Volca - MIDI - delayed Start / Sync - issue

chris-korg · Post by **chris-korg** » Wed Dec 25, 2013 7:37 pm

Hi !

Did some tests with following hardware-setup:

MidiPal (Mutable Instruments) as Midi-clock (incl. Start/Stop)
MidiPals Midi-Out goes into Kenton Thru5
Thru5-Midi-Outs go to
1) Korg Monotribe (miditribe-mod) - MidiIn
2) Volca Bass - MidiIn
3) Volca Beats - MidiIn
4) Volca Keys - MidiIn
5) Doepfer DarkTime - MidiIn (its MidiOut goes into MS20mini - MidiIn)

When I press "Run" on my MidiPal then
- Monotribe, Volca Keys and DarkTime start exactly at the same time
- Volca Bass and Volca Beats start approx. 1/16note later
Then all 5 stay in Sync BUT Bass and Beats remain this 1/16 behind !!

I think that is the problem that some other describe in their posts mentioning that their "Volcas don´t sync"....

My solutions:
1) the simplest one is to manually stop Bass and/or Beats and restart it in time
2) the "automated" approach:
Keep the Midi-connection AND connect Sync-Out of Volca Keys (as Volca Keys starts at the right moment) with Sync-In of Volca Beats and from their you connect again the Sync-Out to the Sync-In of Volca Bass (or vica versa)
by using the sync-cables provided by Korg.

This setup works without any problems - I can Start/Stop at any time, change the BPMs, etc.

If non of your Volcas start in time, then you need a sync-clock, for example the Kenton MSY4 (I tried it already, works without a flaw)

Hope that Korg will be able to correct this bug in a future Firmware-update.

peteone · Post by **peteone** » Fri Dec 27, 2013 7:13 am

is this te box you are talking about? http://www.kentonuk.com/products/items/ ... rge4.shtml

chris-korg · Post by **chris-korg** » Fri Dec 27, 2013 8:27 am

Sorry - sorry - sorry !

I meant a DOEPFER MSY2 (MIDI-to-SYNC/Clock Interface)

peteone · Post by **peteone** » Sat Dec 28, 2013 10:53 pm

ok so that lets you connect only 2 devices is there a box that lets you do 6?

chris-korg · Post by **chris-korg** » Sun Dec 29, 2013 9:29 am

I´m not sure about your question.

I mentioned above that I use a Kenton Thrugh5 for my Volca-Midi-path,
ADDITIONALLY I use the Doepfer MSY2 SyncOut to go into the SyncIn of one of the Volcas and then I chain-sync the other Volcas (SyncIn-SyncOut).
I do not use the MSY2 as a Midi-Through-box.

If you have a general question conc. connecting 6 Midi-devices:
I use a Roland A880 Midi-patchbay which I bought used on Ebay as the
main hub in my Midi-Setup.

peteone · Post by **peteone** » Sat Jan 04, 2014 2:59 am

this Kenton would help me a lot and I think I'm going to get it but wanted to ask you if you know if MIDISPORT 4x4 does the same thing? takes one midi splits it to 4 that is...

chris-korg · Post by **chris-korg** » Sat Jan 04, 2014 11:56 am

I do not know the Midisport 4x4 in Detail but to my (limited) knowledge you can use it only in your setup with a PC connected and switched ON.
As I do not want to use a PC in my setup this device is not an option for me... (that´s why I use the A880)

chris-korg · Post by **chris-korg** » Sat Jan 04, 2014 9:58 pm

As I still experienced sometimes a strange sync-behaviour (delays due to the Volcas sync-chain) I changed my Midi-setup again:

NEW SETUP:

MidiPals (as clock-Master) MidiOut goes into
- Doepfer MSY2 MidiIn

From Doepfers MSY2 Midi-Through port the Midi-signal goes then to
- Kenton Through5 MidiIn

From Kentons Through5 Midi-Out ports 1-3 the signal goes to
- Volca Beats MidiIn
- Volca Bass MidiIn
- Volca Keys Midiin

From MSY2 SyncOut the signal goes parallell (!) to
- Volca Beats SyncIn
- Volca Bass SyncIn
- Volca Keys SyncIn

My "trick": I use a Tiptop Audio Stackcable (from Schneidersladen); this goes from MSY2 syncOut to Volca Bass SyncIn; and a regular sync cable from MSY2 syncOut to Volca Beats syncIn and another regular sync cable from Volca Bass syncIn (!) to Volca Keys syncIn.

Now everything (clock, start/stop) runs PERFECT !!!

peteone · Post by **peteone** » Sun Jan 05, 2014 2:59 am

you could use DAW (Live) with a soundcard with midi out from your computer and skip Doepfer MSY2 right?

chris-korg · Post by **chris-korg** » Sun Jan 05, 2014 9:47 am

I use neither a PC nor a DAW - so I can not give you a qualified answer.

Anyhow, I do not believe that a DAW would solve the "delayed start"-issue as it also just sends out Midi-messages on various channels (like the MidiPal in my setup).

The best is you try it out if your DAW is able to start your Volcas together with your other equipment / VST-plugins etc. and keeps them in sync....

Riezz · Post by **Riezz** » Mon Jan 06, 2014 6:49 pm

peteone wrote:you could use DAW (Live) with a soundcard with midi out from your computer and skip Doepfer MSY2 right?

within Live i still have syncing problems.. when hitting START, the volca takes about 1/16th to start, but then no syncing with Ableton
when i hit the START fast again, then it will sync,.. but this is unusable in a live situation ofcourse

but its only when i want to use to sync the patterns i made on the Volca itself...
when i make some drumpatterns in Live, triggering the Volca, then restart, stop etc. etc. no problems at all

peteone · Post by **peteone** » Mon Jan 06, 2014 8:12 pm

it still doesn't start at the same time even when you have one midi signal split into 3 ?

elastic · Post by **elastic** » Mon Jan 04, 2016 10:38 am

I can't get my volca beats to start in time with ableton. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't.

Any advice?

ls_dado · Post by **ls_dado** » Mon Jan 04, 2016 1:47 pm

you are hijacking somebodies thread. anyway:
check your midi settings in ableton, especially the clock delay setting. switch metronomes on both devices on, and get them to sync as good as possible.

ableton sucks on midi sync anyways in my opinion. thats the main reason why i try not to use my computer at all (except for battlefield...

)

smutek · Post by **smutek** » Sun Feb 07, 2016 5:35 am

I have a similar issue here, and it happens with my Volca Beats & my Volca Sample, though slightly different in both cases.

I agree that Lives midi sync leaves something to desired, but I have the same issue with Logic, so I don't think this is a Live problem.

If I am using an internal sequence on my Beats, for example a simple 4/4 kick pattern, when I press play on my DAW the Beats starts on the one but then by the time the sequence gets to the second beat it jumps out of time by about 1/8. It sounds like it's starting on whatever tempo its own clock is set to and receiving the external clock time late. The step indicator light seems to be running in time, but the actual sequence is completely off. Pressing start and stop on the DAW will fix this problem, then pressing start and stop again will re-trigger it.

Alternately, my Sample starts in time but, if I am using an internal sequence and have the sequencer in Logic running a loop the Sample will go completely out of time when the loop repeats. Total train wreck.

Both instruments work beautifully when sequenced with an external source such as my BeatStep Pro.

I can't say for sure with the keys and the bass, but I am pretty sure I've ran internal sequences from my Bass without these issues.

Current setup is either Live or Logic for my DAW, depending on the type of frustration I'm feeling, with my four Volcas connected via an iConnect Midi 2 and a Midiman MidiSport 2x2.

It's not a huge issue for me since I am mostly sequencing with either the BeatStep Pro and / or Lemur, but I'm going to look into a sync clock I guess.