DESCRIPTION:
Astia-studio’s Audio Geek Series episode 01 - How to sync tape machine to DAW.

This is our new video series about geeky nerdy technical audio stuff that is the opposite of what most people would find interesting. Sorry about the rough accent. I would rather speak in Finnish but that would make most of our viewers unsubscribe so “finglish” it is.

I found it difficult to find info on how to sync tape machine to DAW so I thought to share how we managed to make it work here at Astia-studios. As mentioned it is quite easy to sync DAW to tape machine. All you need is to record SMPTE on one of the tape tracks and have your computer slave to that. The downside is bad audio quality on DAW as it is forced to do the unnatural wobbling causing jitter.

I was pleasantly surprised to find we already had an Adam Smith Zeta Three synchronizer that came along with a mixing console without any documentation. Luckily mr Rick Austin has the manual along with lots of other info on his website: http://rickaustin.com/2007/07/18/adams-smith/
There we found the instructions on how the cable from Adam Smith Zeta Three to Otari MTR-90mk2 should be done. The cable was pretty easy to make, but it turned out that when engaging the tape, Zeta Three would force Otari to rewind. Rick was very kind to assist via email and it turned out that the hardware rest was the key. It is done by turning off Zeta Three, pressing and holding “right shift” + “cursor” + “capture” and turning the unit on. After this Zeta Three needs to know the type and model of the tape machine it is communicating with and that is done by selecting the correct tape machine from Transport menu.

We use Digital Performer DAW with Motu Midi Express XT sending SMPTE to Zeta Three Master SMPTE Input. We have recorded SMPTE on Otari MTR-90mk2 track 24 so the output of the track is connected to Slave SMPTE Input on Zeta Three. The last connection is the custom 25-pin D-sub to Honda 25M from Zeta Three Slave to Otari Ext. connector.

Turn on all equipment, press both Master and Slave buttons on Zeta Three and you are ready to go.

On internet you will find a lot of discussion also on video black importance on SMPTE, but we won’t go to that on this demonstration.

If you cannot find those rare Honda 25M connectors in Europe, we have them in stock. Please contact us if you want to buy one or more.

I hope to inspire you to connect your tape machine to DAW. If you have any question, please feel free to contact me via email or comment on this video.

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Theme song by Antti Hyyrynen, Toni Paananen & Anssi Kippo.

With best regards,

Anssi Kippo
Astia-studio
Lappeenranta, Finland.

(c) All rights belong to Astia-studio and Toni Paananen 2016. No copying or any other use of this video or audio track is allowed.