Synchronization &

Vocoding
Synchronization
Synchronization
The process of locking together two or more devices
in time and/or tempo
Synchronization Types

Location Tempo
A Point in Time The Timing or Speed
or Direct Address of a Song/Pattern

Bars/Beats/Ticks Pulse/Beat
Hour:Min:Sec:Frames Periodic
SMPTE
Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers
SMPTE Timecode
Set of cooperating standards to label individual frames
of video or film

HH : MM : SS : FF
Provides time reference for editing, synchronization
and identification
SMPTE Timecode Formats
Linear Time Code (LTC)
- Encoded on a dedicated
audio track
- Readable at play speed &
high speed scrubbing
SMPTE Timecode Formats
Vertical Interval Timecode (VITC)
- Embedded in the vertical interval of video frames
- Can be read during still and very slow playback
SMPTE Timecode Formats
MIDI Timecode (MTC)
- Digital (data) representation of SMPTE code

Full Frame Message

Sent on Start/Stop/Continue

Quarter Frame Message

Sent during Playback
MIDI Timecode
Full Frame Message - 10 Bytes
- Only sent on Transport (Start/Stop/Continue)

H H:M M: S S: F F
Status D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9
Transport
MIDI Timecode
Quarter Frame Message - 2 Bytes
- Sent during playback

H H:M M: S S: F F
Q4 Q3 Q2 Q1 Q4 Q3 Q2 Q1
1 Running Frame 1 Running Frame

2 Full Frames of playback to update SMPTE address

MTC Setup
Choose Master Device Slave Devices
Transmit MTC Receive MTC
Select Port Set Frame Rate
Set Frame Rate Set Offset

MTC Offset - Setting the SMPTE time to match the desired

grid location

0 1: 0 0 : 0 0 : 0 0 = 1.1.1
SMPTE Timecode Formats
SMPTE Timecode
VITC LTC MTC

Absolute Location-Based Synchronization

Song Position Pointer (SPP)
- Cues playback to a specific 16th note sequence position
- Does not control playback
- 14-bit value (2 Data Bytes) = 16,384 16th notes

Relative Location-Based Synchronization

MIDI Sync (SPP + Timing Clock)

SPP
Grid Location
+ Timing Clock
Playback Sync

Relative Location-Based Synchronization

Sync Example

MTC

Beat Clock + SPP

Use MTC or MIDI Sync

Timing Clock (MIDI Beat Clock)
- Keeps devices locked to the same tempo grid
- Pulses sent 24 ppqn
- No location reference
Timing Clock (MIDI Beat Clock)
- Musical Divisions (1/4, 1/6, 1/8, 1/12,1/16, etc.)

- Examples:
- Arpeggiators
- Synth LFO’s
- Multi Effects
- Delay
- Reverb
- Chorus, Flanger, Phaser, etc.
MIDI Beat Clock Setup
Master Device - Host Slave Device(s)
Transmit Clock Set to External Clock
Select MIDI Ports (All) Press PLAY
Set Divisions
- Arp,LFO,FX
Sync Examples

MIDI Beat Clock

Analog Clock
- Trigger Pulse - tempo
- Musical Divisions (1/4, 1/6, 1/8, 1/12,1/16, etc.)
- Dividers
- /2 - every other pulse (1/4 => 1/2)
- /4 - every 4 pulses (1/4 => 1/1)
- Multipliers
- X2 - adds pulses in between (1/4 => 1/8)
- X4 - adds pulses in between (1/4 => 1/16)
Analog Clock
/4

/2

Clock

X2

X4
Analog Clock
/4

/2

Clock

X2

X4
MIDI Interface with Sync Options
MIDI Interface with Sync Options

VITC MTC LTC

Sync Examples

M
ID
ITim
C
LT

ec
od
e
Rewire
- Standard for synchronizing two applications
on the same computer

Transport/Location

MIDI & Clock

Audio

* Launch Rewire Master first

Sync Examples

Rew
ire
Vocoding
Vocoding
A vocoder analyzes & creates frequency selective
envelopes from one signal (the modulator) and
imparts these matching envelopes onto another
signal (the carrier).
Vocoding
A vocoder analyzes & creates frequency selective
envelopes from one signal (the modulator) and
imparts these matching envelopes onto another
signal (the carrier).

Example: Modulator
(Voice)

Carrier Robot
Vocoder
(Synth) Voice
Voltage Controlled Amplifiers
MODULATOR
(Control Voltage)

INPUT/CARRIER OUTPUT
(Audio) VCA (Audio)

VCA multiplies Carrier by Modulator,

controlling level of Input
 VOCODING - 8 bands
MODULATOR

BP FILTERS

ENVELOPE FOLLOWERS

CARRIER
BP
MIXER
FILTERS

VCA’S
 VOCODING - 8 bands
MODULATOR

Modulator is split into 8

BP FILTERS frequency bands.
Carrier is split
into 8 frequency ENVELOPE FOLLOWERS
bands.

CARRIER
BP
MIXER
FILTERS

VCA’S
 VOCODING - 8 bands
MODULATOR

Modulator is split into 8

BP FILTERS frequency bands.
Carrier is split
Each band is run through an
into 8 frequency ENVELOPE FOLLOWERS envelope follower, generating a CV.
bands.

CARRIER
BP
MIXER
FILTERS

VCA’S
Each Carrier band is
fed into a VCA
 VOCODING - 8 bands
MODULATOR

Modulator is split into 8

BP FILTERS frequency bands.
Carrier is split
Each band is run through an
into 8 frequency ENVELOPE FOLLOWERS envelope follower, generating a CV.
bands.

CARRIER
BP
MIXER
FILTERS

VCA’S
Each Carrier band is Each VCA’s amplitude is
fed into a VCA controlled by a CV from a
corresponding band’s
Envelope Follower
Roland SVC-350
Korg VC-10
Sennheiser VSM-201
Roland VP-03
Logic EVOC 20 Vocoder
TAL Vocoder II
Integrated Videos Due Tonight