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Synchronizing AudioMulch to Other MIDI Hardware and Software

With AudioMulch's MIDI clock synchronization features you can synchronize AudioMulch to hardware or software that can send or receive MIDI clock sync. Commonly used hardware includes MIDI sequencers, drum machines and groove boxes. You can also synchronize AudioMulch with other software. When using this feature, the tempo, rhythmic timing and Automation location of AudioMulch and the hardware/software stay locked in tight synchronization. This lets you perform synchronized, rhythmic music using AudioMulch in combination with other hardware and software.

MIDI clock sync works by having a master clock that generates and sends clock sync to a slave, which receives and chases clock sync. AudioMulch can work as a MIDI Clock Master and/or as a MIDI Clock Slave. These two modes are handled separately by AudioMulch's Generate MIDI Sync and Chase MIDI Sync features. You can also generate and chase MIDI sync at the same time.

MIDI synchronization is only useful if you're using an AudioMulch document that employs clock-based contraptions to create rhythms (e.g. Bassline, Drums, quantized granulators, etc).

How to use Generate MIDI Sync

Use Generate MIDI Sync when you want AudioMulch to act as the MIDI Clock Master for other hardware or software such as a drum machine or MIDI sequencer. The other hardware or software should be configured as a MIDI Clock Slave, so that it follows AudioMulch's clock's start, stop and timing.

To start a MIDI Clock Slave synchronized to AudioMulch:

Before following the steps below, ensure you have a MIDI Clock Slave such as a drum machine or MIDI sequencer connected to your computer via a MIDI interface. The MIDI output of the computer must be connected to the MIDI input on your MIDI Clock Slave.

Now, configure AudioMulch to send MIDI clock sync to the MIDI Clock Slave:

  1. Open the Settings/Preferences dialog box. To do this in Windows, open the Edit menu and choose Settings... On Macintosh, open the AudioMulch application menu and choose Preferences...
  2. Choose MIDI Sync from the list on the left. The MIDI Sync page will open on the right.
  3. In Generate MIDI Sync settings, choose a Device from the drop down list – this should correspond to the MIDI interface output that your MIDI Clock Slave is connected to. Note: It is possible to select the same Device for MIDI sync and MidiOut contraptions.

Then, make sure the MIDI Clock Slave is configured to receive MIDI clock sync:

  • Sometimes this mode is called "MIDI clock sync SLAVE". If you're unsure how to do this, check the instructions for your hardware/software.

You can now enable Generate MIDI Sync:

  1. Open the Control menu and choose Generate MIDI Sync.
  2. Press the Play button on the Transport toolbar. When you start and stop AudioMulch's clock, the MIDI Clock Slave will start, stop and synchronize with AudioMulch.

Using Generate MIDI Sync with "Pattern Mode" devices (Korg Electribe™, Nord Micromodular et al)

When Generate MIDI Sync is enabled, AudioMulch usually uses MIDI's standard Song Position Pointer message (SPP) to inform the MIDI Clock Slave of the sequence location (beat position). Some hardware does not support MIDI SPP. As a result, some hardware may start, stop and synchronize to the correct tempo, but may not always start on the correct beat. This is common with simple "pattern mode" sequencers such as the Nord Micromodular and Korg Electribe™ family. AudioMulch's Generate MIDI Sync has an alternative mode for compatibility with such hardware. You can select the alternative mode in the Settings/Preferences Dialog Box's MIDI Sync settings. See Settings/Preferences Dialog Box: MIDI Sync Settings for details.

How to use Chase MIDI Sync

Use Chase MIDI Sync when you want AudioMulch to start, stop and follow the beat of another (hardware or software) MIDI Clock Master, such as a drum machine or MIDI sequencer. The hardware or software will act as the MIDI Clock Master, and AudioMulch will act as the MIDI Clock Slave, locking to the timing of the MIDI Clock Master.

To start AudioMulch synchronized with the MIDI Clock Master:

Before following the steps below, ensure you have a MIDI Clock Master such as a drum machine or MIDI sequencer connected to your computer via a MIDI interface. The MIDI output of the MIDI Clock Master must be connected to a MIDI input on your computer.

Now, configure AudioMulch to receive MIDI clock sync from the MIDI Clock Master:

  1. Open the Settings/Preferences dialog box. To do this in Windows, open the Edit menu and choose Settings... On Macintosh, open the AudioMulch application menu and choose Preferences...
  2. Choose MIDI Sync from the list on the left. The MIDI Sync page will open on the right.
  3. In the Chase MIDI Sync settings, select a Device from the drop down list on the right – this should correspond to the MIDI interface input that your MIDI Clock Master is connected to. Note: It is possible to select the same Device for MIDI sync, MidiIn contraptions and MIDI parameter control.

Then, make sure the MIDI Clock Master is configured to transmit MIDI clock sync:

  • Sometimes this mode is called "MIDI clock sync MASTER". If you're unsure how to do this, check the instructions for your hardware/software.

You can now enable Chase MIDI Sync:

  • Open the Control menu and choose Chase MIDI Sync. When you start and stop the MIDI Clock Master, AudioMulch's clock will start, stop and synchronize with it.

Note:

  • MIDI clock sync only works when AudioMulch's audio is enabled. You can ensure audio is enabled by clicking on the Enable Audio button (make sure it's down).
  • AudioMulch will take a small amount of time to lock synchronization; for this reason it is advisable to send a one bar count-in to ensure clean sync.
  • Due to the inherent latency in generating audio in a computer, AudioMulch often can't act fast enough to synchronize to the first MIDI clock (beat) it receives. You may find that AudioMulch skips the down-beat or first 16th note when the external clock master starts (or when it re-syncs after looping). One solution is to send a one bar count-in as mentioned above. In some cases, an alternative solution is to specify a Chase MIDI Sync Offset (see below, and also Settings/Preferences Dialog Box: MIDI Sync Settings) so that AudioMulch's clock synced beats are delayed more than your sound card's audio latency.

Offset settings: when AudioMulch plays ahead or behind the beat

Sometimes AudioMulch plays slightly ahead of or behind the beat (relative to the other hardware/software) when chasing or generating MIDI sync. In every computer there are many sources of latency that can delay audio, MIDI or both. Sometimes this leads to slight de-synchronization, and AudioMulch cannot always automatically compensate for these delays. You can resolve this problem by manually tuning timing offset settings to better synchronize AudioMulch with your other devices. Use AudioMulch's synchronization Offset settings to move AudioMulch's (or a MIDI Clock Slave's) clock ahead of or behind the beat with sub-millisecond resolution. See Settings/Preferences Dialog Box: MIDI Sync Settings for details.

See Also

Settings/Preferences Dialog Box: MIDI Sync Settings

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