Ableton Forum

Ableton will not recognise EXT midi clock.

I have an external Midi clock (ERM Midi clock) with 2 MIDI outs. Both outs work and are able to trigger and clock external gear such as Aira TR-8.

I am trying to use this as MIDI clock source into Ableton via an Audio 8 Dj soundcard which has a MIDI in port. At times this has worked fine, but more often than not it will not register in Ableton as receiving any MIDI signal.

In Ableton I set the MIDI Input setting for the Audio 8 soundcard to have ‘Sync’ on for the MIDI input setting.

This causes the ‘EXT’ button to appear next to Ableton BPM.

When I turn on the ‘EXT’ button the Ableton BPM does not change to match the external BPM from the ERM MIDI clock. Also no clips will play from session view when ‘EXT’ is on, as they are waiting for a MIDI signal which does not get into Ableton. The 2 small squares next to the ‘EXT’ button do not light to indicate that MIDI is being received into Ableton.

This sometimes works and Ableton will receive MIDI signal, but most of the time does not – even with the exact same settings and cabling. I have tried swapping cables and ports to ones which I know to work. I have also tried a different MIDI interface which is a cheap USB MIDI interface. This also did not work.

Am I missing something in order to make Ableton receive and external MIDI clock? As far as I know all I should have to do is find the MIDI device in prefs>MIDI settings and select MIDI Input>SYNC>ON, and then click the ‘EXT’ button next to Ableton BPM to turn on EXT sync?

Try posting a pic of your Preferences screen. Depending on the how Live sees your MIDI ports, you have to select sync for a specific MIDI port.

For example, all my MIDI runs to a MOTU hub. Sometimes, I can pick the main MOTU "all ports" input in Preferences, and other times, I have to select the input port that the actual clocking device is connected to on the MOTU.

If you post a pic of your preferences screen, it might provide additional clues.

Thanks Richie. Here are the settings.

As i mentioned the midi into Live is coming via the Audio 8 DJ soundcard via a midi cable. In the MIDi prefs you can see i have selected SYNC on the MIDI Input for the Audio 8 only. This enables the EXT button in Live, but when i select the EXT button no MIDI signal is received. This did previously work with the same settings.

Sorry struggling to get the image up - heres a link

https://goo.gl/photos/DqbS3ZFTQPDMDSh66

Turn on Remote for that MIDI input.

Thanks Tarekith i'll try that.

Does Live need to see the incoming MIDI signal as if its coming via a MIDi controller or similar in order to recognise it?

Hi Tarekith - I tried enabling Remote on the MIDI input as well as sync but live still doesn't pick up the signal. I also tried turning on Track to no avail.

Does this sound like the MIDI inputs on my sound card are fried?