MIDI

Question

Im doing a light show on an ion in a couple of weeks and the only time ive ever worked with is follow/hang. Ive been reading up on MSC and MTC and am getting very confused on how they work and what the differences are between the two. 
 I need my cues to be very exact. Can anyone tell me which would be best for my purpose and how to make it work?

luke.delwiche · Answer

MTC (MIDI Time Code) is an incoming timecode signal that uses MIDI as it's transport. You receive this timecode from another device and put together a list of what should happen at what time. You can also, whilst timecode input is present, learn the cues/subs/macros and they will be put into the list. Note that you can also run an internal clock to do all of this, but it is not transmitted out - it is only with the Ion. 
 MSC (MIDI Show Control) contains standardised incoming MIDI signals (SysEx) for GO, STOP, BACK, FIRE, and like that. Ion can listen and respond to these incoming signals as well as generate them for other devices to listen to. 
 So....it really depends on what else you have and what you are trying to do! You may want to look at using an internal clock to play the Ion cues in exactly the right place - similar to Follow/Hang but ultimately a lot easier to manage, as a change to the timing of Cue 6 doesn't affect that of Cue 55! 
 -luke-