Can Live 2.03, Logic 6 on Mac OS X Sync

[jamieh]

I have tried to sync LAP 6.01, Live 2.03 using MIDI Patchbay 1.0 on my Powerbook G4 800.

In theory, I should be able to achieve a similar hardware solution as Jamie using my emagic Unitor 8 mkII. I've tried patching clock/MTC between Logic and Live using various ports, but not a bloody sausage!

Normally I only use SMTE sync, am I missing something on Logic with MTC, Jamie? I've enabled Synchronisation/Transmit MTC, do I need any midi data recorded in the actual Logic song to clock Live at the correct tempo?

Are you using a 2nd MIDI interface? I think that is the key for external sync. Route the out from your Unitor 8 to the in of some inexpensive interface. It was trickier to set up in Logic then Pro tools for some reason.
If you are used to using SMPTE then MTC should fit the bill. Use MIDI Patchbay, set Live to whatever tempo you need and set the same tempo in Logic so you have the same reference points. Also make sure the frame rates are the same in both (for you I would guess that 25 fps).
It does work and it's great to use Live for film work. It's going to open a whole world of possibilities.
Also on a side note, if you have some VST FX or Soft Synths that you want to run in Logic, go to here http://www.fxpansion.com/ and order the VST>AU Adapter.
I just bought Atmosphere by Spectrasonics and with this adapter I can run it in Logic 6 as well as Pro tools.
Killer sounds.
Cheers,
Jamie

[button]

Having thought about Jamie in Portland with Logic and Live working together, I made some extra time and now have had success with a hardware solution.

Emagic Unitor: patch port 1 out to port 2 in.
LAP 6.1: disable Autosync, set Synchronisation Transmit MIDI clock Unitor port 1, tick Allow Song Position While Playing, set Transmit MTC Unitor port 1.
Live 2.0.3: Live/Preferences/Midi set Midi synchronisation Unitor 8 (port 2,) Input Sync Type MIDI Clock.

It works! I can start/stop in Logic, locate to bar position, change tempo on the fly - Live even locates correctly as I move the arrangement position line in Logic. Like Jamie, I find there is aprox 2 bar lock-up time - what the hell - it's way longer with a Studer A80 or a VTR!

One small caveat: I have only tested this with a Logic song that had 2 tracks, the test Live arrangement had 12 tracks. Still, it has the feel of a solid kludge, Live is receiving all the correct tempo information, even the tempo displays match.

This should work with AMT8 patchbay or any other emagic product that uses the Unitor technology. I connect Unitor to my Powerbook via USB.

Thanks JH, I'd have never spent all this time fiddling about if I hadn't known you were having some success. I buy you a (virtual) pint (virtual beer)

[Guest]

Having thought about Jamie in Portland running Logic and Live with his hardware solution, I have made a bit of time to come up with my own fix, using LAP 6.1.0, Live 2.0.3, emagic Unitor 8 mkII (USB.)

Unitor 8: Patch output 1 to input 2.

LAP 6.1: Autosync off. Synchronisation/Transmit MIDI clock Port 1 Unitor, Allow Song Position Pointer While playing/Tick, Transmit MTC Port 2 Unitor.

Live 2.0.3: Live/Preferences/Input Device/Unitor (Port 2), Input Sync type/MIDI clock.

Works perfectly, I can start/stop, locate and change tempo on the fly in Logic and Live follows. Live even displays correct tempo info and moves arrangement pointer in sync with Logic line. Don’t know why I didn’t find this kludge earlier, but I did have 1 dodgy patch cable. It should work with any of the emagic products that use Unitor technology, like AMT8 patchbay.

Like Jamie, I found there is aprox 2 bar lock-up time – what the hell – it takes far longer with a Studer A80 or a VTR! I tested with a Logic song containing 2 tracks, Live arrangement with 12 tracks.

JH, I buy you a virtual pint (of virtual beer .) If I hadn’t known of your success, I would never have risked wasting all this time fiddling about to find a solution.

[jamieh]

BRILL! Good solution. I had forgotten that a multi port interface allows assignments to various ports. One thing to watch for is I was experimenting with the virtual patch and had Live quit. So I went to use the external set up and it wouldn't sync Live until I quit and relaunched Logic and then Live.
Glad it's working for you, mate. I'll take you up on that (virtual) pint.
Cheers,
J

[button]

Sorry about the duplicate post, I pasted in from a text editor and went all fingers and fumbs. Thanks for the tip about the FX adaptor ... I have had my eye on the Spectrasonics ROMplers ... but I didn't want to splash out until I got confirmation I could use them with os x.
Cheers ...

[Guest]

Hi there..

Once you worked with X, you hate 9..

i have to disagree here, i have worked with OS9 (and even OS7.1) and made lots of tracks and live gigs with OS 9 .
Now, my eXPrience with OSX : it is NOT as responsive and actually very slow on G4 800 Mghz Mac , and sorry NOT more stable than a good lean audio only preconfigured OS 9.2.2, the so called Aqua interface is a total bubble-gum joke for kids, there is NO option in OS to turn it off or get back to OS 9 look back to free up CPU cycles or to give users of the older Macs a chance...., some third party utilities that offer that , but even that doesn't improve the OSX performance.
I use Live onstage in OS 9, trying to go OS X , but i just hate the sluggishness of Ableton Live faders and the latency ..... that is just making me crazy. So i tryed to figure out the ways to kill all the background processes going under OS X , but still Live 2.0.3 responds way more slow under OSX than in OS 9.2.2. In fact in OS9.2.2 Live and all the other great "legacy" Mac creative apps are performing great and blazingly fast.
Using OS X (10.2.6) feels almoust like using emulation of some sort of Connectix Virtual PC , that is how unresponsive it is!
So , what is your opinion about the state of current OSX and the Macintosh Audio? Is it still beta of a next great Macintosh OS or the attempt to seduce and convert users of Windows XP into bying MAC ?

[Guest]

I think the problem with osx was that it was built with better hardware in mind.

No doubt, it handles a lot of stuff very well... but it's heavy gui and multi-tasking things can slow stuff down.

Apple must be getting a LOT of feedback from emagic, though.

The new machines will run audio better than anything else, due to bus enhancements, but me thinks they will be $$$$$$.

-songcarver

[jamieh]

After using the midi work around for the lack of rewire support in OS X I just discovered Phatmatik Pro 1.1 that works as a plug-in under AU and VST. It's like a mini Live inside Logic 6 (Although it really acts as a version of Recycle). It is GREAT!. While it isn't as fluid as live I can now use my loops inside Logic 6 without the MIDI lock up problems.
At $99 I highly recommend it.
You can find it at www.bitshiftaudio.com
They don't have a current OS X demo but they have a OS 9 demo that you can check out.
The OS X complete version is available.
Very cool for LOGIC 6/OSX users.

Cheers,
Jamie