MIDI CLOCK (NO JITTER) ***PLUS*** TheClockIsRunning Community REMIX

In today's session, Ken 'hiwatt' Marshall shares the new Sync-Gen 3LX from Innerclock Systems, and how to generate perfect, JITTER free MIDI CLOCK in your studio!
**PLUS** hiwatt announces a new community REMIX...don't miss out!!! Deadline for contributions is Wednesday, September 20th, 11pm PST! Let's produce another awesome track...TOGETHER ;-)
Download the stems/READme here:
(Past Deadline , link removed)
Upload your contribution here:
(Past Deadline , link removed)
DEADLINE is Wednesday, September 20th, 11pm PST!!!
PLEASE NOTE: By using this upload link and sharing files, you agree to, and give me permission to use your files in any way, shape, or form into the final assembly of this project. Your files will only ever be used in this project, and you'll be credited for contributing, I promise! There will be no other compensation for your contribution, only an official credit, and a HUGE thank you from hiwatt ;-)
BOOM!!!

[@wrlmuzik]

Question-- when you are playing back a recorded midi track from Pro Tools, is that track routed to the Micro Express and then merged into the sync gen 3lx? So there are two streams - one is clock distributed to all your gear synced to the DAW with the plug in, and another is midi note output from the DAW via usb being merged into the one input on the 3lx? Would you have to filter out pro tools' midi clock? - isn't that pro tools midi clock coming in to the same input (to the 3lx midi merge in)? Sorry i'm confused about the set up....

[@hiwattmarshall]

Great question @wrlmuzik, it inspired me to dive a bit deeper into my own MIDI setup (thank you)! I wanted to be absolutely SOLID on my end before sharing, so here we go!!! You’re exactly correct in your opening comment…in my own setup, ProTools sends midi out via MicroExpress, to SyncGen 3LX’s single input/MergeRX. The clock from ProTools is ignored by 3LX, which merges the incoming midi data with its own clock. So to integrate the 3LX into my own setup, I had to ‘disrupt' all the midi in cables, so they feed from 3LX (instead of directly from MicroExpress). Then I simply route all 16 midi channels from a single Micro Express midi out to 3LX’s MergeRX, which streams out via Multi-Split to all my connected synths. I then choose a ‘global channel’ for each synth to receive, which gives me complete routing options from ProTools via midi channels. It’s a bit more complicated than a straight connection to and from our midi interface, but once we’ve mapped everything, and labeled it, we can save as a template 🤟🏻💥. The 3LX has easily accessible internal dip switches for all it's outputs, allowing us to choose whether or not the incoming midi data is merged, or ignored (handy when feeding clock to outboard gear, live, etc.). Just for clarification, any incoming midi clock is always ignored (filtered) by 3LX’s MergeRX 😆🙏 I hope this helps @wrlmuzik, PLEASE reply back cause I wanna know my friend!!! ☺️. Thanks for sharing, and for the inspiration! Have a great week! -hw

[@wrlmuzik]

@@hiwattmarshall Thank you so much for that explanation. I just received the 3LX and the Multi Split will arrive in a few days, so I'm very excited. I'm using a CME U6 Midi Pro midi interface, which has the same options as the Micro Express in terms of routing and filtering Midi, so I think it's just Midi Out of my NI S61 (master keyboard) to Midi In on port 1 of the CME, and Midi Out of port one to Midi Merge RX on the 3LX. I'm using a few synths and eurorack - 1- Midi to CV module and 2-clocking Pam's New Workout (via mmMidi module). So I'm thinking I won't need to change any internal dip switches, except maybe the output to Pam's where I just want it to send clock and not notes? Anyway thanks again-it was your video that inspired me to dive into this! I'm just waiting for my ilok license and then I can start getting it all set up.

[@davidlackey2711]

Yo Ken / All - sorry for late reply - buried in firmware and software as usual and not sleeping much !!!!! Ken’s reply is absolutely spot on - obviously using 3LX to generate the precision outgoing MIDI Clock means transmitting DAW / Software generated MIDI Clock is not needed by our hardware so it is permanently ignored at the Merge input. Merging two MIDI Clock streams (aside from getting the jitters!!!) results in outputting double tempo which isn’t usually the aim so we felt best to block incoming sync totally just in case end users forget to disable transmission at the DAW end - but - it’s a good idea to disable anyway if you can and leave the outgoing DAW MIDI Port feeding 3LX Merge In clear for events / control messages - with MIDI being serial - less is always best. If you don’t need it - don’t send it down the cable etc :)))) more coffee required - best and much love and respect to All - D

[@RobertLudemann]

Hi Ken, FINALLY getting to the point of cabling up all my gear and starting to look into setting up the 3LX and multisplit. I've been trying to do some deep dive research on all of this stuff. I have (4) old MOTU MTPav units that can utilize clockworks (like your microexpress). If I sent the out of the MTPav to the MergeRX, can I in theory send one of the streams back into a midi IN on the MOTU (that should be carrying the 3lx clock signal)? Then that clock signal should transmit to every midi port on the motu, but I would just need to disable the protools sync from the daw so it doesn't double-clock? If that does work, that could mean in theory that there would be more than 16 "global channels" to use and most of the gear would be attached to the motus and not the 3lx/multisplit? Im assuming when you said "global channel" that means you have 16 total channels to spread across all of your gear, so if you wanted more than 16 different channels/synths playing at once it would hit the limit? Lastly if you have all of your synths/fx's connected from the multi split to midi-ins on the gear, would you connect the midi outs from that gear to the micro express then (even if it was for sysex patch dumps)?

[@channelite]

I thought Innerclock went out of business. Glad to see they are back.

[@tonyduncan4875]

Omg I missed it, I work two jobs and go to school full time. Today was my only day to get to do it. Oh well, looking forward to hearing it anyways!!

[@ClifBratcher]

I use an ERM Multiclock. It's great for getting rid of jitter as well as getting multiple pieces of gear in sync with different amounts of latency

[@9thstreetbrandt]

Will this work in a lawless situation where I’m trying to only sync clocks of arps and sequencers of two different players and the drum machine?

[@tonyduncan4875]

Woot woot another Colab!!! I’m in!!!

[@manufacturedpurposebeta]

Yay!..great topic. Thanks for sharing. And this sounds fun to jam to. That dialogue sample makes me think of the Crystal Method

[@industrialVyking]

My Fridays are more complete with a HiWatt video and im suppppppppper excited for a brand new community remix!

[@neveser]

Neat toy, I really dig the tubes.

[@mclovinhobsbawn]

That would be cool to watch a video about your process with the Auratone!

[@Tkivo]

Thanks for all the tips and tricks, Ken. Started working on the remix yesterday. Hope I won't disappoint. 🤓

[@VISTICTOONS]

I WOULD PLAY THIS TRACK ON MY SET

[@Pete_Logic]

So good to see you holy HiWatt!! It is always a joyous moment when we get these beautiful knowledge sharing moments! Thank you for the enlightenment on this issue. I’ve had this jitter and wasn’t sure of a good method of what to do. Cheers! 🤘🏼

[@pauldibene5096]

Could please make a video about your Eurorack setup? I would love to know what modules you have and how you have those connected to your DAW? Thank you for all the great lessons!

[@JBJHJM]

hahaha, cant believe I fixed my daw/eurorack/elektron jitter this morning, and a few hours later I discover your channel on search for vocal fx creativity. Some coincidences are weird :'D I'll have to experiment if my setup is THAT tight, but right now my Eurorack's synced to Elektron Analog Rythms MIDI out clock. With the Rytm connected to DAW clock through Overbridge VST, it seems solid as well :)

[@dittles]

I just ordered the midronome yesterday, and this video popped up this morning. 😅

[@RobertLudemann]

Just got the 3LX after watching your video. Can you explain how you integrated it with MOTU midi interface to get all of the external gear sync'd?

[@hiwattmarshall]

Great question R, thanks for sharing here my friend 🤟🏻🙏🏻 My MOTU MicroExpress came with Clockworks software, which allows me to internally patch my midi inputs/outputs. The tricky part is 3LX has just one input/merge. So, if you have no means of internally routing your midi connections within your computer, you may have to sort of 'break' your typical setup. In my own studio, I like to use two controllers...my Virus KC, and my Arturia. They're both patched directly into my MicroExpress, then I take a single output from the MicroExpress, back to the Merge In on 3LX. I then use Clockworks to choose which controller is in play, by internally cross-patching in the MicroExpress. 3LX then distributes its own clock to all my connected gear (effects included). I didn't realize how important my MicroExpress was gonna be in my setup, apparently there are only a few MOTU midi interface's that came with Clockworks...that was lucky!!! I hope this helps R, and for sure don't hesitate to reach out to David at Innerclock Systems...the guy is a scientist hahah!!! Please continue this thread, it's a great place to share nerdy stuff like this...and I'm curious how you integrate it into your studio! 🤟🏻 Thanks again R, stay safe 🙏🏻 -hw

[@AbominusRules]

this is why my Korg Electribe is the master and all my (6) synths are slaved to that, all synced up to a Midi Solutions box, then all audio routed to individual inputs on my mixer. so, set the bpm on the Electribe, set the DAW bpm the same and start jamming! easy as pie!

[@VISTICTOONS]

THIS IS LIVE.

[@JacobSkriver]

Both my Eurorig and my Digitakt is suffering heavily from jitter - this may be the solution

[@dodgingrain3695]

The big issue I find is syncing midi devices to vsti's and audio recordings, just due to the midi jitter on the instruments alone.

[@b.aitken]

Suddenlyyyyy, Life has new meaning, to meeeeeeeeee!!!!!! I hate jitter!

[@jnorten]

I have an old edirol interface that has better than Atari 1040ST levels of tightness. That works with modern mac on ventura, only an item like that Sync Gen or a ERM multiclock could be better.