This setup will work for any of the Roland hard disk recorders (ie. VS-880, VS-840, VS-1680, VS-2480). In theory this setup could work for other brands of Hard Disk recorders as well.
Recording from a ROLAND VS-880 Digital recorder to Pro Tools
VS-880 (master)
Pro Tools (slave)
CONNECTIONS
- MIDI OUT of Roland VS-880 > MIDI IN of Digi 001 or Digi 002.
- The VS-880 supports Optical S/PDIF. (Two channels)
Optical OUT of VS-880 > Optical IN (no Red light) of Digi 001 PCI card or on the Digi 002 itself.
- Or use the S/PDIF output of the Roland VS-880 > S/PDIF inputs on the Digi 001 or Digi 002.
Both setups are listed below.
PRO TOOLS CONFIGURATION
1) Launch a Pro Tools session. Make sure that bit depth and sample rate match between Pro Tools and the VS-880.
2) For Digi 001 & Digi 002: Setup Menu > Hardware Setup. Set the Clock to S/PDIF if using the S/PDIF RCA input on the Digi 001. If using the Optical connection on the Digi 001 PCI card or the Optical connection on the Digi 002, set the Clock to ADAT.
3) Windows Menu > Show Session Setup. Make sure that the Start Time and Incoming Time Code are the same, or that Start Time is a little ahead of Incoming Time. This time code is provided to Pro Tools by sending MIDI Time Code from out of the Roland VS-880. (information below)
If using the S/PDIF Connections of the VS-880
- For Digi 001: Setups Menu > Hardware Setup > Set Optical Format to ADAT > OK.
- For Digi 002: Setups Menu > Hardware Setup > Set Digital Input to RCA = S/PDIF, Optical = ADAT. OK.
- Setups Menu > I/O Setups > Click on Input Tab > Click on Default button to Reset I/O's > OK.
- Set Inputs for the record tracks (S/PDIF connection): S/PDIF L and/or S/PDIF R.
If using the Optical connection from the VS-880
- For Digi 001: Setups Menu > Hardware Setup > Set Optical Format to S/PDIF> OK.
- For Digi 002: Setups Menu > Hardware Setup > Set Digital Input to Optical = S/PDIF, RCA = OFF. OK.
- Setups Menu > I/O Setups > Click on Input Tab > Click on Default button to Reset I/O's > OK.
5) Inputs for the record tracks (S/PDIF - Optical connection): S/PDIF L (Opt) and/or S/PDIF R (Opt).
AMS Setup
6) Setups > Edit MIDI Studio Setup: create VS-880 device (send/receive MTC) branching off the Digi 001 or Digi 002 MIDI Interface. For help on AMS setup consult Getting Started With Digi 001 or Digi 002 Guides.
Pro Tools Setup Continued
7) Setups Menu > Peripherals > Synchronization: device = Generic MTC reader. Port = VS-880 (or, if this doesn’t work try 001 or Digi 002)
8) Operations Menu > Set to ONLINE or select the clock on the left side of the Pro Tools Transport. (Transport = Pro Tools). Press Record button. Both Online and Record button will flash until sync begins. Sync will begin when you press play on the Roland VS-880.
9) Setups > Preferences> Operation: Record Online at Insertion/Selection.
10) Record enable all audio tracks.
11) Press play on the VS-880 and Pro Tools will sync and go into record.
VS-880
1) Set to Master
2) Sync Mode = Internal
3) select MTC for MIDI OUT connector
4) MTC Type = 30 (fps).