a MBP with thunderbolt, I have moved on.

Re: Possible to sync/link PC-based rigs?
 

Hmmm, for me to have midi in both directions, I will need to move to a bigger midi-USB box with 4 IO instead of the 2 I now have(which I am not opposed to).

Re: Possible to sync/link PC-based rigs?
 

With HD|Native, you will need the Sync HD--if you go that route...forgot about that requirement. I still have several TDM HD3 setups that work with the old Sync.

Re: Possible to sync/link PC-based rigs?
 

Ugh! That's expensive.....

Re: Possible to sync/link PC-based rigs?
 

Dave,
I went to a Waves event a a local studio here in Austin a few years ago. It was whenever Digigrid io was hitting the market.

They were running the Digigrid on on system and plugged a laptop via ethernet into the digigrid and were able to do just what it seems to me you are wanting to do.

That laptop was running VI's in logic, but it wasn't mac specific....it was just using audio via/ip into the digigrid.

I don't perport to assume if it will work with your existing setup, but.....

https://www.waves.com/hardware/digig...d-dli-overview

Sounds like you might want to talk to a dealer about it.....but I have in fact seen them hook up a laptop specifically running VI's and plug straight in via a RJ45 connector.

and digigrid has some crazy specs for latency.

Re: Possible to sync/link PC-based rigs?
 

Thanks for that link. At first glance, its still a bit pricey, but I will dig deeper on it:o