KP3 Sync : MIDI clock/auto BPM - still no resolution?

[MisterRider]

Hi everyone,

I've been on the forums about an hour, researching my problem, and I still haven't found anything, so... I'm gonna...so...it... POST!

What I'm trying to do is use the KP3 in a live situation, where it is synched to the MIDI clock of a KORG EMX-1, while using an Electro Harmonix 2880 looper. My MIDI chain looks like:

EMX1 out --> 2880 -- thru --> KP3

Simple. I have the KP3 on Auto or External midi sync - it receives, no problem. My effects are nicely in sync (BPM delays are fine, etc). THe problem comes when I want to use either the drum patches on HOLD or the Sample Banks. They simply do not stay in synch. They are fine for a number of bars (maybe 16 or so) but then, phasing turns to flanging turns to flamming...

I've tried putting the loop pads on "retrigger" and retriggering the samples manually - but then it becomes a performance guessing game (did I hit *all* 4 sample pads *exactly* in the right spot?) - and I shouldn't have to micro manage those four tracks, when the KP3 is clearly advertised as having MIDI clock sync.

Inherently in MIDI clock sync, there is what is called Song Position Popinter, no? Why isn't my KP3 detecting where the start of the bar/phrase is and adjusting in consequence?

I'm I doing things correctly? Is there a setting I don't know about? Why do the samples - whether on MUTE or RETRIGGER mode - go out of sync so badly?

I read the posts on the "philisophical issue" - ie the KP3 is mostly an effects and add-to-your-beats kind of unit - not a dedicated looper. But I also read a number of posts on the fact that the KP2's sync to Midi clock is fine.

I think I'm not alone when I say that this is a frustrating issue, and one that has yet to be resolved. There has been alot of talk, but I really haven't seen any fixes, concrete solutions or easy work-arounds.

Can *anyone* sum up this topic and let us all know what is happening with the KP3s midi sync?

Thank you,

T
ps- yes I have OS 2 installed

[decrepitude]

You can convert the samples to one-shots (using the software editor) and trigger the samples with midi notes coming from the EMX.

[MisterRider]

Hi Decrep; thanks for the reply.

I can't do that - for two reasons:

1) I'm sampling stuff on the fly (ex, using a mic, playing the EMX into it and sampling that, etc) - this has to be done live
2) that would get into micro-managing from the EMX, and using it as a midi-trig device, which I shouldn't have to do.

try agin, tho! :)

T

[matt_n]

This is the one thing that I would change in a heartbeat about the KP3.

Seems to me it would be fairly simple to implement as well - just add an option so that if the KP3 receives a MIDI "start" message it triggers the Align function. That way, everything locks onto the beat. Simple! Maybe we should start a petition or something....?

[decrepitude]

Hi Decrep; thanks for the reply.

I can't do that - for two reasons:

1) I'm sampling stuff on the fly (ex, using a mic, playing the EMX into it and sampling that, etc) - this has to be done live

2) that would get into micro-managing from the EMX, and using it as a midi-trig device, which I shouldn't have to do.

No problem, but you can still do it. You can sample on the fly AND you can have one of your keyboard parts dedicated to triggering any of the samples you record. Since you have 5 keyboard parts on the EMX, I really don't see this as a deal breaker (just my 2 cents).

BTW, you are spot on with the drums drifting - that is indeed a well known problem. But I don't have the problems you're describing with samples drifting out of sync when I'm slaved to another midi clock. And I know there are plenty of others not experiencing this. I mean do you really want to use the shitty drum sounds on the KP3 anyway?

[MisterRider]

Hm; RE EMX triggering - interesting work-around. THe only problem would be, if I *didn't want the sample to play at some point... I guess I'd have to mute the dedicated EMX track? Cool idea. But, it may be jsut as much work as having to hit the "Align" button every 64 bars...

There's no way to make the KP3 receive Song Pointer information? ie - so it syncs up with the start of the bar, on every bar?

thanks for the help and thoughts,

T
ps - I prefer to use the shitty drum sounds from the Kaossilator

[MisterRider]

Ok, so I have an idea!

Instead of triggering the samples, how about triggering THE SYNC itself... is there a way to send a midi message form the sequencer (the EMX-1 in this case) that will activate the ALIGN button/function?

that would be sweet - thoughts?

[matt_n]

Instead of triggering the samples, how about triggering THE SYNC itself... is there a way to send a midi message form the sequencer (the EMX-1 in this case) that will activate the ALIGN button/function?

That's a bloody good idea, but unfortunately I believe that the ALIGN function is one of the few things that isn't MIDI mappable, alas. It'd be great though. I'm using a Korg ES1, I could use a track on the ES1 to trigger the align function at the start of every four bars and keep everything locked on...

[m4m]

Ok, so I have an idea!

Instead of triggering the samples, how about triggering THE SYNC itself... is there a way to send a midi message form the sequencer (the EMX-1 in this case) that will activate the ALIGN button/function?

that would be sweet - thoughts?

impossible, korg really overseen this and didnt allow the "1" to understand at least the standard "Play" command, even less a midi message

[MisterRider]

Oh crap. Do you think that's on the list of fixes for the next OS update? If not, how do I get it on...