Best way to sync

Elektron Gear Octatrack
1

Hi!
Currently I am using a rytm, a4 and octatrack besides some other modules and ableton live.

It works ok generating midi clock within the octatrack and syncing the others to it. However as soon as I try syncing Live I get a delay in live.
Now as there is an update announced for a4 and rytm which apparently promises sample accurate sync trough over bridge I am wondering what would be the best way to sync everything.

Unfortunately I was not able to get any information whether the sync signal coming from over bridge can be given out by the a4 and ar in form of a midi clock signal or not.

So it would be stupid not tu use over bridge for syncing if the sync did improve as stated. However then I would have the issue that the octatrack probably will be out of sync. So yes… quite a task.

Buying a clock generator would be a solution I guess (still wondering why live delays when sending a clock from the octatrack as the rytm and a4 get the same signal and follow way more tight than live) but I can’t really afford to spend so much money on something which does so little things. As I know there are quite a lot of people with a setup similar to mine I would really like to hear what others are thinking about this.

Cheers,

Jens

2

You should check my sync tutorial video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2seraaKagYk

In Live 9 they’ve fixed the syncing problems caused by external VST plugins.
In simple words:

  1. Set Live as Master.
  2. Set your buffer size as low as 256 samples.
  3. Set your Midi Out Sync in Lives Preferences by adjusting it so it’s metronome falls exactly with your external instruments metronome.
  4. Don’t use lookahead on your plugins (like Compressors or Multiband Dynamics stuff etc.) except of course a Limiter on your Master.

Let me know how it goes :wink:
Yorgos

3

Buying something like innerclock would definitely solve things, but that’ll cost you for sure.
Overbridge will not send a clock or transport thru to the OT.
I use a usb to midi cable and slave the OT to Live, set the track delay for the OT to put it in sync with the A4 and AR, which is probably somewhere close to -70.

The octatrack will sound funny for the first bar or so after you start, but once it catches up, it syncs ok.

4

The delay can be reduced significantly from -70 to -30/35 if you use an external instrument track.Also you can check these cheaper options:
http://www.e-rm.de/index.php

http://www.expert-sleepers.co.uk/usamo.html

5

Thanks for the tips and the video Yorgos, was going to open similar thread but Yentz anticipated me! :slight_smile:

Do you know if adding a midi thru box could lead to more sync problems?
I’m actually building a DIY midi thru box, but still not completed so i can’t verify immediately.

6

Didn’t used any thru boxes myself but as i recall from another sync thread it produces a small amount of delay.Have not tested it so i can’t put my hand on fire about this.Would be great if someone who has tested this setup can chime in and give us a hint.

7

Thanks for your answers. Just got home from Christmas with my parents.unfortunately no funds for a clock gen from Santa :frowning:
Gonna Check out the Tutorial later.
When using Ableton as Master i experienced unstable Timing a while ago but i didnt have any idea of anything at this point.
I started encountering Problems when recording Stuff and playing on top later.
Very confusing

8

Thanks, it does work quite well actually.
However where the a4 and ar seem to be absolutely fine the octatrack does jump around is isn’t useable at all :frowning:
Considering it is 2016 it is really frustrating that it seems such an effort to get a couple of sequencers running in sync.
Might sell the octatrack again as sampling in live is way more advanced anyway.