How to sync Elektron gears BPM with Ableton 9 BPM as master

[konnektivitat]

Hello guys,

My setup:
Macbook Pro (i5 2.3, 16GB RAM, dual drive: SSD 128GB + HDD 7200rpm 750GB)
MOTU Traveler MK3 Firewire soundcard
Ableton Live 9 Suite
Max 6

I own (all new machines with the +Drive) Elektron Octatrack, Elektron Analog Four, Elektron Monomachine and Elektron Machinedrum. <How can I syncronize/What do i need to syncronize> the BPM Clock of these gears (slaves) to the clock of Ableton (master)?

Thank you so much
William

[dixie237]

Treat yourself to one of these
http://www.s-n-d.com/acme4e_a.html
Get stuck into the manual.
Download the clock pulse VST and send the pulse audio signal to the Acme-4
Hook up your electron gear midi ins to the 4 midi outs on the Acme-4, and enjoy rock solid, flexible midi clock....
.....not cheap, but great kit....
That'll do it

[konnektivitat]

Yes, probably, that's the best solution... I was looking that one. Do you know for more cheaper choices? (if some exists)

Thanks for the answ

[stuartm]

MIDI Clock.

Technically, you can chain all four machines by using the MIDI Thru ports. But the last machine might be offset, not sure how well the Elektron's Thru ports work.

A simple 1to4 MIDI Thru-Unit or a used MIDI patchbay (AMT8/Unitor8) to spread the single MIDI output of the MOTU to all Elektron machines in parallel does the job perfectly.

[konnektivitat]

Ok, I'll try these solutions first. If I'll not be able to get a rock MIDI clock, I will take an ACME-4 or an Innerclock.

Thank you very much for the help.

[dixie237]

The problem with relying on midi clock alone, using a splitter when syncing multiple units, using one unit (or live) as the master is that they will never all sit together perfectly. They might be "close" but that might not be good enough for you.
The Innerclock units are very cool, but you need 2 to achieve what the Acme-4 will give you, the sync gen for solid clock and the sync shift to pull and push the timing. The Acme-4 does both with 4 independent channels.

When I got my Acme-4 set up (easy) it was amazing. I could nudge all my external units -xox' Analog 4, EMX bang on to live, then use the independant swing settings and the 1/2 - double time settings to have a blast.

I also use it standalone syncing 2 RC505's, my EMX and the xox. I bounce my tracks down from live into component parts and use them in the 505's. The Acme is my master clock.

I have no association with SND, I'm just a well pleased owner.

Have fun

[konnektivitat]

Yeah, you are correct. I've seen use ACME-4 by many musicians (so it's well tested, for example look into the latest video Minilogue: Setup).
He controls Ableton Live with a xone 4d (controller with a good analog mixer) and he syncronize all with a Roland 808, a 101 (and so on) through? An ACME box (that has many other extra functions).

At the end, I'm thinking it's the only solution to get my legs off from that.

[dixie237]

You won't be disappointed. Let us know how you get on.

[konnektivitat]

Of course. Thanks

[stuartm]

The problem with relying on midi clock alone, using a splitter when syncing multiple units, using one unit (or live) as the master is that they will never all sit together perfectly.

Works for me, even alternating between Live and my MIDIbox sequencer as master clock source.

[dixie237]

Cool,
So you are using the MIDIbox as your master, setting Live as a slave, then triggering an external unit that has an onboard sequencer as per the OP's list Elektron Octatrack, Elektron Analog Four, Elektron Monomachine and Elektron Machinedrum (or any others of course) and everything is playing (perfectly) in time?

[flowdesigner]

Treat yourself to one of these
http://www.s-n-d.com/acme4e_a.html
Get stuck into the manual.
Download the clock pulse VST and send the pulse audio signal to the Acme-4
Hook up your electron gear midi ins to the 4 midi outs on the Acme-4, and enjoy rock solid, flexible midi clock....
.....not cheap, but great kit....
That'll do it

would that be better than the basic sync-lock, which i own?

thanks!

[dixie237]

would that be better than the basic sync-lock, which i own? thanks!

Hi there. OK so I have never used a sync-lock so am unable to provide any A-B comparison.
When I began my journey to find a clock source that suited my needs (jitter free rock solid clock, ability to pull and push the timing and use as standalone) I read the info on SND and Innerclock stuff and contacted both companies.
The clincher for me was the Acme-4's ability to do all of this in one unit (whereas the Innerclock needs two units to perform solid lock and shift) and the Acme-4's standalone capability. No need for software.

For some, for use with a DAW, the need might only be lock, for others only shift is needed, so perhaps for that requirement the Innerclock units may be preffereable. Also Innerclock (and please correct me if I am wrong any Innerclock users) only works with software running from a DAW.
I've read nothing but good reviews on the Innerclock midi signals. They seem to be quality bits of kit.

Hope this helps

[stuartm]

Cool,
So you are using the MIDIbox as your master, setting Live as a slave, then triggering an external unit that has an onboard sequencer as per the OP's list Elektron Octatrack, Elektron Analog Four, Elektron Monomachine and Elektron Machinedrum (or any others of course) and everything is playing (perfectly) in time?

Yes. Also with MIDIBox Sequencer slaved to Live as a Master.
("external units" being just OT and MD from Elektron, but also NordMicroModular, DSI Evolver and 2 Shruthi-1s)

[Dsan81]

Hey guys, I just purchased and Acme 4. What is the ideal set up to use this with ableton and get its full potential?