Syncing a TR606 to DAW's

Hello guys,

my first post in this lovely community and I have to bother you with a question, maybe someone of you can help me :)

I bought a Roland TR606, which included a Doepfer MSY2 Sync Converter from the german Ebay and I'm very convinced by the Drummachine, in my opinion it has a really sweet and unique sound, and I don't want to miss it anymore.

My Problem: This is the first time ever I used hardware for making electronic music, till then I only made my music digital.

I barely read about midi and stuff, and it seems not that hard but I'm a little bit confused what I else need to get the TR606 timesynced to a DAW (For Example Ableton, Renoise, FL, etc.). I searched the Internet a lot, but I could get quite a good answer.

I researched a little bit on our local (internet) musicstore and found about Midi2USB Cables or midi interfaces and now I'm even more confused :(

Maybe someone of you guys dealt with this problem before and can help me!

Sorry for my bad english and greetings!

you need an interface that connects to your computer with a midi in and out. it goes

606 ----> sync to midi converter -----> your audio interface -----> daw

Wow, thank you for the super fast reply!

Does it have to be an special interface, like only a midi interface or can I use any interface I like?

so the Doepfer MSY2 is a MIDI to DIN Sync converter. The 606 syncs to external tempo via an old method known as DIN Sync whereas modern gear uses MIDI to keep everything in time and synced together tempo wise. Seeing as you already have the necessary converter for the 606 you just need something to enable your computer to transmit MIDI. For this you will need either a cheap USB to MIDI cable, or you might want to get yourself a nice USB Audio/MIDI interface such as a Focusrite Saffire or something like that. Once you have a way of getting the MIDI clock signal (the thing that your 606 will ultimately sync to) out of your computer, it's simply a matter of plugging it all in, connecting everything together, then spending the inevitable few hours messing around with the MIDI settings on your DAW until it all works - i.e. when you press play on your DAW the 606 starts and plays at the same tempo as the DAW. You will need to spend a good while ticking and unticking various boxes on your DAW and then messing with your PC's settings a bit and it will probably be quite frustrating. It will eventually work however and then you're in multitrack analogue drum heaven!

  On 6/26/2014 at 4:17 PM, ATM27616 said:

Wow, thank you for the super fast reply!

Does it have to be an special interface, like only a midi interface or can I use any interface I like?

its just a usb/midi interface they can be as little as about €20 upwards. as long as you have a midi in and out you'll be ok

also some programs are a bit funny using midi like reason doesnt really support midi out unless you get the new one

also if i remember right, there is a switch on the back of the 606 for incoming/outgoing sync right? so make sure thats set right too :)

I'd recommend an audio interface over just a USB <-> MIDI cable. Unless you were just gonna plug the 606 into your soundcard's input?

  On 6/26/2014 at 6:17 PM, hautlle said:

I'd recommend an audio interface over just a USB <-> MIDI cable. Unless you were just gonna plug the 606 into your soundcard's input?

hey could you recommend a couple? i use just a usb midi one and although its ok, i wonder how good it would be to use an external audio interface but dont know much about them

just look for something with a few inputs and midi so you can record the output of the 606 to your DAW as well as anything else you may get in the future for good sound.

as far as an interface goes i'm using the akai eie pro which has some issues with windows drivers, but if youre on mac its a good product. the focusrites look pretty nice too

Thanks for your great helping answer BMC

I just recently came across the focusrite ones and they looked good to me too :P

Have you ever had any experience with the scarlett series?

I used a 707 as master with my 606 and DAW, as it got both DIN and midi

  On 6/27/2014 at 10:38 AM, chim said:

I used a 707 as master with my 606 and DAW, as it got both DIN and midi

In your way the 707 works as an "interface"?

  On 6/27/2014 at 10:38 AM, chim said:

I used a 707 as master with my 606 and DAW, as it got both DIN and midi

i started off that way too but find the 707's tempo pretty random and variable.

  On 6/27/2014 at 10:48 AM, ATM27616 said:

 

  On 6/27/2014 at 10:38 AM, chim said:

I used a 707 as master with my 606 and DAW, as it got both DIN and midi

 

In your way the 707 works as an "interface"?

 

Yes as a midi master, it decided the tempo, then i just pressed record

  On 6/27/2014 at 11:02 AM, BIOXLAT said:

 

  On 6/27/2014 at 10:38 AM, chim said:

I used a 707 as master with my 606 and DAW, as it got both DIN and midi

 

i started off that way too but find the 707's tempo pretty random and variable.

 

Yea my 707 was in pretty pristine condition but you got some strange effects out of it at times

  On 6/27/2014 at 10:35 AM, ATM27616 said:

Thanks for your great helping answer BMC

I just recently came across the focusrite ones and they looked good to me too :P

Have you ever had any experience with the scarlett series?

I have a Scarlett 8i6. I think it's an excellent bit of kit, not overly expensive either.