MXR 185 Drum Machine Sync Information

[bionary]

I'm looking to purchase an MXR 185 Drum Computer and have a question about syncing. While looking at the manual, I came across this paragraph regarding the TAPE TO/FROM jacks:

"TAPE, TO/From: These jacks provide output to and input from a quality tape recorder. A sync signal is also present at the TO TAPE Jack, this sync signal will automatically drive the Drum Computer. The FROM TAPE will also accept a signal from an external tempo generator. The Computer requires a 50% squarewave with a frequency 24 times that of the desired Click Track frequency."


What does this mean exactly? Can this machine be synced with a click track running into the FROM TAPE socket?

[meatballfulton]

Yes, if you feed a square wave clock that has 24 ticks per quarter note, the MXR will synch to it. The old DIN sync/sync 24 standard uses such a clock.

It will not work properly with Korg's Volca Sync standard which is 1 click per 16th note (so 4 per quarter note)

[bionary]

@meatballfulton-Could this be accomplished with a Korg KMS-30?

[ppg_wavecomputer]

I think the KMS-30 needs a pre-recorded tape sync signal that it can lock unto when playing back (unless you have got a master device that drives the DIN Sync inputs so that you can tap the clock pulse from the DIN Sync jack). Perhaps there is a way to generate a clock pulse as an audio track in your DAW and use this as a master?

I seem to remember that the MXR Drum Machine was a bit iffy to sync.

Stephen