Timing

Controls clock source and real-time output.

The available choices of clock source will vary depending on system platform:

• Internal. The sequencer is itself the source of the clock timing (available on all system platforms).

• Song Pointer. The sequencer clock locks to midi real-time messages received from midi input. The source of these messages is typically a tape-machine with an external sync-box or just another sequencer. Song pointer sync is available on Unix with JAZZ-native MPU-401 driver and on MS-Windows.

• Midi Time Code. The sequencer clock locks to Midi Time Code (MTC) messages received from midi input. The source is typically a tape-machine with an external sync-box doing SMPTE-to-MTC conversion or a MTC-capable recording machine. MTC sync is available on MS-Windows platform.

• FSK. The sequencer clock locks to FSK information received from tape. This is available on Unix with an MPU-401 card supporting FSK sync.

How to sync?

• Internal. Just play; JAZZ is the master and decides all timing using internal clocks in the computer.

• Song Pointer. Make sure the device (here called "tape") you are syncing to sends midi real-time messages (songpointer, midi clock etc.) This could involve recording a "songpointer stripe" to a tape track by means of a sync box. To do this you must play the song with the sequencer in "Internal" sync mode and with "Realtime to MIDI Out" enabled. (For more info refer to the instructions of the sync box.)

  To play, enable "Song pointer" sync mode in sequencer (JAZZ), start play on sequencer first, then start tape at any point in the song. The sequencer is now locked to the movements of the tape. (Note that some sync boxes don't send song-pointer at beginning of the song. In this situation you must manually start sequencer at song-start before running tape.)

• Midi Time Code. Make sure the device (tape) you are syncing to sends MTC messages (could involve recording an SMPTE stripe). Set the MTC offset and the MTC type either manually or by recording it while listening to the tape. (The MTC offset is the point in time when the sequencer is supposed to start playing the song.) When recording MTC offset the sequencer will automatically be set into MTC sync mode.

  To play, set sequencer to MTC sync mode, start play on sequencer, then start tape at any point in the song. The sequencer is now locked to the movements of the external device.

• FSK. An "FSK stripe" must first be recorded to a tape track. To do this you must play the song with the sequencer in "Internal" sync mode. Be sure to start FSK stripe recording some time before sequencer is started (must record the pilot tone).

  To play, set sequencer to FSK sync mode, start tape in the pilot-tone area, then start sequencer before pilot tone ends. (Note that with FSK play must always start at beginning of the song.)

The "Realtime to Midi Out" choice is useful for syncing another sequencer to this one or to record a "songpointer stripe" to tape via a sync box. Note that "Realtime to Midi Out" will only work properly for a ticks-per-quarter resolution dividable by 24 (see Song settings).