How to sync two SONAR DAWs for parallel recording ?

Hello Experts,
 
I have a small recording booth in my basement together with a small control room.
I used to record with a Win XP-based DAW with a PCI audio interface (8 ch audio, MIDI I/O), latest update was to X1.
I recently added a new machine with a USB audio interface, Win 7 64 and SONAR X2.
Both system are well tuned and operating fine.
The X2 machine is my master now, but the USB interface lacks of a realtime audio mixer for input monitoring (e.g. for keyboards),
which my PCI interface is capable of. So I got the idea to use both machines for recording within a project,
and I messed around with syncing - but not happy yet. Used the MIDI connection between the interfaces, MMC and MTC
and clock sync via Digital Out->Digital IN.
There is reaction on the XP machine when starting on the X2 master, but there are delays, song pointer is not following etc.
 
So, before I continue researching around,
what should be the "optimal" method / settings to make these two unit operate as one ?
 
Any other ideas / hints or similar working setups out there ?
 
Thanks,
Stefan
 
 
 
 

I have successfully used midi sync between sonar and my tascam and it worked well. I prefer using spidf master slave and hitting record separately. I then line up the tracks manually in one sonar project. I use m auto align to do the final alignment.

Guitarhacker
That sounds like a bunch of trouble to me.... but what do I know? Someone else here may actually be doing that too.
 

Do you need to have the available inputs from both PCs to record at the same time? I think the easier solution would be to get a single interface to handle all of the inputs you need on one machine.
 
With that said, if you get a lightpipe interface, you should be able to add additional inputs to a host controller that could add up to 16 or more audio inputs for ~$400 or so. The Behringer ultrgain is an example of this type of interface. It will add 8 channels to an interface in the PC that will interface with the lightpipe. I would not try to get 2 PCs syc'd - you are only asking for headaches.

Sorry, but isn't this against the TOS?
 
We're only allowed to RUN one instance of Sonar at a time, at least that's how I remember it.

I know what you're saying - resistance is futile & all that - but as far as I know, them's the rules.

SechsSaiten
Thanks to you all.
As it's not trouble-free I'll skip this in the future and think about extending my master machine.
 
BTW: I own X1 as well as X2, so no prob's with TOS...
 

It is a small point but unless you paid full price for X1 and X2 and not the upgrade price for X2 you would violate your license if you use both X1 and X2 at the same time. You only have one license to use SONAR that you upgraded to the newest version.

Bristol_Jonesey
Sorry, but isn't this against the TOS?
 
We're only allowed to RUN one instance of Sonar at a time, at least that's how I remember it.

Haha.

Personally I'd just have the computers setup side by side record 1-8 on the first computer, and the additional tracks recorded to the other computer, no sync cables. Just make sure the format is setup the same (24 bit 44k) on both. Hit record on one machine and then record on the other.
Have the drummer strike a snare hit or something to give a reference point across all of the tracks to be recorded. Click the song off and away you go.
Once the recording is done, just copy the wave files from computer #2 onto a flash drive or cd and import it into the first computer's song file.
Use the snare hit that is across all tracks to line all of the files up. Ez Peezy.
If you are woried about the TOS then just download and install reaper on the second computer. (Of course pay for it if you continue to use it)
Or better yet, you could purchase a scaled down version of X2 (Music creator) to record the additional tracks.