Roland DIN sync

[fieldspar]

Hi,
I just have to get some things straight about DIN sync. I'm basically want to confirm what kind of control the Jupiter 4, ProMars and CR78/68 had. They didn't have DIN sync did they- that was later? If not what exactly was the proprietary form of integration between them. I've heard a number of old records where the arpeggiator of a JP 4 is synced with a Compurhythm- is that just a click trigger that wasn't unique to Roland? I had the impression that Roland products pre-empted MIDI by a few years and just wonder if this is really true? Thanks for any ideas!

[nathanscribe]

Well, the JP-4 has a clock input for the arpeggiator, and that's just a positive voltage pulse, on a standard 1/4" jack - it acts as a simple trigger. Many Roland synths use it, and typically will accept a voltage level from somthing like 2.5V to 15V, depending (user manuals should specify).

DIN Sync usesn a 5-pin DIN connector and provides start, continue, and clock signals at 5V levels. Some units use a fourth pin for functions like Fill triggering, etc.

Not all manufacturers' trigger signals are compatible - but with a suitable knowledge of DIY (or a commercial trigger convertor), you can mix and match. Korg also used a form of DIN Sync, but there's was 48 ppqn, while Roland's was 24.

The only thing this has in common with MIDI is the 5-pin DIN connector. MIDI is entirely different in execution, and you should never plug one into the other (although MIDI does also use a 24ppqn clock - different format though).

By Roland's "pre-empting" of MIDI you may be referring to DCB - it appeared on the Juno 60, Jupiter 8, and some sequencers/interfaces, but MIDI came along soon after and knocked it on the head. DCB is a uni- or bi-directional serial system which allows basic control. Kenton, among others, make an interface that allows MIDI control of DCB units, and vice-versa, which is nice. First time I used my Juno 60 to record MIDI felt a bit odd, but good.

[Solderman]

Just wanted to add about DCB: Certain common performance controls, like Modwheel and Pitch Bend do not translate over DCB, or even Midi to DCB converters. Also on the Jupiter 8, although it does have Din-Sync for the arpeggiator, it doesn't lock to the up-clock, but rather arbitrarily starts after it, so it's nigh impossible to sync a drum a machine and the JP8 together right on the beat, when both are playing. This is because Din-Sync is 24 PPQ, whereas the JP8 arpeggiator has to divide this, and it apparently doesn't usually get it right on the first clock in. The JP8 has the clock-in jack, just like the others, and this one does lock perfectly with the source.

[Syn303]

and remember the CR68/78 were 12ppqn and only had clock-in jacks too.