2 computer sync up problem

decimal · Post by **decimal** » Thu Feb 02, 2006 1:23 am

Hi all.

a pal and I are doing some tag team live pa at a gig in a few weeks, we've been rehearsing and have enocounterd a problem:

our midi clocks slowly lose sync and drift apart.

i'm running Live 5 and he is running live 4, he's the master running out though an m-audio interface, and i'm slave-ing in with a UC-33, everything seems to be connected and configured correctly.

Has anyone had a similar experience and found a solution? A speedy response would be much appreciated as our gig approaches!

Michael-SW · Post by **Michael-SW** » Thu Feb 02, 2006 9:55 am

A dedicated midi interface instead of the UC-33 might solve things.

Heavy CPU load can also get things out of sync.

Some external hardware that can act as master midi clock for both computers might also help.

netchaiev · Post by **netchaiev** » Thu Feb 02, 2006 10:21 am

If you guys are on mac, sure bet through Airport.

hambone1 · Post by **hambone1** » Thu Feb 02, 2006 11:26 am

I tried MIDI networking in Tiger, both wired and wireless. More trouble than it was worth.

I have my G5 (master running audio & video) and iBook (slave running lighting) synched up. I was having problems with the iBook losing the sync signal, so I tried sending the MIDI lighting data down one MIDI cable from the BCR on the G5 to a Midisport 2x2 on the iBook, and the MIDI sync signal down a second MIDI cable between the BCR and Midisport.

Works great now!

decimal · Post by **decimal** » Thu Feb 02, 2006 3:13 pm

we're both running PCs

we are using a korg ES-1 as well. it only has one midi out jack, is there something available to split a midi signal to both our laptops?

spiderprod · Post by **spiderprod** » Thu Feb 02, 2006 3:27 pm

a proper midi port would do the job ,
i don't think the uc 33 works as a midi interface for the pc .

Michael-SW · Post by **Michael-SW** » Thu Feb 02, 2006 10:09 pm

Don't know about the UC-33, but my Evolution MK-225C mini keyboard has shitty MIDI I/O. Works fine over USB with the computer, but don't try to connect anything through the external midi ports. Worked abysmally when I tried to sync Live between two computers.

I actually didn't remember the maker of my keyboard until I checked it at home. If I had been sure I had an Evolution too, I would have made that point more forcefully in my first post.

I think a simple USB MIDI interface might fix your problems.

divonic · Post by **divonic** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 1:03 pm

slaving both laptops to a hardware midi source is your best bet for rock solid sync. Like a harware sequencer or a groovebox. I've never liked using the computer as the master; too much variable. course that might be diffucult if you don't have somethin glike that.

are you using midi time clock or time code? if they other guy using the same thing? Does any one know if that makes a difference?

Komplex · Post by **Komplex** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 9:18 pm

decimal wrote:we're both running PCs

we are using a korg ES-1 as well. it only has one midi out jack, is there something available to split a midi signal to both our laptops?

yes, a midi through box will do the trick, they're quite cheap.

Komplex · Post by **Komplex** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 9:19 pm

This might help as well:

http://home.netspeed.com.au/aistorm/sync2.html