how to sync to an external MIDI clock?

[Stanley Pain]

i need to know what to do within a patch to get a sequencer to sync with an external MIDI clock. i've tried everything, but i'm sure i'm not doing it in the most economical way.

basic patches would be appreciated...

[mosc]

Stanley, I don't normally do this but have you tired running the sequencer off of the clock oscillator that is using master clock mode and then setting the G2 to use external clock in the System settings?

[Fozzie]

Mosc's solution should work (works with my G2 engine), however, software clocks can be very jittery. I've tried syncing to Live, but it's horrible. If you see the red masterclock BPM counter (it changes color if it tracks external midi clock) jumping up and down in value, you're in for trouble. Synced delays will start jumping on this .

Good trick from 'way back in the classic days': set up the G2 master clock to the same setting as Cubase. Use a Cubase track to send an unused midi note (for example very high or low in pitch) to the G2, quantized to beat '1' of every measure (or every x measures). Use a note-detect module inside the G2 to produce a sync signal for sequencers or stuff like that.

[Stanley Pain]

[Stanley Pain]

when i say that solutions crap, i didn't mean YOUR solution was crap, i mean, i'd figured out that that was a way of creating synchronicity, it just felt wrong to have to do it like that.

[Fozzie]

Yeah, I know, it's crappy. But not as crappy as unstable software midi clocks that mess up a perfectly good G2. It can be different for different computer setups, as well as for different programs, but hw clocks are still hard to beat (pun sort of intended).

[Stanley Pain]

[slave to this]

stanely

i sync ableton with my modular just by sending a midi clock to the midi in port of the g2. i'm not sure if you're trying to do anything but slave to tempo, in which case, i haven't had any sort of problems mixing the two. usually i just set my clock gens in the g2 to master...i also usually set any lfo's to clock as well. you know you're sync'd when the master clock in the editor turns a bright red. i haven't had any problems with losing sync...but then again, like i mentioned...all i'm doing is making sure i'm sync'd to tempo in ableton.

james

[zinoff]

I get different level of jitter with different interfaces and different programs...

AMT-8 is rock solid only under logic. With Sonar is so-so, with FLStudio it's pretty bad and with Cubase SX and Live is the worst. (there's a bug in the drivers as well that doubles the tempo after a few stops).

The midi output from the EMU1820m gives fairly solid results with most of the sequencers, even if I managed to generate the only clean clock with Midi-OX set to 1ms accuracy. What I do now is generate the clock on the emu card and having thru-ed it in the AMT, I get a slight delay but the jitter is low.

Any other recommendations on midi interfaces?

[slave to this]

you guys have live 5?

[Engel]

IMHO, the problem of "red masterclock BPM counter" is in bad MIDI interface. I had this problem too (some notes had incorrect lenght, some notes was not played). It was very horrible.
My G2 was connected to (haha) SB Live! game port. Cubase SX 3 is sending MIDI clock messages, but G2 have incorrect response.
But when I have connected my G2 to M-Audio Midisport the problem was solved.
So, if you want to haven't problems with MIDI you must have good MIDI interface.

Hope, this helps.

[Engel]

[ian-s]

Can you use the G2 as clock master?

[Engel]

[BobTheDog]

[deknow]

the problem with midi clock (well, one of the problems), is that it has to be interspersed with other events. the more midi data in the pipeline, the worse things get.

i always use some device to send clock as a master to everything else. a drum machine on an empty pattern works great. i often use an old 707 for clock, as there is a nice knob for chaning tempo in small increments. use a good powered thru box to distribute this clock to all the devices that need it.

deknow

[Engel]

I'll try to check with another sequencer (now I'm using Cubase SX 3) - E-magic Logic Audio Platinum 5.5.1

[t4k4sh1]

[mosc]

t4k4sh1

Great to have you here.

Good advice. You mentioned several products I myself was unfamiliar with so I did a little research. I think if one is writing music where tight sync between several hardware and software devices is required, an investment in high-quality a MIDI interface is essential.

A couple of years ago when I participated in the Different Skies event, we used a dedicated MIDI clock distribution unit and we had about 8 musicians jamming together in perfect sync with no problems. I can't remember the exact device, unfortunately.

[mcrgmttr]

Hi there. I know this is a veeeery old post, but I have a possible solution that could help to somebody.
I am not so lucky to have a Nord G2 modular, but I really like the software demo, is one of the best modular virtual synths for me. I have no problem with the limitations, I like mono modulars.
I'm a linux user and play it under wine, it works perfect. Only the demo offers more than a lot of another pay virtual synths.
Well, I had the same problem sequencing the G2 via midi, with irregular results, but instead when I played it with my midi keyboard all worked right.
My solution:
1- Buy a cheap usb-midi converter, exactly this:
http://img.diytrade.com/cdimg/480148/8300885/0/1237191558/usb_midi_cable_midi_interface_adapter.jpg
2- Send midi from the sequencer software (I work with seq24) to the midi keyboard, internally, without the cable.
3- Connect the usb-midi converter to the keyboard midi-out.
4- Select "usb midi cable..." on the midi G2 preferences.

And thats all, at least in my case then the midi works perfect on the G2.

Hope this help someone!

[mosc]

mcrgmttr, to electro-music.com. Good to have you here.

I'm sure your post will be helpful to someone.

[mcrgmttr]

Hi mosc. Thanks for the welcome.