The Roland SBX-80 - a Programmable tempo controller - SPECIFICATIONS - 1985

A Programmable Tempo Controller That Reads and Generates SMPTE Time Code

SYNC BOX

The Roland SBX-80 - a Programmable tempo controller Can synchronize electronic musical instruments that use different sync methods.

• Can read & generate SMPTE time code.

• Can generate MIDI, Sync 24, and time signals (the time base can be selected from 1, 2, 3, 4, 12, 24, 48, 96 or 120 clock pulses per quarter note)
Full edit function and tape data storage facility.
Can sync slave instruments to tape.
Can control tempo by tempo knob, numerical pads, tap switch or audio source click
• Can sync music with video within your time parameter.

Brochure Roland 1985

Sync Box Pulls It All Together

Pull it all together with the SBX-80 Sync Box from Roland.

In a world where landmark technical developments seem to appear with the speed and regularity of the morning sun, the individual technologies of musical instruments, film, video, and audio have evolved independently at an amazing pace.

Over the last few years these independent mediums have been asked to work together in exciting ways, but elaborate devices were often required to make these combinations perform.

The SBX-80 Sync Box provides a single, easy to use, answer to these applications problems.

The SBX-80 is a multi-timebase, SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers), and MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) compatible clocking device.

As a master controller, the Sync Box can read a variety of signals including audio clock track and live performance cues, while simultaneously sending synchronizing information to many other devices that use different time codes.

SMPTE functions as the common denominator for all of the other timing codes that the Sync Box reads and generates.

SMPTE operates using the universal time concepts of hours, minutes, and seconds, and then further divides seconds into frames and bits.

Using this system, each medium (audio, film, etc.) can be inscribed with a code that not only allows other mediums to perform in synchronization, but the code also enables the user to search, retrieve, insert, and delete individual sections.

The SBX-80 can accept input from SMPTE, MIDI, Audio Click, and its manual Tap buttons. Tap buttons allow the user to establish or change tempo in real time by "tapping" the buttons to set quarter note values.

A numeric value can be assigned to quarter notes or eighth notes using the unit's ten-key pad.
The Sync Box then sends through its outputs MIDI, Sync-24 (Roland's sync code), a programmable Time Base (1, 2, 3, 4, 24, 48, 63, 96, or 120 pulses per quarter note), SMPTE, and a Metronome signal.

The Sync Box is the ideal tool to coordinate multi-media systems like the following: automated music systems (sequencers, synthesizers, and rhythm machines) and film or video; automated music systems and live performance; audio tracks that lack any kind of "sync code" and new automated music; automated music and "free time" music performances; and any assortment ofelectronic instruments that might work on different timing codes.