Cycles / Logic / Chaos

Elektron Gear Model:Cycles
#1

Pretty new to all this so y’know…

I have a live rig which includes a Model Cycles. Only had it a few days really. I’m trying to take MIDI out of my Focusrite 18i8, hooked up to Logic, to provide the master clock to record back into Logic.

Not only can I not seem to get the midi clock to go into the MC, but if I manipulate transport buttons, metronome or any channels etc in Logic, the MC goes wild, plays all manner of random notes and the pattern gets all messed up.

I don’t really know the first thing about MIDI or setting it up tbh, real newbie, so googling and forum searching isn’t helping much because I don’t know the right questions to find the right answers. Thanks in advance.

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#2

A good place to start might be to go into the config of th m:c (spanner/wrench button) go to the midi section and within that, the filter section. There you’ll be able to stop the m/c responding to various midi messages.

There’s much more to learn, but start with that and then see what questions you have, is my suggestion.

#3

Well, that was an awesome start thanks. It appears I’ve filtered out note messages, so that appears to have fixed the issue with the random mad screaming.

Now all I need to figure out is why the tempo coming from Logic results in a really weird stop-start tempo playing on the MC. I know the tempo is coming from externally, that’s all good. Any ideas why the clock isn’t synced even thought it says it is?

#4

Can only guess on that one (stop/start tempo), I know nothing about Logic and it seems most likely that’s to do with what midi messages Logic is sending. If you’ve tried everything in config->midi->filter on the M:C, take a look also in config->midi->sync and see if you can tweak anything there. You’ll certainly need ‘Clk In’ to be ‘ON’.

#5

Awesome. Thanks, will try that.

#6

I seem to remember having a similar issue with transport controls when syncing to Logic. I was able to work around it by sending transport to the Cycles via usb. It might be worth a try if you haven’t.

Also, make sure your Cycles is on the latest firmware, because I think it may have been addressed in an update.

Let us know if you make any progress. I could switch a few things around and help you narrow it down (Logic isn’t involved in my current setup).

#7

Thanks for that. I’ve upgraded the firmware now, all good. It seems like the earlier suggestion re tweaking the midi configuration solved the transport control issue - I killed off the note messages.

So now when I hit play in Logic, connected via MIDI cable from the Focusrite OUT to the M:C IN, it starts up, but the tempo is all over the place still. It’s like the tempo from Logic isn’t making it, or is making is in a garbled way, to the M:C.

#8

I had a play around with Logic and Cycles. I’m running Logic 10.6.3, current Cycles firmware and I’m not having any problems.

I don’t have anything filtered on the M:C, and clock in and out are both checked; polarity settings are STD.

In Logic I have Project Sync Settings set to my midi interface, RK005 in my case, but yours will be your Focusrite—I only have Clock checked. Also, I have the USB removed from the M:C, so only the 5 pin.

Check to see if any of these settings differ on your rig. It could be a setting on your interface or even a bad cable, so you can check those settings if my mine don’t make a difference.

Good luck,

-K

#9

Thanks for the info.

I seem to have solved it by going USB only and making sure Logic is sending the clock out only to the M:C direct, ignoring the Focusrite.

This will, at least for now, do for me as Logic now triggers the M:C, I can record the M:C into Logic and carry on as normal outside of this setup.

Appreciate all the help.

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#10

Just wanted to drop back in here and say I really appreciate the help and advice you guys gave me. I now also have my hands on the M:S and am getting to grips with both machines in my embryonic live rig.

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