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
 
 
 
 

That sounds like a bunch of trouble to me.... but what do I know? Someone else here may actually be doing that too.
 
I use a Saffire interface and use no audio mixer on my system. The USB interface should have a level input knob on it to adjust the audio level coming in and it should also have a software control panel where the default levels are preset. I know this is true for the interface I use.
 
I would think it would be easier to set up one of the computers to do what you need and remember the old saying: Keep it simple.

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.

When in midi sync you hit record on the slave first.

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.

I have experimented with this sort of thing and done it between two computers and also between DAW and ADAT's etc. But in the end I have just found that it does not really work all that great. Sometimes the sync can shift momentarily between the two systems and you can get timing errors.
 
Also it is a bit if a pain having a recording spread over two complete sessions on two complete computers. I think Guitarmech111 has made some very valid points and for a much more reliable and stable system you are better off getting it all to work on one computer running just one program.

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.

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.

Really? I get where your coming from. But on a lighter note...

When they become a Borg collective isn't it like one? :)

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

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...