Can someone provide a step-by-step sync guide for idiots (me)?

Elektron Gear Analog Rytm
1

Hey,

So, i’ve been a guitar player in various bands since my teenage years, but for the past number of years have gotten away from it and have slowly been getting more bored with guitar and more excited by synths. Over the past few years I’ve bought and sold lots of synth and studio gear and am getting proficient at the individual instruments. However, I haven’t a clue on how to sync all the gear up together for more efficient recording into Logic Pro X. Here’s the gear I have:

Synths:
Analog Rytm
Moog Sub 37
Arturia Minbrute SE
DSI Prophet 12

Interface:
UAD Apollo

DAW:
Logic Pro X

I tend to find myself recording synth sequencer parts first, then try to add the Rytm, etc. but my sequencer is out of sync with the DAW, which is out of sync with the Rytm and I always seem to be trying to line up the audio files instead of actually recording. Can someone help with a step–by-step for idiots? Or is there something simple I can be doing like using the Apollo as a master clock for everything or purchasing some sort of syncing device? Thanks for any help!

2

does the dsi prophet have a sequencer?? the mini brute??
first thing is …you need to determine the master. It might be LOGIC.
i have Logic Pro X and an AR/A4/Tempest.
when i’m producing i use the AR as my master. It sends clock to the A4 and the A4 passes it on to the tempest.
when i record…i use the usb connection from my mac to the AR and send it clock and leave the rest of the line the way it was (it keeps the feel this way)
all of my machines have sequencers so you have a slightly different situation.
if the dsi prophet can sequence then all the rest of this might change.
HOW i’d do it…
I’d probably sequence the prophet, mini brute and moog directly with Logic Pro X. If the machines are connected to the computer via usb just create “external midi” tracks
Under Track: GM device select the name of the device (mini brute, moog, dsi) under the port…VOILA
just arm and record
I’d send clock to the AR by (project settings)-(synchronization)-(Midi)
Check transmit midi clock
and underneath that select (analog rytm) ***must be plugged into USB

the rytm and LPX work flawlessly together.

**if the DSI sequences…you can treat it just like the AR

check the 2nd midi clock box and underneath select dsi pro

3

If I was in your shoes: I would need the following information:

  • A midi out contains ALL data generated by the machine itself
  • A midi in is used to get data into a machine
  • a midi-thru is used to get midi from the previous machine thru the current machine into the next (its basicly a copy of what goes into midi-in)

So. lets start of by making your AR the master. so all others should be slave (see manual how to send/receive clock on your machines)

Now: take the midi-out of AR and plug it into midi-IN of your sub37. Now your sub37 should be in sync when AR starts playing (don’t forget slave settings on sub37)
Now take the midi-thru of sub37 and plug it into midi_in of minibrute … Now plug minibrute_midi_thru into prophet12_midi_in …

For now: all your machines should be in sync with eachoher (computer does not play yet)…

now comes the next part of the story: midi channels.
for explanation purposes: your machines SHOULD NOT SHARE MIDICHANNELS !! (this can be fun, but prob not right now)

so read the manual: what midichannels do your machines use.

I think the AR is midi 1 to 13 (12 tracks + fx) but I am not 100% sure.

So that leaves 4! midichannels for your other machines.
I think your other machines use just 1 channel (I can be so wrong)

so that be
1 - 13 = AR
14 = sub37
15 = minibrute
16 = prophet12

My machinedrum and monomachine and octatrack, can be setup difrently to use less midichannels: so in the case you come short… try manual AR to see if you can turn things of.

anyways:
once clocksettings on each machine is right
and the midichannels are configured properly
and cables are inserted properly

everything should now come alive when you press play on your AR and be in sync.

when you get this working: try to add your computer
take the midi-out from the computer and put it into midi-in of AR : configure the are to be slave… computer to be master. now press play on computer… your whole setup should come alive…

I have no clue how to you record everything into your computer… but I think you know how many audio-inputs you got, and how to set that up in your daw… if not… ask your friends here :slight_smile: I am sure I am not the only helpful type.

Enjoy:

4

Apendix : when you add your computer:

don’t forget, you might have to switch the cable that’s in the midi_out of your AR… to the midi-thru of your AR … else your other machines might stop working, cause they don’t get any data…

5

thanks to both of you for such quick and detailed replies. this makes so much more sense now that I read it. I’m going to have to run and and get a few more midi cables and try it out tonight. Thanks for your help. I’ll report back how everything works out!

6

You will need a midi interface (google USB midi interface) to set up logic as the master midi clock in order to sync everything as it looks like the apollo is audio only. Sweetwater is usually helpful and could recommened a good one to you. It sounds like price isn’t an issue (based on your gear list) and I’m sure they’ve got what you’d need. You’d then set up logic (see link below) as the master and the synth you want to sync to it as the slave (minibrute defaults to receive clock while your other synths would all need the setting to be adjusted…see the manuals). Once they are logic is set to send midi clockvia whatever interface you use and the external gear is set to receive midi clock, you should be good to go.

http://support.apple.com/kb/PH13383

7

Ha, while I was typing that, there were already a bunch of other responses. Good forum. My recommendation was just if you wanted logic to act as the master. Don’t want to confuse things if you are not looking to have to by anymore hardware.

8

does the mini brute and the dsi and the moog have sequencers???

if not…plain midi in is not going to help you.

also if you are having sync issues, you may do better to sequence in Logic solely. this is important before you go buy a bunch of cables.

*it does seem the mini brute and the moog do…

i still wonder about having 4 different sequencers running and the timing

9

thanks for the help. yes, both the minibrute and moog have sequencers. I may try and go the midi interface route as suggested by metalfalcon. seems somewhat straightforward for me. I will let you know how everything turns out. thanks again.

10

To JOB’s point about not running four sequencers at once, when tracking I’d still avoid trying to sync everything at once and just record each instrument one at a time.

My set up is very comparable to yours. I have an outboard mixer with analog keys, tempest, monomachine & minibrute SE midi chained. They synch fine for sketching out songs and jamming through the mixer, but when I record to logic, it’s much less of a headache to do it one at a time.

11

can’t thank you guys enough. i don’t have it working yet :wink: But, I understand the chain needed. I need to get into the manual of the Sub 37 and Prophet to receive the midi from the AR, but I understand what I’m trying to do now. Also, metal falcon, that’s exactly my plan, record each individually, but jam / plan outside of logic. thanks for everyone’s input!

will report back with results.