Hi everyone,
I am setting up a small-scale professional dubbing workflow and need advice on achieving tight, frame-accurate synchronization between Nuendo 13 (running as the master recording DAW on a Mac Studio M1 Ultra with macOS Tahoe 26.2) and Mosaic 2 (running as the video slave on a Windows 11 PC).
My main audio interface on the Mac is an RME Fireface UFX+. I have tested several MIDI Timecode (MTC) configurations to drive Mosaic 2, but the transport responsiveness and sync tightness fall short of professional dubbing standards.
What I’ve Tested So Far:
Hardware MIDI (RME UFX+ \rightarrow Roland UM-ONE): Connected the MIDI Out of the RME Fireface UFX+ on the Mac directly to the PC via a Roland UM-ONE USB-MIDI interface.
Hardware MIDI (RME UFX+ \rightarrow MOTU M6): Routed MIDI Out from the UFX+ into a MOTU M6 audio interface on the PC side.
The Issue:
Across all these MTC setups, the result is identical: noticeable start/stop latency, sluggish scrubbing, and the rhythm strip in Mosaic 2 takes time to catch up whenever I move the playhead or loop a section in Nuendo 13.
I need a reliable, pro-grade solution that offers instant transport response, zero-jitter start, and perfect frame-accurate tracking.
Two Potential Solutions I’m Considering:
1. Dual USB-to-RS422 Adapters (Sony 9-Pin Direct Bridge):
Using two Moxa UPort 1130 (FTDI chip) USB-to-RS422 converters (one on the Mac Studio as Sony 9-Pin Master in Nuendo 13, one on the PC as Slave), linked directly via a custom 5-wire crossed cable (TX \rightarrow RX, RX \rightarrow TX, GND).
Question: Has anyone successfully used this direct RS-422 bridge with Nuendo 13 for broadcast-level Machine Control without a dedicated sync clock hardware?
2. Steinberg Nuendo SyncStation:
Buying a second-hand Steinberg SyncStation.
Question: Is the SyncStation still fully operational with Nuendo 13 on modern Apple Silicon hardware running macOS Tahoe 26.2? Would it offer a significant performance upgrade over the dual RS-422 adapter setup for Sony 9-Pin control, or is it overkill for a direct Mac-to-PC link?
Would you recommend the dual Moxa RS-422 approach, or should I hunt down a SyncStation for this setup?
Thanks in advance for your insights!