External switch mode midi delay problem

solidred · Post by **solidred** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 8:48 pm

Hi,

I'm using Live 6.0.7 and am having a problem with midi timings. I'm using an Elektron Machinedrum as the master clock, I've adjusted the MIDI clock sync delay and have gotten it in sync with the metronome in Ableton Live.

So now I've got the audio loops in Live in sync with the Machinedrum. However I'm also using Live to play a Nord Modular via midi (with the audio coming back into Live). However there's a delay of about 27ms on the audio from the Nord Modular.

I can fix this when "External Switch Mode" is off by adjusting the track delay on the midi channel in Live that's playing the Nord, however when I turn External Switch Mode on it ignores the track delay setting, so I've got a delay on the audio again.

Is there any way to adjust the track delay while external switch mode is on, or any other way to adjust the midi delay settings of each midi channel in Live? Changing the midi clock sync delay of the channel playing the Nord doesn't do anything either (understandably, as this is just for midi sync and not midi track playing).

Amaury · Post by **Amaury** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 8:48 am

Hello,

You are not using MIDI sync for the Nord right? So you are sending MIDI data, from Live, to the Nord? In that case, have you tried putting a negative delay on the MIDI track that is sending data to the Nord?

Regards,
Amaury

solidred · Post by **solidred** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 9:09 pm

Hi, thanks for the reply!

Yes, I am sending MIDI data from Live to the Nord. I can put a negative delay on the MIDI track and that puts the Nord in sync, however, I the negative delay only works when Live's "External Sync" is off. When External Sync is on (which I normally use, I slave Live to the Machinedrum) changing the delay on the MIDI track produces no effect. Turning External Sync on seems to disable the track delay on every channel, is there any way to make it not do that? :)

Edit: I've just noticed that when I have External Sync enabled, the "Delay Compensation" option in the options menu is greyed out, so I'm guessing I can't use delay compensation when external sync is on?

Amaury · Post by **Amaury** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 9:33 am

solidred wrote:Hi, thanks for the reply!

Yes, I am sending MIDI data from Live to the Nord. I can put a negative delay on the MIDI track and that puts the Nord in sync, however, I the negative delay only works when Live's "External Sync" is off. When External Sync is on (which I normally use, I slave Live to the Machinedrum) changing the delay on the MIDI track produces no effect. Turning External Sync on seems to disable the track delay on every channel, is there any way to make it not do that?

Edit: I've just noticed that when I have External Sync enabled, the "Delay Compensation" option in the options menu is greyed out, so I'm guessing I can't use delay compensation when external sync is on?

Hello,

That is right, Delay Compensation is not available when Live is a slave. That is because Live would somehow have to start earlier than it receives the first signal for sync, and that sounds just like not possible. We may find ways around that in the future, but no simple solution.

Thanks for your input anyway. I have no proper suggestion for now, but trying to use as low latency as possible for the soundcard, so you don't feel the latency. What hardware are you using?

Regards,
Amaury

solidred · Post by **solidred** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 1:24 pm

The sound card interface is a Motu 828MKII. I'm using an Emagic MT4 USB midi device to connect to the Nord Modular and the Elektron Machinedrum. I'll have a play with the latency settings next. Thanks for the information!