Steinberg Cubase 8 Manual
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![Page 959
Synchronization
The Project Synchronization Setup dialog
959
• On the Transport menu, select the “Project Synchronization Setup…” option.
• On the Transport panel, [Ctrl]/[Command]-click the Sync button.
The dialog is organized into sections separating related groups of settings. The
arrows shown between the various sections of the dialog indicate how settings in
one section influence settings in another section. In the following, the available
sections are described in detail.
The Cubase Section
At...](http://img.usermanuals.tech/thumb/86/98229/w64_d_1507296127-steinberg-cubase-8-manual_d-958.png "Page 959
Synchronization
The Project Synchronization Setup dialog
959
• On the Transport menu, select the “Project Synchronization Setup…” option.
• On the Transport panel, [Ctrl]/[Command]-click the Sync button.
The dialog is organized into sections separating related groups of settings. The
arrows shown between the various sections of the dialog indicate how settings in
one section influence settings in another section. In the following, the available
sections are described in detail.
The Cubase Section
At...")
Synchronization The Project Synchronization Setup dialog 961 Auto-Detect Frame-Rate Changes Cubase can notify the user when the frame rate of timecode changes at any point. This is helpful in diagnosing problems with timecode and external devices. This notification will interrupt playback or recording. Deactivating this option will avoid any interruption in playback or recording. IMPORTANT If there is a discrepancy between the project frame rate in Cubase and incoming timecode, Cubase might still be able to lock to the incoming timecode. If the user is unaware of these differences, problems can arise later in postproduction. Machine Control Output Destination When the Sync button on the Transport panel is activated, all transport commands (including movements of the cursor in the Project window) are translated into machine control commands and routed according to the settings made in the “Machine Control Output Destination” section. MC Master Active When this option is activated, transport commands are routed or sent to any device while sync is enabled. Additional routing options become available, see below. Deactivating this option does not affect the operation of the individual MMC Device panels. They can still function regardless of the machine control destination. MMC Input and Output The MMC Input and MMC Output settings determine which MIDI port in your system will send and receive MMC commands. Set both the input and output to MIDI ports that are connected to the desired MIDI device. MMC Device ID The MMC device ID should be set to the same number as the receiving device. You can also set the device ID to “All” if more than one machine is receiving MMC commands or if the device ID is not known. NOTE Some devices can only listen to their specific IDs. Therefore, using the All option will not work with such devices.
Synchronization The Project Synchronization Setup dialog 962 Number of Audio Tracks (Cubase Pro only) The number of audio tracks should be set to match the amount of available audio tracks in the destination device. This setting determines how many record-enable buttons are shown in the MMC Master panel (see below). MMC Master panel The MMC Master panel can be opened from the Devices menu. In order to use the MMC Master panel, proceed as follows: • Open the Preferences dialog, select the MIDI Filter section and make sure SysEx is activated in the Thru section. This is necessary since MMC uses two-way communication (the tape recorder “replies” to the MMC messages it receives from Cubase). By filtering out SysEx Thru, you ensure that these MMC System Exclusive replies are not echoed back to the tape recorder. • On the MMC Master panel, activate the Online button to use the transport buttons on the panel to control the transport of the device. It is not necessary to have this activated in order to synchronize with the MMC device. It only affects operation of the MMC Master panel. • You can use the buttons to the left on the MMC Master panel to arm tape tracks for recording. • The “A1, A2, TC, VD” items refer to additional tracks usually found on video tape recorders. Refer to the manual of your VTR device to see if these tracks are supported. Machine Control Input (Cubase Pro only) Cubase can respond to machine control commands from external MIDI devices. Cubase can follow incoming transport commands (locate, play, record) and respond to record-enabling commands for audio tracks. This allows Cubase to easily integrate into larger studio systems with centralized machine control and synchronization such as theatrical mixing stages. MMC Slave Active When this option is activated, several settings become available in the Machine Control Input section:
Synchronization The Project Synchronization Setup dialog 963 IMPORTANT The MMC protocol involves polling devices (requesting information) for their status which requires two way communication. While some functions may work with only one way communication, it is best to connect both MIDI ports (input and output) of MMC devices. MIDI Timecode Destinations Cubase can send MTC to any MIDI port. Use this section to specify the MIDI ports to which MTC is routed. Devices that can lock to MTC will chase Cubase’s timecode position. NOTE Some MIDI interfaces send MTC over all ports by default. If this is the case, only select one port of the interface for MTC. MIDI Timecode Follows Project Time Activate this option to ensure that the MTC output follows Cubase’s time position at all times including looping, locating, or jumping while playing. If not, MTC will continue on without changing locations at a loop or jump point until playback stops. MIDI Clock Destinations Some MIDI devices like drum machines can match their tempo and location to incoming MIDI clock. Select any MIDI ports that you wish to output MIDI clock. Option Description MMC Input Set this to the MIDI input that is connected to the master machine control device. MMC Output Set this to the MIDI output that is connected to the master machine control device. MMC Device IDThis determines the MIDI ID number that is used to identify the machine in Cubase.
Synchronization Synchronized operation 964 MIDI Clock Follows Project Position Activate this option to ensure that the MIDI clock device follows Cubase when looping, locating, or jumping while playing. NOTE Some older MIDI devices might not respond well to these positioning messages and could take some time synchronizing to the new location. Always Send Start Message MIDI clock transport commands include Start, Stop, and Continue. However, some MIDI devices do not recognize the Continue command. By activating the “Always Send Start Message” option, you can avoid this problem with specific MIDI devices. Send MIDI Clock in Stop Mode Activate this option if you are working with a device that needs MIDI clock to run continuously in order to operate arpeggiators and loop generators. Synchronized operation Once you have connected all the devices that will be synchronized, it is important to understand how Cubase operates in Sync mode. Sync mode is enabled by activating the Sync button on the Transport panel. Sync mode When you activate the Sync button, the following happens: •Cubase Pro only: Transport commands are routed to the machine control destination output as specified in the Project Synchronization Setup dialog. Locate, Play, Stop, and Record commands will now be sent to an external device. • Cubase awaits incoming timecode from the chosen timecode source defined in the Project Synchronization Setup dialog in order to play.
Synchronization Example Scenarios (Cubase Pro only) 965 Cubase will detect incoming timecode, locate to its current position, and start playback in sync with the incoming timecode. Cubase Pro only: In a typical scenario, an external tape machine (e. g. a VTR) has its timecode output connected to Cubase. Cubase is sending machine control commands to the deck. When Sync is activated and you click Play on the Transport panel, a play command is sent to the VTR. The VTR in turn starts playback, sending timecode back to Cubase. Cubase then synchronizes to that incoming timecode. Example Scenarios (Cubase Pro only) To better understand how synchronization options can be utilized, an example scenario is provided. Personal music studio In a personal music studio, the user might have the need of synchronizing with an external recording device such as a portable hard disk recorder used for live remote recordings. In this example, MIDI will be used for timecode and machine control while the audio clock will be handled by Lightpipe digital audio connections. • When the Sync button is activated, Cubase sends MMC commands to the hard disk recorder. Cubase can remotely start playback of the recorder. • The hard disk recorder is using audio clock from Cubase’s audio interface as the speed reference. It is also possible for Cubase to use the audio clock from the recorder. The audio clock is carried over the Lightpipe digital audio connection that also carries audio signals. • The hard disk recorder sends back MTC to Cubase. When the recorder begins playing, MTC is sent back to Cubase which will sync to that timecode. Sync settings for personal music studio To synchronize the devices in this example scenario, proceed as follows: PROCEDURE 1. Make the connections as shown in the diagram above. In this simple example, any device that uses MTC can be substituted.
Synchronization Working with VST System Link 966 2. Open the Project Synchronization Setup dialog and select “MIDI Timecode” as the timecode source. When recording from the hard disk recorder into Cubase, Cubase will be the machine control master and the timecode slave, locking to incoming MTC. 3. In the “Machine Control Output Destination” section, select the “MIDI Machine Control” option. Cubase will now send MMC commands to the hard disk recorder to locate and start playback. 4. In the “Machine Control Output Settings” section, assign the MIDI input and output ports that are connected to the hard disk recorder. Since MMC uses two-way communication, both MIDI ports should be connected. Be sure the MIDI filter does not echo SysEx data. 5. On the Transport panel, activate the Sync button. This routes transport commands to the hard disk recorder via MIDI and sets Cubase as the timecode slave. 6. On the hard disk recorder, enable MMC and MTC. Follow the instructions on how to set up the unit to receive MMC commands and transmit MTC. 7. In Cubase, click the Play button. The hard disk recorder should start playback and send MTC to Cubase. Once Cubase syncs to MTC, the status on the Transport panel should read “Lock” and show the current frame rate of incoming MTC. Working with VST System Link VST System Link is a network system for digital audio that allows you to have several computers working together in one large system. Unlike conventional networks it does not require Ethernet cards, hubs, or CAT-5 cables; instead it uses the kind of digital audio hardware and cables you probably already possess in your studio. VST System Link has been designed to be simple to set up and operate, yet give enormous flexibility and performance gains in use. It is capable of linking computers in a “ring” network (the System Link signal is passed from one machine to the next, and eventually returns to the first machine). VST System Link can send its networking signal over any type of digital audio cable, including S/PDIF, ADAT, TDIF, or AES, as long as each computer in the system is equipped with a suitable ASIO compatible audio interface. Linking up two or more computers gives you vast possibilities: • Dedicate one computer to running VST instruments while recording audio tracks on another. • If you need lots of audio tracks, you may simply add tracks on another computer. • You could have one computer serve as a “virtual effect rack”, running CPU-intensive send effect plug-ins only.
Synchronization Working with VST System Link 967 • Since you can use VST System Link to connect different VST System Link applications on different platforms, you can take advantage of effect plug-ins and VST instruments that are specific to certain programs or platforms. Requirements The following equipment is required for VST System Link operation: • Two or more computers. These can be of the same type or use different operating systems – it does not matter. For example, you can link an Intel-based PC to an Apple Macintosh without problems. • Each computer must have audio hardware with specific ASIO drivers. • The audio hardware must have digital inputs and outputs. To be able to connect the computers, the digital connections must be compatible (i. e. the same digital formats and connection types must be available). • At least one digital audio cable must be available for each computer in the network. • A VST System Link host application must be installed on each computer. Any VST System Link application can connect to another. Additionally, use of a KVM switchbox is recommended. Using a KVM switchbox Whether you want to set up a multi-computer network or a small network in a limited space, it is a good idea to invest in a KVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) switchbox. With one of these you can use the same keyboard, monitor, and mouse to control each computer in the system, and you can switch between computers very rapidly. If you decide not to go this route, the network will function just the same, but you may end up doing a lot of jumping from one machine to the other while setting up!
Synchronization Working with VST System Link 968 Making connections Below, we assume that you are connecting two computers. Should you have more than two computers, it is still best to start with two and add the others one by one once the system is working – this makes troubleshooting easier if you run into problems. For two computers, you will need two digital audio cables, one in each direction: PROCEDURE 1. Use the first digital audio cable to connect the digital output of computer 1 to the digital input of computer 2. 2. Use the other cable to connect the digital output of computer 2 to the digital input of computer 1. If a card has more than one set of inputs and outputs, choose whichever one that suits you – for simplicity usually the first set is best. Synchronization Before you proceed, you need to make sure that the clock signals on your ASIO cards are synchronized correctly. This is essential when cabling any kind of digital audio system, not just VST System Link. IMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANT All digital audio cables by definition always carry a clock signal as well as audio signals, so you do not have to use a special word clock input and output for this (although you may find that you get a slightly more stable audio system if you do, especially when using multiple computers). The clock mode or sync mode is set up in the ASIO control panel of the audio hardware. Proceed as follows: PROCEDURE 1. From the Devices menu, open the Device Setup dialog. 2. On the VST Audio System page, select your audio interface from the ASIO Driver pop-up menu. In the Devices list, the name of the audio interface now appears as a subentry to the
Synchronization Working with VST System Link 969 6. Now you need to make sure that one audio card is set to be the clock master and all other cards are set to be clock slaves (i. e. they listen for the clock signal coming from the clock master). The naming and procedure for this differs depending on the audio hardware – consult its documentation if required. If you are using Steinberg Nuendo ASIO hardware, all cards default to the AutoSync setting. In this case you must set one of the cards (and only one) to “Master” in the Clock Mode section of the control panel. RESULT Typically, the ASIO control panel for an audio card contains some indication of whether or not the card receives a proper sync signal, including the sample rate of that signal. This is a good indication that you have connected the cards and set up clock sync properly. Check your audio hardware’s documentation for details. IMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANT It is very important that only one card is the clock master, otherwise the network cannot function correctly. Once you have set this up, all the other cards in the network will take their clock signal from this card automatically. The only exception to this procedure is if you are using an external clock
Synchronization Working with VST System Link 970 To adjust the latency of a system, you adjust the size of the buffers in the ASIO control panel – the lower the buffer size, the lower the latency. It is best to keep to fairly low latencies (buffer sizes) if your system can handle it – about 12 ms or less is usually a good idea. Setting up your software Now it is time to set up your programs. The procedures below describe how to set things up in Cubase. If you are using another program on the other computer, please refer to its documentation. Setting the sample rate The projects in both programs must be set to use the same sample rate. Select “Project Setup…” from the Project menu and make sure that the sample rate is the same in both systems. Streaming digital audio between applications PROCEDURE 1. Create input and output busses in both applications and route these to the digital inputs and outputs. The number and configuration of the busses depend on your audio hardware and on your needs. If you have a system with eight digital i/o channels (such as an ADAT connection), you could create several stereo or mono busses, a surround bus together with a stereo bus, or any combination you need. The important thing is that you should have the same configuration in both applications – if you have four stereo output busses on computer 1, you want four stereo input busses on computer 2, etc. 2. Set things up so that computer 1 plays back some audio. For example, you could import an audio file and play it back in Cycle mode. 3. In the Inspector or MixConsole, make sure that the channel containing the audio material is routed to one of the digital output busses. 4. On computer 2, open the MixConsole and locate the corresponding digital input bus. The audio being played back should now “appear” in the program running on computer 2. You should see the input bus level meters moving. 5. Reverse this procedure so that computer 2 plays back and computer 1 “listens”. RESULT Now you have verified that the digital connection works as it should. NOTE From this point on in this chapter, we refer to the busses connected to the digital inputs and outputs as “VST System Link busses”.