Syncing Otari open-reel to 003 Rack

[GaryC]

My drummer and I are tracking to an Otari open-reel machine.
We have done drums on about a half-dozen tunes,using 4 tracks.
The signal from the tape will be routed through an ISA428 and converted
to Lightpipe before it hits the Digi003,on into the PC.

Is there any way to sync my Otari/ISA428 with the computer,so that we can download the drums into a PT session-then clear them off the tape,to free up tracks for the rest of the instrumentation and vocals-and still be able to load the rest of the raw tape tracks into PT,and be able to have them all in sync?
Does some sort of time-code data need to be recorded onto one of the 8-track channels-or can the PT program sync it all up without that?
I know that PT has Word Clock-but I'm obviously completely ignorant as to how it works.
So,any pearls of wisdom greatly appreciated.

[daeron80]

I haven't actually tried it with an 002/3 but used to do it all the time with MIX systems. For starters, yes, for sure you need to stripe track 8 with SMPTE. If you're gonna use track 7 for audio, be careful with the level - it'll bleed like the Dickens. IIRC, we used to stripe at -20 dB. Start stripe about 15+ seconds prior to first song start on each tape so you've got plenty of running room to get solid sync, and let it run continuously to end of tape.

You'll need something that generates SMPTE for printing it, and then can read it and convert it to MTC to send to PT as a MIDI signal, I think. Most MIDI interfaces used to do this. Not sure if many still do in this near-all-digital age. There are plenty of oldish ones (probably for really cheap) that have XP-compatible drivers.

Hope that'll get you pointed in the right direction.

[GaryC]

"You'll need something that generates SMPTE"

Uhh....like,WHAT?
Thanks for the reply.

[daeron80]

MIDI interface. During the 1990s, practically all MIDI interfaces could generate SMPTE, read it, and convert it to MTC for the host sequencer/DAW. That appears to be rare today, although there is an M-Audio device that can do it. Here's one on ebay w a starting bid of $4.95 and I'd be surprised if it sells for more than $10. It hooks up using a serial port. Do PCs still have those? If yours happens to, you're in luck. Oh, and, ahem, you'll need floppy drive to load the driver. Unless you can find it posted online somewhere. Amazing how fast standard stuff becomes obsolete. Just frightening.

[rqstudio]

Try looking for a JLCooper PPS2, I've had one for nearly 20 years, still looks new but I wouldn't sell if for that reason.

[GaryC]

daeron-thanks for that ebay lead.
I did get it,at opening bid price.
How much it will end up costing is unknown as of yet-it's in Canada,so I may be looking at some import fees.
It'll still be cheap,though.

rqstudio-thanks for that info.
I've also checked those things out,and will likely acquire one as well,and give it a spin.

[GTBannah]

Originally Posted by daeron80

MIDI interface. During the 1990s, practically all MIDI interfaces could generate SMPTE, read it, and convert it to MTC for the host sequencer/DAW. That appears to be rare today, although there is an M-Audio device that can do it. Here's one on ebay w a starting bid of $4.95 and I'd be surprised if it sells for more than $10. It hooks up using a serial port. Do PCs still have those? If yours happens to, you're in luck. Oh, and, ahem, you'll need floppy drive to load the driver. Unless you can find it posted online somewhere. Amazing how fast standard stuff becomes obsolete. Just frightening.

Ahhh, the halcion days of the MOTU MIDI TimePiece ....

[BobbyDazzler]

When Pro Tools chases the Otari there will be a little bit of wander in the sync, so be careful to record multi mic'ed stuff all in the same pass.

[daeron80]

Originally Posted by GTBannah

Ahhh, the halcion days of the MOTU MIDI TimePiece ....

LOL. Yeah, or the Studio 5, or a TASCAM D88 with a sync module. Throw a 3/4" video machine in the mix that has to chase tape through a Lynx... No wonder we're all bald and wrinkled.

[daeron80]

Originally Posted by BobbyDazzler

When Pro Tools chases the Otari there will be a little bit of wander in the sync, so be careful to record multi mic'ed stuff all in the same pass.

What?! No sample accuracy?