Owner's Manual - Roland

Settings Common to All Modes (System Function)Sync/TempSync ModeSpecify the synchronization message that the Fantom-X’s sequencerwill use for operation.ValueMASTER: The Fantom-X will be the master. Choose this settingwhen using the Fantom-X by itself withoutsynchronizing to another device, or when you wantother MIDI devices to synchronize to the Fantom-X.SLAVE-MIDI: The Fantom-X will be the slave. Choose this settingwhen you want the Fantom-X to synchronize toMIDI Clock messages received from another MIDIdevice.SLAVE-MTC: The Fantom-X will be the slave. Choose this settingwhen you want the Fantom-X to synchronize toMTC (MIDI Time Code) received from an externaldevice.REMOTE: Use this setting when you wish an external MIDIdevice to have remote start/stop control. The tempowill be in accord with what has been set on theFantom-X.MIDI Clock and MTCMIDI Clock and MTC (MIDI Time Code) are both messagesused for synchronization. Select either of them depending onthe application.MIDI Clock transmits and synchronizes operations to asequencer’s performance tempo, whereas MTC synchronizesoperations between devices based on an absolute time. SinceRoland VS Series workstations are hard disk recorders, theycannot send MIDI Clock. Therefore, using a MTC is convenientfor synchronization of the hard disk recorder and the Fantom-X.However, VS Series devices also feature specialized tracks forrecording MIDI Clock, so with the Fantom-X’s MIDI Clockrecorded in this manner, we have another synchronizingtechnique in which the VS device appears to be sending MIDIClock (although it is actually playing back tracks to which MIDIClock has been recorded). However, since the tempo must berecorded to the VS sync track beforehand, MTC is onlyconvenient in synchronizing with songs that do not containgreat amounts of tempo data.Sync Output (Sync Output Switch)Set this parameter ON when you want synchronization related MIDImessages (MIDI Clock, Start, Continue, Stop, Song Position Pointerand Song Select) to be transmitted to an external MIDI device. If not,set it OFF.Value: OFF, ONTempo OverrideSpecify whether the sequencer tempo will change (ON), or will notchange (OFF) when you switch performance.Value: ON, OFFArpeggio/Rhythm Sync SwitchSpecifies whether the arpeggio or rhythm pattern will start/stop insynchronization with the sequencer. This parameter does nothing ifthe sequencer is stopped.ValueOFF:ON:MMC ModeStart/stop will not synchronize to the synthesizer.While the sequencer is running, the arpeggio willstart at the beginning of the next measure. When youstop the sequencer, the arpeggios will also stop.When synchronizing the Fantom-X with a hard disk recorder, suchas one from the Roland VS series, specify which synchronizationsignal the Fantom-X’s sequencer will use for operation.ValueMASTER:SLAVE:The Fantom-X will be the master. Use this settingwhen you want other devices to follow the operationof the Fantom-X.The Fantom-X will be the slave. Use this settingwhen you want the Fantom-X to receive MMC(MIDI Machine Control) from an external device andoperate accordingly.MMC (MIDI Machine Control) is a specification that allowsMIDI messages to be used to control devices such as taperecorders, VTR’s, and digital recording systems. Thirty-sevenMMC commands are available, including Stop and Play.MMC Output (MMC Output Switch)Turn this “ON” if you want to synchronize with a hard diskrecorder, such as one from the Roland VS series. When set “ON,”MMC (MIDI Machine Control) related commands (Play, Stop andLocate) will be transmitted.Value: OFF, ONMTC Sync Output (MTC Sync Output Switch)Set this parameter ON when you want MTC (MIDI Time Code) to betransmitted to an external MIDI device. If not, set it OFF.Value: OFF, ONMTC Frame RateSpecify the MTC frame rate. Make sure that the same mode is set inboth master and slave devices.Value24: 24 frames per second25: 25 frames per second29N: 29 frames per second29D: 29 frames per second30: 30 frames per secondWhen synchronizing with a hard disk recorder such as theRoland VS series, any frame rate is all right—as long as thesetting matches that of the Fantom-X. However, whensynchronizing operation with video devices such as videodecks, the video device’s frame rate is fixed, so the Fantom-X’ssetting must correspond to that frame rate.227