DIN sync explained

DIN sync, also called Sync24, is a synchronization interface for electronic musical instruments. It was introduced in 1980 by Roland Corporation and has been superseded by MIDI.

Definition and history

DIN sync was introduced in 1980 by Roland Corporation with the release of the TR-808 drum machine. The intended use was the synchronization of music sequencers, drum machines, arpeggiators and similar devices. It was superseded by MIDI in the mid-to-late 1980s.

DIN sync consists of two signals, clock (tempo) and run/stop. Both signals are TTL compatible, meaning the low state is 0 V and the high state is about +5 V. The clock signal is a low-frequency pulse wave suggesting the tempo. Instead of measuring the waveform's frequency, the machine receiving the signal merely has to count the number of pulses to work out when to increment its position in the music. Roland equipment uses 24 pulses per quarter note, known as Sync24. Therefore, a Roland-compatible device playing sixteenth notes would have to advance to the next note every time it receives 6 pulses. Korg equipment uses 48 pulses per quarter note. The run/stop signal indicates whether the sequence is playing or not.

If a device is a DIN sync sender, the positive slope of start/stop must reset the clock signal, and the clock signal must start with a delay of 9 ms.[1]

A detailed description on how to implement a DIN sync sender with Play, Pause, Continue and Stop functionality was published by E-RM Erfindungsbuero.[2]

Pinouts

DIN sync is so named because it uses 5-pin DIN connectors, the same as used for MIDI. DIN sync itself is not a DIN standard. Note that despite using the same connectors as MIDI, it uses different pins on these connectors (1, 2, and 3 rather than MIDI's 2, 4 and 5), so a cable made specifically for MIDI will not necessarily have the pins required for DIN sync connected. In some applications the remaining DIN sync pins (4 and 5) are used as tap and fill in or reset and start, but this differs from one device to another.

DIN sync pinout
PinPurposeNotes
1start/stopstop = 0 volt, start = +5 volt
2ground
3clocksymmetric pulse wave 0/+5 volt, the positive slope determines the clock step
4reset startoptional; same voltages as start/stop; the reset is valid for the song mode of Roland machines
5fill inoptional; same voltages as start/stop; it activated the fill-in function of the TR-808 and TR-606

Some manufacturers offer DIN sync over a 3.5 mm TRS mini-jack connection. Similar to the MIDI standard over TRS minijack, the aim is to reduce space in the device with a smaller connector.[3]

DIN sync pinout over 3.5 mm TRS connector
PinPurposeNotes
Tipclocksymmetric pulse wave 0/+5 volt, the positive slope determines the clock step
Ringstart/stopstop = 0 volt, start = +5 volt
Sleeveground

Relation to other clock systems

Other clock systems

The MIDI interface uses the same 5-pin DIN connectors but is electrically not compatible with DIN sync. The MIDI protocol features a MIDI beat clock. MIDI beat clock also works with 24 ticks per quarter note. MIDI timecode is used for more general timecode synchronization applications.

Analog clock signals are equivalent to the clock signal at pin 3 of DIN sync interface. The clock rate is usually higher than the DIN sync's rate. Typical values are 48, 96 or 192 pulses per quarter note (examples: Oberheim DMX, DX, DSX; LinnDrum 1 and 2).

Analog trigger signals transfer a pulse per musical event. For instance, a trigger corresponds to a step of an analog sequencer or an arpeggiator, a step in a rhythm pattern. Typical analog triggers run at four pulses per quarter note.

Combining with other clock systems

The combination of DIN sync with a different clock system can be achieved either by converting the format or the clock rate (see list below) or by using a central unit (so-called master clock), which provides multiple clock formats. The approach with a master clock is usually chosen, especially if synchronization with absolute time is required, such as synchronization with a tape recorder or with video footage.

Typical devices which can act as a master clock and provide DIN sync include the Roland SBX-80, Roland SBX-10, Friendchip SRC, E-RM midiclock⁺ and Yamaha MSS1. Many drum machines which have DIN sync and MIDI clock outputs can act as master clock for those two formats.

Converting from and to other clock systems

Though DIN sync and MIDI clock have the same clock rate, they require a conversion of the format within a microprocessor or similar. The conversion from MIDI clock to DIN sync is available in many industrial devices. The conversion from DIN sync to MIDI clock can be performed by devices such as 'Sync-Split2' from Innerclock Systems, or D-Sync by Kenton Electronics. Also two no longer produced devices do this type of conversion: Roland SBX10, Korg KMS30. On September 1, 2014, Roland introduced the SBX-1 which provides MIDI to sync24 or sync48 conversion.

To get an analog trigger or clock from the DIN syncs clock signal one has to use digital frequency division or frequency multiplication. There are no dedicated industrial devices that provide a division. The Roland SBX10 can convert into a 48, 96, and 120 PPQN clock.

Devices

Some devices have a DIN sync input as well as DIN sync output, other devices have only a single DIN socket which sometimes can be switched between input and output.

Company Model In / Out PPQN Remark
Abstrakt Instruments Avalon In and out 24 Conversion between MIDI & DIN sync, can output both simultaneously
Acidlab Bassline Switchable 24
x0xb0x Switchable 24 Converts DIN sync to MIDI and MIDI to DIN sync
Arturia BeatStep Pro In and out 24/48 Provided over TRS connector. 1PPS, DIN24, DIN48
Arturia Drumbrute In and out 24/48 1PPS, 2PPQ, DIN24, DIN48 or analog clock (Note: Arturia Drumbrute offers DIN sync, Minibrute does not appear to support DIN)
Arturia Drumbrute Impact In and out 24/48 Provided over TRS connector. 1PPS, 2PPQ, DIN24, DIN48 or analog clock
audiowerkstatt din2midi2din In and out 24/48 Conversion from MIDI to DIN sync and DIN sync to MIDI (sync24/sync48)
audiowerkstatt din-restarter In and out 24/48 Tool for synchronized start/stop of DIN sync devices (sync24/sync48)
Behringer RD-8 In and out Various 1 PPQ, 2 PPQ, 4 PPQ, 24 PPQ, 48 PPQ. Provided over TRS connector, rate configurable on the device.
Behringer TD-3-(MO) In only Various 1 PPQ, 2 PPQ, 4 PPQ, 24 PPQ, 48 PPQ. Provided over TRS connector, rate configurable on the device.
Detachment 3 Archangel In and out 24 Conversion between MIDI & DIN, can output both simultaneously
DoepferM.A.U.S.I.Out onlyConversion from MIDI to DIN sync, a division factor can be set
MCV-24 Out only Up to 24 Conversion from MIDI to DIN sync, a division factor can be set
MSY2 Out only 1.5 to 24 Conversion from MIDI to DIN sync, a division factor can be set between 1:1 and 1:16
Analog Four / Analog Four MKII / Analog Keys Out only 24/48 MIDI Out jack and/or MIDI Thru jack can be set up to output DIN sync24/sync48
Analog Rytm / Analog Rytm MKII Out only 24/48 MIDI Out jack and/or MIDI Thru jack can be set up to output DIN sync24/sync48
Analog Heat Out only 24/48 MIDI Out jack and/or MIDI Thru jack can be set up to output DIN sync24/sync48
Digitakt Out only 24/48 MIDI Out jack and/or MIDI Thru jack can be set up to output DIN sync24/sync48
Digitone/Digitone Keys Out only 24/48 MIDI Out jack and/or MIDI Thru jack can be set up to output DIN sync24/sync48
Syntakt Out only 24/48 MIDI Out jack and/or MIDI Thru jack can be set up to output DIN sync24/sync48
E-RM Erfindungsbüro Midiclock⁺ Out only 4, 24 Switchable MIDI / sync out jack can be set up to output sync24 or analog clock (4 PPQN)
Future Retro Mobius Out only 24 Provides MIDI to DIN sync conversion
Future Retro Revolution Out only 24 Provides MIDI to DIN sync conversion
XBase09 Switchable 24
R-100 Switchable
Kenton Electronics Pro-2 Out only 24 Provides MIDI clock to DIN sync conversion
Kenton Electronics Pro-4 Out only 24 Provides MIDI clock to DIN sync conversion
Kenton Electronics Pro-2000 / Pro-2000 mkII Out only 24 Provides MIDI clock to DIN sync conversion
Kenton Electronics Pro Solo mkII Out only 24 Provides MIDI clock to DIN sync conversion
Kenton Electronics Pro Solo mk3 Out only Various Provides MIDI clock to DIN sync conversion
Kenton Electronics D-SYNC In and out 24/48 Provides MIDI clock to DIN sync / DIN sync to MIDI clock conversion
KOMA Elektronik RH301 In and out 24 sync24; converts MIDI & analogue clock to DIN sync and DIN sync to MIDI and analogue clock
KPR-77 Switchable 48
DDM-110 Switchable 48
DDM-220 Switchable 48
SQ-64 Out only 4/12/24/48 Provided over TRS connector, rate configurable on the device. Sync in does not support run/stop.
MAM SQ-16 Out only 24 x0x style MIDI sequencer
Midronome Midronome Out only 1-24 MIDI Master Clock with sync24 output[4]
Out only 24 converts MIDI clock to DIN sync
In and out 24 Two outputs
Switchable Various
Out only 24
In only 24 The TB-303 has a switch in the DIN socket, which disables the internal clock and enables the external DIN sync. DIN Sync out can be achieved unofficially, if the DIN connector is inserted not completely in the socket.
RolandTR-606In or out24The TR-606 has a switch on the back which selects DIN sync IN or DIN sync OUT.
RolandTR-707 / TR-727Out only24The TR-707 may even convert MIDI to DIN sync in certain modes
TR-808In and out24The TR-808 has a switch on the back which selects DIN sync IN or DIN sync OUT.
RolandTR-909In only24
CR-8000 In and out 24
CSQ-600 Out only 12 provides also the a special CSQ-Clock, and clock for the CR-78 (12 PPQN)
JSQ-60 Out only (2x)24
In only 12 for synchronizing arpeggio
MSQ-100 In and out
MSQ-700 In and out
SBX-1 In and out
SequentixP3Out only24MIDI Sync Out can be modified to output DIN sync24
SequentixCirklonOut only24/48Use SYNC port
STG SoundlabsTime SuiteIn only24
Synthstrom AudibleDelugeIn and outVariousTrigger in via 3.5mm tip; trigger out on Gates 3 and 4 for start/stop and clock respectively.
Tama TSQ-1000 Switchable this is trigger sequencer which provides six trigger tracks

Note that sync48 devices can be combined with sync24 devices if 32nd notes are programmed instead of 16th notes.

External links

Notes and References

  1. See service manual TR-808, Fig.8 and Fig.9
  2. http://e-rm.de/data/ERM_DinSync_Report_10_14.pdf E-RM Erfindungsbuero DIN sync report
  3. https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/arturia-beatstep-pro Beatstep Pro review
  4. Web site: Midronome technical specifications . 2022-02-20.