Roland VS-880EX - Sync to a MIDI Sequencer Using MIDI Clock

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VS-880EX Application Guide
Sync To A MIDI Sequencer Using MIDI Clock
MIDI Clock is a sync code that uses the tempo settings of your song to lock two devices together. In order
to use MIDI Clock with the VS-880EX, you first must make a “Tempo Map” (see page 102 of this guide).
Some of the reasons to use MIDI Clock instead of MTC are as follows:
1. Some sequencers cannot sync to MTC.
2. If you use the internal click (metronome) of the VS-880EX, you must make a Tempo Map in
the VS-880EX that the metronome uses as a reference. You will want your sequencer to
follow that same Tempo Map.
The VS-880EX does not slave to MIDI Clock, it can only generate MIDI Clock
based on its own internal Tempo Map.
Use the following steps to slave your sequencer to the VS-880’s Tempo Map (master) using MIDI Clock:
ACTION: Sync To An External Sequencer Using MIDI
Clock
Setting System Parameters
1. Press the [SYSTEM] button repeatedly until “SYS Sync/Tempo?” is displayed.
2. Press [YES].
3. Using the [<<PARAMETER>>] buttons, scroll through the various screen pages and set each
parameter to the following settings:
Syn:Source= INT
Syn:Gen= MIDIclk
Syn:ErrLevel *
Syn:MTC Type *
Syn:Tmap see Step # 4 below
Syn:Ofs ***
Syn:Sync.Tr Rec? **
Syn:Sync.Tr Cnv? ***
*These screens apply to MTC (not MIDI Clock), and are not used here. **This screen applies to recording
a tempo track into the VS-880EX from an external MIDI sequencer, and is not used here. ***These
screens apply to MIDI Clock, but their specific functions are not used here.
Creating A Tempo Map
4. When you reach the Tempo Map page (step #3 above), use the [<CURSOR>] buttons to
navigate around the screen.
5. Enter the tempo of the song in the tempo field.
6. If there are tempo changes during the song, [<CURSOR>] back to the Tmap#, select Tmap 2,
and then enter the new tempo in the bpm field.
7. [<CURSOR>] to the measure field and input the measure where the new tempo starts.
8. Repeat steps 6-7 to create additional tempo changes as desired.
The VS-880EX will generate a MIDI Clock signal from this Tempo Map and transmit this MIDI clock to the
MIDI out connector on the VS-880EX rear panel. The MEASURE and BEAT display will also be based on
this tempo map information as will the tempo of the internal click (metronome).