As soon as I watched this video I was able to sync my deluge with my microfreak knowing absolutely nothing about midi or clock sync. Thank you so much.
Sooo helpful. Just got a boutique JU and want to pair it with a volca eventually. This video confirmed that 1. I can do that and 2. How. Really appreciate it
This is wonderfully coherent and concise. The explanation of the ability of MIDI cables versus analog sync cables was unexpected and definitely appreciated. Thank you for this video.
Thank you. I'm new to syncing devices and this really helped me to understand my setup. I'm fortunate in that I'm using an MS1, RD8 and TD3 so no cross platform issues as such but it really helped me to understand why 'position' data isn't passed on on start / stop.
Great description, while I certainly understood what Sync and Midi are I did not know that the definition of Sync - changed from device to device. This explains the oddities I ran across in trying to get Roland to sync with non Roland devices.
Well put and properly succinct. I am presently trying to rearrange my small “studio” incorporating a couple new devices and this is certainly helpful. From my ‘beginners mind’. Thank You Sir!
You can actually mod every Volca to add MIDI OUT. Korg did put the chip for OUT but not the connect haha (there is many tutorials). I did the mod for the volca Beat (you can also put very easily an Out for every Drum sounds ) and the volca Bass (which is amazing because it become a 3 sequencer in One machine !!)
Sucks for people like me who have no knowledge of doing modifications let alone tools. Wish they offered a place that you could ship your Volcas to for v these modifications.
Thanks for that, without doubt the most useful informative video I've seen on this subject. I have synths and drum machines from, Moog, Korg and Arturia and it seems that you are expected to just know how to make them play nicely together ! Great video.
Extremely useful thank you. Currently researching as I am a novice trying to sync up a Korg Monologue XD, Roland TR-8s and a EricaSynth Bassline DB-01.
thank you very muchhh!! been struggling with that same problem with a behringer td3. i’m a complete beginner and i don’t even now how to google the problems i got 😂. thought i was doing something wrong, thanks again
The gate out on the boutique is not a clock out like you mentioned. It seems so since the programmed sequence in your example consists of 16th notes, but if you had some tied notes or rests in the sequence, the 'clock' would hang or shift on those points.
To be specific, Volcas and Pocket Operators run at 2 PPQN (pulses per quarter note). Newer Volcas (2019+ like the Drum and Nubass) can be set to 4 PPQN in the global settings. Roland Boutiques run at 4 PPQN. If you hook them up to a 2 PPQN Volca they'll run at half speed. They also NEED a mono cable. They don't work at all if you use a stereo cable. Volcas work fine with stereo cables (tip = clock, ring = NC). The whole idea of using patch cables (1/4" or 3.5mm) for sync was a modular thing mostly intended to work with trigger outputs. So normally one pulse would be one step, and on a 16-step sequencer that's 4 pulses per quarter note. So it's odd that Volcas and POs use 2 PPQN. I can sync my JX-08 Boutique with a trigger out from my TR-606 going into EXT CLK IN, or with Volcas, or with my J-6. The Roland Aira Compact synths work fine with a stereo cable, and they let you set 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, or 24 PPQN in the settings. So you can use a them to double-clock or half-clock other things. For example, I can set my J-6 to 1 PPQN, then sync it with a PO-33 or Volca (2 PPQN) if I want the PO-33 / Volca to be clocked at half-speed and have 2-bar patterns. Some things use stereo sync cables and actually put a start/stop signal on the ring. I think the Behringer RD-8 and RD-9 are like that. They work fine with Volcas since the ring isn't connected anyway. And the RD-8 and RD-9 let you set a pretty wide range of PPQN clocks (not as many as the Roland Compacts, though). I actually never had any mono patch cables till I got the JX-08. I couldn't get it to sync with anything, but then I played with it with a multimeter trying to see what it was doing. It looks like the Boutiques detect that a patch cable is inserted the same way a Boss pedal detects that a cable is inserted - it grounds a circuit to the ring of a stereo input jack. EXT CLK IN has 3.3V on the ring. When you insert a mono cable, the jack's ring contact gets grounded to the sleeve. But if you insert a stereo cable it doesn't know because the ring/sleeve aren't connected.
Thanx for the vid. I've my first rehearsal nest wednesday (Suán Trepia) and we're trying synching a Roland SP555 with my volca keys. Im so excited, as im asking my 'boss' for a year about going into analog synths for the band and this gonna be first time, but i was really lost into synching them!
I think native instruments is trying to standardize things. Great great video. You are doing a good thing by explaining things like you are. A lot of beginners never learn this stuff and end up frustrated after time because they think that after time they should beat a certain level, but of course they need basic knowledge that can be boring to learn. You are making it more fun. Don’t forget you are talking mostly to beginners so fun is important to keep their attention. Anyway, I am just throwing ideas at you. I am no expert. I am sitting in a breakfast place corner Cote Des Neiges and Cote st Catherine getting ideas. Have fun mr. nutrix.
Sync is one of the most difficult thing to get working. Basically trying to get different devices and software from different brands created by different engineer for different user with different workflow. And in this video I only talked about music sync. Wait until you try to sync MIDI Sync, analog sync, S.M.P.T.E LTC, S.M.P.T.E. VTC, the multitude versions of Wordclork or even Black burst House sync! Now THAT is a real Nightmare! ;-)
This is making sense now. I managed to sync an Atari 8-bit computer (master) running Midi Music System software with a PO-33 and/or an NTS-1. The Atari outputs 24 pulses per quarter note from pin 3 on joystick port 2. An Arduino is used to count the pulses from the Atari and then sends out a pulse every 12 pulses to the slave. Everything seems to stay in sync until I stop sending MIDI signals using the escape key.
Informative as always Nutrix. I got four of the Volcas when I first got into synths. I always wished they had made them with out and through patches for the midi cables. Alas, only the in line. There were some people back then modding them and selling them on Ebay. Haven't seen them in awhile though. I used to have one Volca with the midi line in from and RM1x and used the sync cables for the other 3. It worked but I always wanted more versatility. Ashame they didn't include more midi connections, but I guess they wanted to keep the price down. Still fun units for the price.
WOW!, thank You for this Master Class, this video describes it all in detail and with such clarity!. Can you please recommend a sync device, I would like to synchronize My Cubase project running from a PC to a Protools session running from a Mac. I want to make Cubase the master and Pro Tools the slave. Essentially, I want to press play, stop, rewind, scrub left, right and have pro tools follow. The goal is to have Cubase (master) as my sequencer and pro tools (slave) to run video simultaneously. There is a device that does this exact thing but the price is $4,000. after this video I know that there is a better efficient cheaper way. Thank You for your suggestions and thank You for this amazing Video.
@@J.Livermore Can you tell me the Cubase and Protools versions you are using? Will Protools run video and audio while recording Cubase output? Cubase will playback music I’m guessing, right?
Hi @@Nu-trix , Absolutely, I am running Protools Studio on a M1 Mac Ultra and Cubase 12 on a 64 Core PC Threadripper Pro 256 RAM. Yes Protools will run Video and audio while recording Cubase output, and Cubase will play back the music.. Thank You for Your Time!!
Really useful. Learnt alot did not realise that diff Manufacturers mange sync differently.... I want to sink Roland FA06 to My TR-08.. But cant see the settings in the manual for the TR-08 , Please help Thanks..
Thank you. Much informative. I want to use an electribe to controll the 2 volcas and the microfreak (+ uno). So i think if i should use sync or better only midi.
I have been given a Yamaha CS2X synthesizer from the 90s and a Yamaha RX15 drum machine from the 80s and am curious about how they can sync with each other...what device can do what with the other?
Nice video!!! I use tr-8s as master midi out go into midi in of a ju06a. Everythings works, but if during the playback I stop the sequencer from ju06a , when I restart the sequence is out of sync. Why? I didnt understand the reason. Thank yoy very much.
Hi I love the way you explained it. What's confusing to me in the midi world of is what's the difference between a midi "sync" box a midi "thru" box? It sounds like a play on words, if they both send the exact same type and amount of midi messages between 2 devices. Based upon your knowledge and experience, is there a difference between the messages stemming from a midi "sync" box versus a midi "thru" box? Does a midi thru box allow midi messages through or thru? And does a midi sync box sync all messages or just a few? The difference between those 2 type of boxes is what confuses me. Do you know which one is better between the two: a midi sync box a midi thru box? (I really appreciate your insight, because you definitely explained things where it's easy to understand). I look foward to hear what's your take on sync versus thru. Thanks for sharing your insight.
In short: a MIDI THRU box simply copies the MIDI IN to multiples THRU to send the exact same message that was received at the input. A MIDI SYNC box would normally affect the sync messages (not the notes or the controls changes) it should be able to receive a certain type of a sync (that is not MIDI) and generate from that a MIDI sync message, or vice versa. A sync box will permit you to have to incompatible machine talk the sync (tempo, song locator, start, stop, etc…)
@@Nu-trix I was thinking to use a 1010 music black box to better sequence the sounds from a casio wk 7600 keyboard, and keeping the sounds from the casio, utilizing black box to build a song. In that situation is a sync better than midi thru? If I understand synce vs thru properly the way you explained it (please correct me if I'm wrong), in this case to keep the sounds from the casio keyboard but control it using a 1010 music black box would be better to use a midi sync box instead I think. Am I understanding that right? Thanks always
How do I sync/ connect my Roland Tr8/ tb3 and Behringer MS1. I have connected my tr8 and tb3 before by using jack plugs by in and out but are stuck now hooking up my ms1. If midi is the way to go , how?
Great video. I think i have the ultimate question. I just bought an Akai APC mini to cue music in OBS for shows. I want to assign for example 5 triggers (music tracks) to the same volume slider but cannot seem to figure this out. Thanking you in advance for any suggestions. Keep up the great work.
A MIDI volume is link to a specific MIDI channel. If you want one MIDI fader to control the volume of 5 sounds, they should be on the same MIDI channel.
Im not sure when you say one channel in OBS. Please excuse me if I'm not understanding. I try to explain it a bit more in detail. I am using the midi set up in OBS on my Mac. I am using the APC mini. I have 8 rows with 7 triggers and one volume slider below each of them. I have separate tracks assigned to each trigger that turn on and off just fine. I can assign one track to the volume slider but when I attempt to assign more than one I get a message that says" Can Not Map Channel 0. Please Click Listen One Or Listen Many to listen for MIDI Event to map". after clicking OK I then get another message that says" Mapping already Exists for APC MINI, with channel # 1 norc # 51 and Message type Control Change. I hope I'm answering you question. thanks again for your help on this.
Good topic. I have a related question regarding the Arturia Microbrute. I want to connect the Microbrute with a drum machine or clock of some kind, with a means of controlling bpm. There is no bpm display on the Microbrute, so I’d like to be able to do 2 things: 1) sync with a drum machine (in correct time), and 2) actually see the bpm on a digital LED display as part of the setup. Any suggestions for drum machine options or ideas for a digital clock/bpm gauge (maybe modular)? Thanks.
Don’t make my mistake of buying a zoom RT123, great sounding drum machine but only has midi in, no out, so needs to be last in your chain and cannot be set as a master. It’s possible to use an iPad to sync things, using an app called AUM. This works fine if your using the iPad as a master clock. You can take a midi sync signal into the iPad and output it to other devices via midi and get an accurate clock display, but that’s slightly more tricky. I made a short video on my synth channel explaining how to do this. th-cam.com/video/BWXqGh930CQ/w-d-xo.html
Thanks so much for the video!! Not sure if I was the one you mentioned asking the question..or if it’s that commonly asked...but thank you. Kinda bummed the Volca can’t trigger the Boutique. I use a Volca Mix which has a master tempo control...but I can’t hook up my Boutiques to it. I don’t have an SH-01a so I was unaware of it’s tempo knob on the front panel..I have a JU-06 and SE-02 and the tempo control isn’t as easy to work with than the Volcas. Oh, well. At least now I have a definitive answer that it really doesn’t work, and it’s not just me hooking it up wrong
“Triggered” the need...ahhhhhhhhhhhhh See what you did there Again...thank you for the definitive answer. I’ve been looking to invest in an MX-1 anyway for my Boutiques
I just received my JU-06a and I have a theory on the sync with the Volca Mix. What about a Korg SQ-1?? I saw a video from Perfect Circuit Audio with an SE-02, SQ-1, and a Volca Beats. The Volca Mix could clock the SQ-1 which could clock the SE-02 and JU-06a through ext clock in. Just a thought. I’ve been wanting an SQ-1 anyway for other gear
Hi everyone. I humbly ask the community for help, since I've NEVER been able to sync two or more devices using mini jack sync. I've owned many, including korg volcas, Arturia keystep, etc. Now I've got some second-hand devices: korg Electribe 2 sampler, sonicware Liven LoFi-12, Liven XFM... I've tried a lot of times, since they all have the Sync In and Out ports, and I NEVER did it. I don't understand what is wrong: do I need specific mini jack for sync? Isn't a regular stereo mini jack fitting for this? How can I understand if polarity is right and/or how to set it correctly? Is there a complete guide to start with? Until now I connected the devices using the midi ports, but since I'd like to use them in some cases for other devices such as a midi keyboard, I'd like to set them free and start Syncing, at last. Thanks anyone for helping!
Hi I want to sync a drum machine (roland tr6s, which has midi in and out), a minilogue xd (it has midi in and out), a volca keys (only midi in) and a volca drum (only midi in). I want to use a midi thru box. The typical Quadra Thru by Midi Solutions. Is it dangerous to connect the Tr6s drum machine as the Master to the midi thru box; and the rest of them as the slaves to the midi thru box? I have heard that pasive midi thru boxes are not that safe. Would it damage any of the synths or the drum machine?
looking forward to somebody replying to this. I'm in a very similar situation. Although my minilogue would be master I think. I have a minilogue, Volca drum, Volca sample and a behringer td-3. Learning how to sync is taking much longer than I first thought.
Passive MIDI Box will not break any of your device. The active Thru box have a couple of microchips (running of the power from the 5 pin DIN cable) that copy, clean and boost the MIDI signal so you get a good signal coming out of it. The passive are more like a splitter that devide the signal in 2 (less signal each)
Hi I’m a beginner and I tried syncing my Moog Matriarch and Roland TR8S (I’ve tried Midi Out of the TR8S into the Midi In of the Matriarch but it’s not working)
Have you verified the internal setting a of both devices. The Tr-8s must be sending MIDI sync and the the MOOG must be in external sync (waiting for Sync)
Nu-Trix The Synth Guy I have all the settings where it should be but what’s weird is there is a light that indicates it’s syncing but when I fiddle with any of the delay or filter or press any keys of the Matriarch I only hear what’s coming out of the TR8S
I'm chaining an mbase 01 into the kick of my mfb, mbase plays though speakers but when everything is run into ableton the kick of the mbase won't play though, when plugged out the kick from the mfb plays into ableton. any ideas on how to fix this?
Ive been having a block regarding this since using a DAW. Imused to using a 6 trk reel to reel. Stripping one track with sympte and my linn900 as the slave. It was tedious but helped a single moderately skilled hack create and record by hisself. Been soooo frustrated since attempting to use modern methods. Is it possible to incorporate the Linnwith a DAW? What kind of offset time and sync code would be a possibility? Midi time code? Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.
someone knows which modern alternatives exist to the "Redsound SoundBITE micro" to convert incoming audio to MIDI-clock, so to sync drum machines along with the playing audio (... and do live remixes during performance)?
is trigger sync, the process where a synth's keys will be triggered by pressing the play button in the DAW? The better visual example would be: Having a motif rack ES, UAD Apollo Twin audio interface, and mapping out some note pattern(s) in a DAW, hitting play and the notes that are drawn in the sequencer, will trigger the synth to play a selected voice, without having to actually touch a midi keyboard? I was able to do with when I used a MBox Pro 3 (Had my yamaha motif rack ES hooked up and sync'd with Reason 10. It helps me with layering sounds. So i don't have to physically play each layer.
Not at all. What you describe to simple MIDI note triggering. Sync it about too devices playing a song (or sequence) at the same time AKA synchronized but using the old analog system of trigger and cv. One question: why ask without watching the video? The presentation is not inviting or intriguing enough?
@@Nu-trix sorry if i offended. I did watch the video in full, but i had some distractions. It just has a ton of information in it and our equipment is different so that part confuses me. I was just asking for clarification. The content is great and you presented well.
@@Nu-trix Fair. No, the content and explanations are actually damn great. I think I can figure it out from your video. I don't know the ins and outs of analog gear, although I've used for quite some time. It was by accident that I was able to get my Mbox Pro to do what I'm trying to do now with my UAD apollo twin. This vid actually helped me understand what the differences are with midi out/in and syncing.
A question for the experts. *How do I connect devices with built-in sounds Directly to a control keyboard that has no sounds? *Which cables do I need? And what is the friend why? - I have: launchkey 25 mk Novation control keyboard and want to connect it for example: to CIRCUIT TRACKS. Or - for the Roland device / Roland Aira S-1 and use their sounds. Many thanks to the helpers.
The easiest interconnection between devices is using MIDI cable (5pin DIN). Out of the controller in the sound generator. But today, not all device have MIDI in and out. Some only have usb. Than you need to got through a computer and assign the MIDI to a MIDI interface out or to a USB MIDI compatible hardware synth,
Well... now I'd like to find how else to work with MIDI on synths. I've heard, or read, it is also useful to send messages about notes, their duration, intensity, etc. I want to know in what way I can control my synths starting from one specific synth or controller. Do you have any video here on the subject, sir?
Hey professor how do i become a member? Stumbled upon your video just now. And i see you have some interesting content that may be of use for me. Pls lmk thx RL@Y
Your video is great, thanks a lot but I will love if you can help me with a question… If it’s possible to send the tempo from a volca to a loop station Rc5? Or it’s the same thing? I only want that my loops go with the time of the volca doesn’t matter if it doesn’t trigger the play o other information… thanks a lot
@@Nu-trix I don’t know if it can :( I only see that the RC5 from Boss has the MIDI in and out and the Option of sending a clock, so it will be perfect for me, to send the clock to my volca
FYI, nothing to do with this topic. Just to tell you that UVI just released Falcon 2 with crazy new stuff. I don't know if you have Falcon but if you do, this update to version 2 is free, which says a lot for the lack of greediness of UVI considering how huge this update is. I personally think their products are top quality. Great sounds. I tried most synths but I only ended up purchasing Falcon and Serum. Did you do a video on the new Massive X? Anyway I am curious about your opinion of the new Falcon 2. I don't have any hardware synths except for a tiny one I got to learn to connect midi out from my iconnectaudio4+. I really like the midi side of music making. It amazes me how much you can do with something as relatively simple as midi. I like to help people to set up midi systems. My favorite midi gadget is a powered midi hub. There are excellent ones and they almost guarantee no power issues amongst many connected devices and no need to disconnect one midi instrument or synth in order to use another because of power problems. Boy did I ever go off topic. I don't k ow if I gave your email address. That would make it easier than communicating by comments. Keep having fun as often as you can.
@@Nu-trix hello yes I’m looking to add a pedal but if I use the trigger out in the tr8s can I use the effects via the channel on the tr8s if so I do if that way thank you for your reply 👍
I think you could send the SH audio out inside the aux TR8S aux in and apply to it the TR8S effects. But I would have to check (I know I do it with the System-8 )
Watched that again and yes as people say this is very informative. Thank you for your great work! I am thinking to get a behringer td 3 and i am wondering if i can trigger it with the microfreak. The microfreak has cv/gate out and clock in/out and the td3 has sync in and filter in and im trying to understand if the td 3 can be triggered by the freak. Ideally i would like the output of the freak to be audio in at the td3 cause there is no space at my mixer..... Some say you can do that with the filter in of the td3 but its not official. Sorry for all that mess but its new territories for me. All the best from Greece and keep it up :)))
Im a singer song writer getting into all of this and am sync illiterate, i would love to know how to bpm sync my Behringer TD3 with my Roland Verselab MV1 , obviously Roland wont be upfront helping me there
@@Nu-trix I meant to write sync.. How you can sync external synths to your daw so they essentially act as plugins in the box I.e. Start, stop and continue with your daw so you can write music accordingly
@Nu-Trix The Synth Guy Thanks for the very good video. But I will have a different kind of setup: I have Cubase Pro 11 and I want to buy a Roland TR-8S which connects to the pc through usb. I want to use the TR-8S as a slave and Cubase as Master. Does that USB connection (between TR8S and the PC) act like a genuine midi-cable connection which transmits all 3 parameters (tempo, start/stop, position) in both directions/in the direction that I want (pc to tr8s or tr8s to pc)? Or do I need to buy a sound card which has midi input and output? For example, I had an Akai mpk261 midi keyboard which connected to the PC via USB cable. And i believe Cubase was sending the tempo to the mpk261 midi keyboard through that USB cable. But I could not tell if it was also sending the "position" and "start/stop". I do not have my pc with me and all my music gear (including my mpk261 midi keyboard) was recently stolen. My sound card (Focusrite 2i2 3rd gen) had no midi ins and outs. And now, if I really need midi ins and outs on a sound card, I need to buy one which has them. Looking forward for your answer. Thanks in advance!
The TR-8S usb MIDI is a full MIDI in and out interface. It sends and receives all MIDI messages needed for MIDI sync. You will be ok with just the USB MIDI. If you install the TR-8s drivers, you will have access to more USB audio features but not more MIDI features.
thanks very much. you have made the BEST video to explain sync in/out vs MIDI, and what MIDI is.
Thanks a lot!
I agree. Am a beginner, and this was very clear.
Threw all my devices in the lake ... they're syncing perfectly now.
Lol. I’m guessing my accent is causing this.
@@Nu-trix haha , not really, your accent is just fine, both words just sound the same. And thanx for the useful video.
Threw mine into a sink. They're not syncing. Gotta try the river next
As soon as I watched this video I was able to sync my deluge with my microfreak knowing absolutely nothing about midi or clock sync. Thank you so much.
calm, articulate and no BS. I love it. Glad to have found you good sir!
Thanks
Sooo helpful. Just got a boutique JU and want to pair it with a volca eventually. This video confirmed that 1. I can do that and 2. How. Really appreciate it
Dude thanks a lot. This answers all my questions. It was like being in a class. Keep up the great work
This is wonderfully coherent and concise. The explanation of the ability of MIDI cables versus analog sync cables was unexpected and definitely appreciated. Thank you for this video.
Thank you. I'm new to syncing devices and this really helped me to understand my setup. I'm fortunate in that I'm using an MS1, RD8 and TD3 so no cross platform issues as such but it really helped me to understand why 'position' data isn't passed on on start / stop.
Perfect explanation and demonstration. Really appreciate it!
Great description, while I certainly understood what Sync and Midi are I did not know that the definition of Sync - changed from device to device. This explains the oddities I ran across in trying to get Roland to sync with non Roland devices.
Well put and properly succinct. I am presently trying to rearrange my small “studio” incorporating a couple new devices and this is certainly helpful. From my ‘beginners mind’. Thank You Sir!
You can actually mod every Volca to add MIDI OUT. Korg did put the chip for OUT but not the connect haha (there is many tutorials). I did the mod for the volca Beat (you can also put very easily an Out for every Drum sounds ) and the volca Bass (which is amazing because it become a 3 sequencer in One machine !!)
Sucks for people like me who have no knowledge of doing modifications let alone tools. Wish they offered a place that you could ship your Volcas to for v these modifications.
@@Decoy303 I learn by wathing tutorials ! it's pretty easy actually
The best video which describes on MIDI syncing , very technical , thanks friend !
Thanks for that, without doubt the most useful informative video I've seen on this subject. I have synths and drum machines from, Moog, Korg and Arturia and it seems that you are expected to just know how to make them play nicely together ! Great video.
Extremely useful thank you. Currently researching as I am a novice trying to sync up a Korg Monologue XD, Roland TR-8s and a EricaSynth Bassline DB-01.
thank you very muchhh!! been struggling with that same problem with a behringer td3. i’m a complete beginner and i don’t even now how to google the problems i got 😂. thought i was doing something wrong, thanks again
Great explanation, best I’ve found on TH-cam. Thanks for doing this.
Awesome video!!! Thanks for the information!!!!!!
Trying to go deeper into midi and this info is so detailed!!
Great teaching episode.
.. this video was super helpful! i have a korg, and Roland 88, and have been trying to figure this all out, thank you for explaining this.
The gate out on the boutique is not a clock out like you mentioned. It seems so since the programmed sequence in your example consists of 16th notes, but if you had some tied notes or rests in the sequence, the 'clock' would hang or shift on those points.
You are entirely right.
Such high quality thank you
Thank you . Video was the best source on internet
To be specific, Volcas and Pocket Operators run at 2 PPQN (pulses per quarter note). Newer Volcas (2019+ like the Drum and Nubass) can be set to 4 PPQN in the global settings.
Roland Boutiques run at 4 PPQN. If you hook them up to a 2 PPQN Volca they'll run at half speed. They also NEED a mono cable. They don't work at all if you use a stereo cable. Volcas work fine with stereo cables (tip = clock, ring = NC).
The whole idea of using patch cables (1/4" or 3.5mm) for sync was a modular thing mostly intended to work with trigger outputs. So normally one pulse would be one step, and on a 16-step sequencer that's 4 pulses per quarter note. So it's odd that Volcas and POs use 2 PPQN.
I can sync my JX-08 Boutique with a trigger out from my TR-606 going into EXT CLK IN, or with Volcas, or with my J-6.
The Roland Aira Compact synths work fine with a stereo cable, and they let you set 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, or 24 PPQN in the settings. So you can use a them to double-clock or half-clock other things. For example, I can set my J-6 to 1 PPQN, then sync it with a PO-33 or Volca (2 PPQN) if I want the PO-33 / Volca to be clocked at half-speed and have 2-bar patterns.
Some things use stereo sync cables and actually put a start/stop signal on the ring. I think the Behringer RD-8 and RD-9 are like that. They work fine with Volcas since the ring isn't connected anyway. And the RD-8 and RD-9 let you set a pretty wide range of PPQN clocks (not as many as the Roland Compacts, though).
I actually never had any mono patch cables till I got the JX-08. I couldn't get it to sync with anything, but then I played with it with a multimeter trying to see what it was doing.
It looks like the Boutiques detect that a patch cable is inserted the same way a Boss pedal detects that a cable is inserted - it grounds a circuit to the ring of a stereo input jack. EXT CLK IN has 3.3V on the ring. When you insert a mono cable, the jack's ring contact gets grounded to the sleeve. But if you insert a stereo cable it doesn't know because the ring/sleeve aren't connected.
Thanx for the vid. I've my first rehearsal nest wednesday (Suán Trepia) and we're trying synching a Roland SP555 with my volca keys. Im so excited, as im asking my 'boss' for a year about going into analog synths for the band and this gonna be first time, but i was really lost into synching them!
Glad that it helped!
@@Nu-trix sadly rehearsal was posponed due to covid restrictions ¬¬ waiting for better times. The idea is on, tho . XXX
That's what I was looking for. You are the king!
Happy to be helpful
thanks for the coherent presentation on sync!
Damn. Now i understand this. Thank you so much! Subbed... More on Midi please!
This is exactly what i needed to know! 🙏 Thank you!
Thank you. That's very usefull. Soon, I'll have to sync a SH-01a, a Volca sample, and a Behringer TD-3. What a mess.... 😓
Hi, so so so helpful video. Great explanation. You have got a new subscriber.
So in short, volca cannot be set as master when trying to connect and sync with Roland boutiques or Aira , correct?
@kalpeshkpanchal correct
Thanks from Chile well explained... Thanks thanks thanks...
Perfect and clear, thank you from Italy.
(I have an sh01-a and volca beats, and Now i know how to NOT use them. I'm sad)
Clear and concise - answered my questions.
I think native instruments is trying to standardize things. Great great video. You are doing a good thing by explaining things like you are. A lot of beginners never learn this stuff and end up frustrated after time because they think that after time they should beat a certain level, but of course they need basic knowledge that can be boring to learn. You are making it more fun. Don’t forget you are talking mostly to beginners so fun is important to keep their attention. Anyway, I am just throwing ideas at you. I am no expert. I am sitting in a breakfast place corner Cote Des Neiges and Cote st Catherine getting ideas. Have fun mr. nutrix.
Thanks fellow Montrealer!
Thanks for this. It seems like something should be so easy and straightforward but it's not, haha. Appreciate it!
Sync is one of the most difficult thing to get working. Basically trying to get different devices and software from different brands created by different engineer for different user with different workflow. And in this video I only talked about music sync. Wait until you try to sync MIDI Sync, analog sync, S.M.P.T.E LTC, S.M.P.T.E. VTC, the multitude versions of Wordclork or even Black burst House sync! Now THAT is a real Nightmare! ;-)
Great explanation thanks!
You're the best Nu-Trix, this is a fantastic video, keep up the great work mate, thank you so much.
Good example. Love your videos
Very well explained! 👍
Thank you so much for the clear explanation. I finally understand how it works
This is making sense now. I managed to sync an Atari 8-bit computer (master) running Midi Music System software with a PO-33 and/or an NTS-1. The Atari outputs 24 pulses per quarter note from pin 3 on joystick port 2. An Arduino is used to count the pulses from the Atari and then sends out a pulse every 12 pulses to the slave. Everything seems to stay in sync until I stop sending MIDI signals using the escape key.
Very good explanation...thank you!
Great video, thanks NT!
Fantastic explanation....
Many thanks ! Very helpfull 👍👍🙏
Explained a lot. Thanks.
Ive been using a pocket operator to sync volca keys to a roland tr6s.
Thanks for this video! Super helpful!
Informative as always Nutrix. I got four of the Volcas when I first got into synths. I always wished they had made them with out and through patches for the midi cables. Alas, only the in line. There were some people back then modding them and selling them on Ebay. Haven't seen them in awhile though. I used to have one Volca with the midi line in from and RM1x and used the sync cables for the other 3. It worked but I always wanted more versatility. Ashame they didn't include more midi connections, but I guess they wanted to keep the price down. Still fun units for the price.
WOW!, thank You for this Master Class, this video describes it all in detail and with such clarity!. Can you please recommend a sync device, I would like to synchronize My Cubase project running from a PC to a Protools session running from a Mac. I want to make Cubase the master and Pro Tools the slave. Essentially, I want to press play, stop, rewind, scrub left, right and have pro tools follow. The goal is to have Cubase (master) as my sequencer and pro tools (slave) to run video simultaneously. There is a device that does this exact thing but the price is $4,000. after this video I know that there is a better efficient cheaper way. Thank You for your suggestions and thank You for this amazing Video.
I’ll try to answer in a video soon
thank you@@Nu-trix
@@J.Livermore Can you tell me the Cubase and Protools versions you are using? Will Protools run video and audio while recording Cubase output? Cubase will playback music I’m guessing, right?
Hi @@Nu-trix , Absolutely, I am running Protools Studio on a M1 Mac Ultra and Cubase 12 on a 64 Core PC Threadripper Pro 256 RAM. Yes Protools will run Video and audio while recording Cubase output, and Cubase will play back the music.. Thank You for Your Time!!
Very useful info! Tnx!
Really useful. Learnt alot did not realise that diff Manufacturers mange sync differently.... I want to sink Roland FA06 to My TR-08.. But cant see the settings in the manual for the TR-08 , Please help Thanks..
Great info.
Great video, really good explained. Thanks!!!
Great work 👍
Thank you. Much informative.
I want to use an electribe to controll the 2 volcas and the microfreak (+ uno).
So i think if i should use sync or better only midi.
MIDI Sync is more complete
Thank you for this! This helped me so much! 👌
Was really resourceful Video !
I have been given a Yamaha CS2X synthesizer from the 90s and a Yamaha RX15 drum machine from the 80s and am curious about how they can sync with each other...what device can do what with the other?
Thank you for this clear explanation.
I have a specific question; how to MIDI synch Alesis SR18 with Korg SQ1 (Korg SQ1 doesn't show up the bpm)
I’ll do a video about specific sync setup. Including this one. I’m guessing you want the SR18 to be sync master and the SQ1 to follow.
@@Nu-trix correct , thank you so much
Very useful, thanks!
Nice. Thank you!
Thanks!
this is great- im having issues getting midi synch to work in logic...
Nice video!!!
I use tr-8s as master midi out go into midi in of a ju06a. Everythings works, but if during the playback I stop the sequencer from ju06a , when I restart the sequence is out of sync. Why? I didnt understand the reason.
Thank yoy very much.
Hi I love the way you explained it. What's confusing to me in the midi world of is what's the difference between a midi "sync" box a midi "thru" box? It sounds like a play on words, if they both send the exact same type and amount of midi messages between 2 devices. Based upon your knowledge and experience, is there a difference between the messages stemming from a midi "sync" box versus a midi "thru" box? Does a midi thru box allow midi messages through or thru? And does a midi sync box sync all messages or just a few? The difference between those 2 type of boxes is what confuses me. Do you know which one is better between the two: a midi sync box a midi thru box? (I really appreciate your insight, because you definitely explained things where it's easy to understand). I look foward to hear what's your take on sync versus thru. Thanks for sharing your insight.
In short: a MIDI THRU box simply copies the MIDI IN to multiples THRU to send the exact same message that was received at the input. A MIDI SYNC box would normally affect the sync messages (not the notes or the controls changes) it should be able to receive a certain type of a sync (that is not MIDI) and generate from that a MIDI sync message, or vice versa. A sync box will permit you to have to incompatible machine talk the sync (tempo, song locator, start, stop, etc…)
@@Nu-trix I was thinking to use a 1010 music black box to better sequence the sounds from a casio wk 7600 keyboard, and keeping the sounds from the casio, utilizing black box to build a song. In that situation is a sync better than midi thru? If I understand synce vs thru properly the way you explained it (please correct me if I'm wrong), in this case to keep the sounds from the casio keyboard but control it using a 1010 music black box would be better to use a midi sync box instead I think. Am I understanding that right? Thanks always
Thank you, I needed this!
Thanks for the video. Clearly explained.
To sync 3 devices would you do this...
'Clock Out -> Sync In -> Sync Out -> Sync In'
and can I send midi to sync?
Cheers for video is very helpful.
How do I sync/ connect my Roland Tr8/ tb3 and Behringer MS1. I have connected my tr8 and tb3 before by using jack plugs by in and out but are stuck now hooking up my ms1. If midi is the way to go , how?
thanks， very helpful
Great video. I think i have the ultimate question. I just bought an Akai APC mini to cue music in OBS for shows. I want to assign for example 5 triggers (music tracks) to the same volume slider but cannot seem to figure this out. Thanking you in advance for any suggestions. Keep up the great work.
A MIDI volume is link to a specific MIDI channel. If you want one MIDI fader to control the volume of 5 sounds, they should be on the same MIDI channel.
@@Nu-trix I've tried but I get a message saying the channel has already been assigned. ill keep trying. thank you for responding.
Have you tried to use only one channel in OBS and put all the triggers on the same channel in the APC?
Im not sure when you say one channel in OBS. Please excuse me if I'm not understanding. I try to explain it a bit more in detail. I am using the midi set up in OBS on my Mac. I am using the APC mini. I have 8 rows with 7 triggers and one volume slider below each of them. I have separate tracks assigned to each trigger that turn on and off just fine. I can assign one track to the volume slider but when I attempt to assign more than one I get a message that says" Can Not Map Channel 0. Please Click Listen One Or Listen Many to listen for MIDI Event to map". after clicking OK I then get another message that says" Mapping already Exists for APC MINI, with channel # 1 norc # 51 and Message type Control Change. I hope I'm answering you question. thanks again for your help on this.
Good topic. I have a related question regarding the Arturia Microbrute. I want to connect the Microbrute with a drum machine or clock of some kind, with a means of controlling bpm. There is no bpm display on the Microbrute, so I’d like to be able to do 2 things: 1) sync with a drum machine (in correct time), and 2) actually see the bpm on a digital LED display as part of the setup. Any suggestions for drum machine options or ideas for a digital clock/bpm gauge (maybe modular)? Thanks.
Been using the drumbrute impact with my microbrute and it’s a great match
Don’t make my mistake of buying a zoom RT123, great sounding drum machine but only has midi in, no out, so needs to be last in your chain and cannot be set as a master. It’s possible to use an iPad to sync things, using an app called AUM. This works fine if your using the iPad as a master clock. You can take a midi sync signal into the iPad and output it to other devices via midi and get an accurate clock display, but that’s slightly more tricky. I made a short video on my synth channel explaining how to do this.
th-cam.com/video/BWXqGh930CQ/w-d-xo.html
Thanks so much for the video!! Not sure if I was the one you mentioned asking the question..or if it’s that commonly asked...but thank you. Kinda bummed the Volca can’t trigger the Boutique. I use a Volca Mix which has a master tempo control...but I can’t hook up my Boutiques to it. I don’t have an SH-01a so I was unaware of it’s tempo knob on the front panel..I have a JU-06 and SE-02 and the tempo control isn’t as easy to work with than the Volcas. Oh, well. At least now I have a definitive answer that it really doesn’t work, and it’s not just me hooking it up wrong
You triggered the need to make the video. But it is a question I see almost everyday online!
“Triggered” the need...ahhhhhhhhhhhhh
See what you did there
Again...thank you for the definitive answer. I’ve been looking to invest in an MX-1 anyway for my Boutiques
See another idea for a video ... the mx-1.
I just received my JU-06a and I have a theory on the sync with the Volca Mix. What about a Korg SQ-1?? I saw a video from Perfect Circuit Audio with an SE-02, SQ-1, and a Volca Beats. The Volca Mix could clock the SQ-1 which could clock the SE-02 and JU-06a through ext clock in. Just a thought. I’ve been wanting an SQ-1 anyway for other gear
Hi everyone. I humbly ask the community for help, since I've NEVER been able to sync two or more devices using mini jack sync. I've owned many, including korg volcas, Arturia keystep, etc. Now I've got some second-hand devices: korg Electribe 2 sampler, sonicware Liven LoFi-12, Liven XFM... I've tried a lot of times, since they all have the Sync In and Out ports, and I NEVER did it. I don't understand what is wrong: do I need specific mini jack for sync? Isn't a regular stereo mini jack fitting for this? How can I understand if polarity is right and/or how to set it correctly? Is there a complete guide to start with? Until now I connected the devices using the midi ports, but since I'd like to use them in some cases for other devices such as a midi keyboard, I'd like to set them free and start Syncing, at last. Thanks anyone for helping!
This is all new to me, but I have a volca bass I want to connect to my kaossilator pro and have them work together. How would I do that?
Hi
I want to sync a drum machine (roland tr6s, which has midi in and out), a minilogue xd (it has midi in and out), a volca keys (only midi in) and a volca drum (only midi in).
I want to use a midi thru box.
The typical Quadra Thru by Midi Solutions.
Is it dangerous to connect the Tr6s drum machine as the Master to the midi thru box; and the rest of them as the slaves to the midi thru box?
I have heard that pasive midi thru boxes are not that safe.
Would it damage any of the synths or the drum machine?
looking forward to somebody replying to this. I'm in a very similar situation. Although my minilogue would be master I think. I have a minilogue, Volca drum, Volca sample and a behringer td-3. Learning how to sync is taking much longer than I first thought.
Passive MIDI Box will not break any of your device. The active Thru box have a couple of microchips (running of the power from the 5 pin DIN cable) that copy, clean and boost the MIDI signal so you get a good signal coming out of it. The passive are more like a splitter that devide the signal in 2 (less signal each)
@@Nu-trix thanks for getting back to us! I think I'll end up getting a midi thru
@@Nu-trix Awesome
What device will be clocked with your daw when recording the seperate instruments?
Hi I’m a beginner and I tried syncing my Moog Matriarch and Roland TR8S (I’ve tried Midi Out of the TR8S into the Midi In of the Matriarch but it’s not working)
Have you verified the internal
setting a of both devices. The Tr-8s must be sending MIDI sync and the the MOOG must be in external sync (waiting for Sync)
Nu-Trix The Synth Guy I have all the settings where it should be but what’s weird is there is a light that indicates it’s syncing but when I fiddle with any of the delay or filter or press any keys of the Matriarch I only hear what’s coming out of the TR8S
Soberbio, hope you did figure Out
Wow, you just explained that perfectly. It helped thanks. Do you do private tutoring ?
Yes, just need to schedule a date and time.
@@Nu-trix, how do I do that? Also, do you use,zoom or any other platform ?
And price ?
What platform to pay?
Write to me at info@nu-trix.com.
I'm chaining an mbase 01 into the kick of my mfb, mbase plays though speakers but when everything is run into ableton the kick of the mbase won't play though, when plugged out the kick from the mfb plays into ableton. any ideas on how to fix this?
Ive been having a block regarding this since using a DAW.
Imused to using a 6 trk reel to reel. Stripping one track with sympte and my linn900 as the slave. It was tedious but helped a single moderately skilled hack create and record by hisself.
Been soooo frustrated since attempting to use modern methods.
Is it possible to incorporate the Linnwith a DAW? What kind of offset time and sync code would be a possibility?
Midi time code?
Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.
I don’t know the MIDI specs of the Linn 9000. But if it can follow MIDI Time Code it could follow any DAW sending MIDI Time Code (MIDI SMTPE)
someone knows which modern alternatives exist to the "Redsound SoundBITE micro" to convert incoming audio to MIDI-clock, so to sync drum machines along with the playing audio (... and do live remixes during performance)?
is trigger sync, the process where a synth's keys will be triggered by pressing the play button in the DAW?
The better visual example would be: Having a motif rack ES, UAD Apollo Twin audio interface, and mapping out some note pattern(s) in a DAW, hitting play and the notes that are drawn in the sequencer, will trigger the synth to play a selected voice, without having to actually touch a midi keyboard? I was able to do with when I used a MBox Pro 3 (Had my yamaha motif rack ES hooked up and sync'd with Reason 10. It helps me with layering sounds. So i don't have to physically play each layer.
Not at all. What you describe to simple MIDI note triggering. Sync it about too devices playing a song (or sequence) at the same time AKA synchronized but using the old analog system of trigger and cv. One question: why ask without watching the video? The presentation is not inviting or intriguing enough?
@@Nu-trix sorry if i offended. I did watch the video in full, but i had some distractions. It just has a ton of information in it and our equipment is different so that part confuses me. I was just asking for clarification. The content is great and you presented well.
No problem. I’m just curious ton understand how people watch, interact and understand my videos. It helps me in preparing the next one.
@@Nu-trix Fair. No, the content and explanations are actually damn great. I think I can figure it out from your video. I don't know the ins and outs of analog gear, although I've used for quite some time. It was by accident that I was able to get my Mbox Pro to do what I'm trying to do now with my UAD apollo twin. This vid actually helped me understand what the differences are with midi out/in and syncing.
A question for the experts.
*How do I connect devices with built-in sounds
Directly to a control keyboard that has no sounds?
*Which cables do I need? And what is the friend why?
- I have: launchkey 25 mk Novation control keyboard
and want to connect it for example:
to CIRCUIT TRACKS.
Or - for the Roland device / Roland Aira S-1
and use their sounds.
Many thanks to the helpers.
The easiest interconnection between devices is using MIDI cable (5pin DIN). Out of the controller in the sound generator. But today, not all device have MIDI in and out. Some only have usb. Than you need to got through a computer and assign the MIDI to a MIDI interface out or to a USB MIDI compatible hardware synth,
Well... now I'd like to find how else to work with MIDI on synths. I've heard, or read, it is also useful to send messages about notes, their duration, intensity, etc. I want to know in what way I can control my synths starting from one specific synth or controller. Do you have any video here on the subject, sir?
I’m glad you found this helpful. You could also check these videos: How to connect your Dawless kit - I'm answering Miles!
th-cam.com/video/gEt_dU0oQx0/w-d-xo.html
And this one : MIDI Primer for DAWLESS - The MIDI implementation Chart th-cam.com/video/SNhFf9trhbQ/w-d-xo.html
@@Nu-trix , you're so kind. Thank you so very much! :)
Hey professor how do i become a member? Stumbled upon your video just now. And i see you have some interesting content that may be of use for me. Pls lmk thx
RL@Y
Yes very thankful. Next question: WHAT IS MIDI thru?
I can make that !
Your video is great, thanks a lot but I will love if you can help me with a question…
If it’s possible to send the tempo from a volca to a loop station Rc5? Or it’s the same thing? I only want that my loops go with the time of the volca doesn’t matter if it doesn’t trigger the play o other information… thanks a lot
The volca can only follow MIDI sync. So for the volca to be sync master it has to send trigger sync and loop station has to be able to follow. Can it?
@@Nu-trix I don’t know if it can :( I only see that the RC5 from Boss has the MIDI in and out and the Option of sending a clock, so it will be perfect for me, to send the clock to my volca
FYI, nothing to do with this topic. Just to tell you that UVI just released Falcon 2 with crazy new stuff. I don't know if you have Falcon but if you do, this update to version 2 is free, which says a lot for the lack of greediness of UVI considering how huge this update is. I personally think their products are top quality. Great sounds. I tried most synths but I only ended up purchasing Falcon and Serum. Did you do a video on the new Massive X? Anyway I am curious about your opinion of the new Falcon 2. I don't have any hardware synths except for a tiny one I got to learn to connect midi out from my iconnectaudio4+. I really like the midi side of music making. It amazes me how much you can do with something as relatively simple as midi. I like to help people to set up midi systems. My favorite midi gadget is a powered midi hub. There are excellent ones and they almost guarantee no power issues amongst many connected devices and no need to disconnect one midi instrument or synth in order to use another because of power problems. Boy did I ever go off topic. I don't k ow if I gave your email address. That would make it easier than communicating by comments. Keep having fun as often as you can.
Thank you thank you thank you!!!!
Hello mate awesome channel on here 👍 I have the SH01a I’m looking to add reverb and delay what’s the way to this ?
You mean adding an effect pedal or as a plugin in your DAW?
@@Nu-trix hello yes I’m looking to add a pedal but if I use the trigger out in the tr8s can I use the effects via the channel on the tr8s if so I do if that way thank you for your reply 👍
I think you could send the SH audio out inside the aux TR8S aux in and apply to it the TR8S effects. But I would have to check (I know I do it with the System-8 )
Watched that again and yes as people say this is very informative. Thank you for your great work! I am thinking to get a behringer td 3 and i am wondering if i can trigger it with the microfreak. The microfreak has cv/gate out and clock in/out and the td3 has sync in and filter in and im trying to understand if the td 3 can be triggered by the freak. Ideally i would like the output of the freak to be audio in at the td3 cause there is no space at my mixer..... Some say you can do that with the filter in of the td3 but its not official. Sorry for all that mess but its new territories for me. All the best from Greece and keep it up :)))
Thank you so much! Super helpful
what synchronization devices are advisable to sync several hardware audio gears?
I guess look for something with a good good MIDI sequencer built-in. Perhaps a MIDI Thru box as well…
The device that has the most stable clock should be the master clock . Then yes a thru box would helps minimize the transmission latency.
Im a singer song writer getting into all of this and am sync illiterate, i would love to know how to bpm sync my Behringer TD3 with my Roland Verselab MV1 , obviously Roland wont be upfront helping me there
thanks for the video - I find this to be an annoying part of my setup.
Great video mate.
Do you have any additional information on how to set external gear to a daw?
Cheers
What would you like to know?
@@Nu-trix I meant to write sync.. How you can sync external synths to your daw so they essentially act as plugins in the box I.e. Start, stop and continue with your daw so you can write music accordingly
@Nu-Trix The Synth Guy Thanks for the very good video. But I will have a different kind of setup: I have Cubase Pro 11 and I want to buy a Roland TR-8S which connects to the pc through usb. I want to use the TR-8S as a slave and Cubase as Master. Does that USB connection (between TR8S and the PC) act like a genuine midi-cable connection which transmits all 3 parameters (tempo, start/stop, position) in both directions/in the direction that I want (pc to tr8s or tr8s to pc)? Or do I need to buy a sound card which has midi input and output? For example, I had an Akai mpk261 midi keyboard which connected to the PC via USB cable. And i believe Cubase was sending the tempo to the mpk261 midi keyboard through that USB cable. But I could not tell if it was also sending the "position" and "start/stop". I do not have my pc with me and all my music gear (including my mpk261 midi keyboard) was recently stolen. My sound card (Focusrite 2i2 3rd gen) had no midi ins and outs. And now, if I really need midi ins and outs on a sound card, I need to buy one which has them. Looking forward for your answer. Thanks in advance!
The TR-8S usb MIDI is a full MIDI in and out interface. It sends and receives all MIDI messages needed for MIDI sync. You will be ok with just the USB MIDI. If you install the TR-8s drivers, you will have access to more USB audio features but not more MIDI features.
@Nu-trix Thanks and have a nice day!