Cool Trick for Syncing More than 8 tracks (without the midi port)

Neon Horn

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Tascam DP-008EX
With the new DP-24SD you don't have the midi sync option. I got around this by recording a trigger track that will be used to clock my Electribe 2 (on the sync input).
What I did was place an 808 rim shot on every 8th note and record this on input H (track 8). After recording the first 8 tracks (including the sync track) I can add an additional 8 tracks in sync with the original 8 by turning on Track 8 EFF2 to maximum and Master 2 to maximum, I then hook up a 1/4" TS to 1/8" TS from send 2 to to the sync input on my electribe 2. In the global settings on the electribe 2 I set the clock to external... this means it will look for an external midi clock first, if it doesn't receive one it'll look for a sync clock. I hit play on the electribe and it will remain dormant until it receives a clock pulse. Once I hit play & Record on the DP-24SD and it gets to where the music starts, the E2 will keep clocked perfectly to the Tascam.

Just a note, when you record the sync track, the 808 RS should be recorded as loud as possible without clipping. This will ensure a good clock pulse.

Enjoy :)
Mike
 
Yep. Trigger tape sync is one way of keeping things in sync but, as you noticed, you have to have a really hot level to have the trigger sync work (I remember recording a 1/16 note trigger signal from my Boss DR-220 drum machine to my Fostex X-15II, and then, by making that trigger signal really loud, using it to sync the DR-220 so I could use it to send trigger signals to my ARP AXXE to sequence bass lines).

Another trick is to use a medium to high end 1980s drum machine or sequencer (e.g. R8, TR-626, but not the TR-707, which is buggy sending MIDI sync when it’s a tape sync slave) which can record a tape sync track; then using send 2 on the DP24/DP32 to send the sync signal back to the drum machine (pre-fader sends are useful for a lot of things), which can then slave any other devices which accept MIDI clock. This way, sequenced overdubs can be in sync with previously recorded tracks. This, in fact, is how I record sequenced music on my DP32SD. It’s a very 1980s approach to song production.
 
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Im at a loss how to implement this solution with my new DP-24SD and Beat Buddy. Detailed info on what device I need to generate the sync tone and a step by step description of this whole process would be greatly appreciated.
 
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