Hi

I’m basically trying to send MTC from Protools out to the Rack XS so that when I play an Arpeggiator live, the start of it locks onto the start of a bar. As it is very fast arpeggiator even the slightest bit out is noticeable, making playing it consistently without sync is not really do able.

I am getting sync coming into the XS just fine and its showing up as external and running the arp when I play it - however no amount of different optoins with “sync quantize value” and Quantize strength is making it latch onto actual beats - it just seems to be reading the tempo and still playign as soon as I push a key.

My gut feeling is that the rack XS is ignoring MTC and just using the Beat Clock, thereby making it impossible to do what I’m trying to do....and that the keyboard version of the XS would allow me to do this due to the sequencer.

I’m hoping somebody can tell me I’m wrong or offer an alternate solution!

I should also mention I’m running a laptop live, which is what is allowing me to take the signal from protools into the motif, and also play keyboard into it along with all my other rig. That means that if there is a software solution that could help out then it can be a possible solution - I’m trying with MIDI OX at the moment but still no joy latching onto an actual beat 1!

Thanks, Pete

The Motif-Rack XS does not respond to MIDI TIME CODE. MTC requires something called SONG POSITION POINTER in order for it to function. So you are correct, MTC does work inthe keyboard version of the Motif XS but only in SONG mode.

Sending MTC to the Rack XS is meaningless…

The arpeggio can be slaved to external MIDI (beat) Clock - but it does not start playing just because you have started the clock. What makes an arpeggiator an arpeggiator is that it additionally requires musical input (a trigger note) from the musician to begin. The position of the trigger note is the sole responsibility of the performing musician.

When a song is counted off, the guitar (I’m talking about the real acoustic instrument now) does not start, the guitarist must finger a note or chord to make the instrument sound. If they are late (behind the beat) then it is a matter of musicianship. If they are early (ahead of the beat) then again it is a matter of musicianship.

With arpeggios you don’t typically get a chance to correct yourself so being late will eventually get on your nerves because it will sit just behind the beat. If you are 50 clock ticks late, you will remain 50 clock ticks late until you stop. If you are 50 clock ticks early, you will remain 50 clock ticks early until you stop.

What to do?
I can hear my teacher now: Practice - the more you work with it the better you get. But there is shortcut…

You can, if you are hopelessly off rhythm every time, send a quantized chord from the top of your sequencer. It is possible to trigger the arpeggio notes via MIDI (from an external sequencer).

The clock is always (when set to external) sync’d with the source clock, whether the arpeggio pattern falls on the downbeat is completely (as it SHOULD BE) under the control of the performer. Unlike arranger workstation STYLES, and arpeggiator is a interactive timing-wise. In other words where on an arranger you could be early or a little late and the pattern kind of picks up where it should be, the arpeggios are musically flexible, by design, and allow you to sit ahead or behind the beat.

Hi

Thanks for the reply, sadly as I expected. I should however point out I’m not an amateur player trying to play with an arranger style approach. This is for a big tour whereby the arpeggiated pattern in the song is such a HUGE feature, and whilst I could just bail and put it on track I’d really like to re-create it as it changes persona throughout the track - filters/releases/tone/effects coming in and out - all of which I’m managing to re-create, but all being held back by the one underlying factor that a semi quaver arp at 160BPM, whilst jumping about on stage is seeming almost impossible to 100% guaruntee its hit point is close enough to work.

9 out of 10 are great, but for TV promo and other recording kind of stuff that still isn’t good enough so might have to bottle it and put it on track. Reluctantly!

Hmmmm I will find a way....

Thanks for the reply, Pete