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= MIDI Clock =
= MIDI Clock =


MIDI Clock is a MIDI protocol that allows you to sync playback (transport and tempo) of sequencers, synthesizers or drum machines. Such sequencers can be software that is running on your computer or running on other computers, but also external MIDI hardware like synthesizers or drum machines, connected to Renoise via a MIDI device and MIDI cables.  
MIDI Clock is a MIDI protocol that allows the syncing of playback (transport and tempo) of multiple sequencers, synthesizers, drum machines etc. This can be external MIDI hardware, other software on your computer, or software running on other computers and connected to Renoise via MIDI cables.


There are two MIDI clock modes: MIDI clock master and slave. Renoise supports both modes.
There are two MIDI Clock modes: master and slave. Renoise fully supports both modes.


The MIDI clock master send series of 24 ppqn (pulses per quarter note) beat clock messages. The interval of such messages allows connected MIDI clock slaves to determine the masters tempo and beat position. Along with the beat clock messages, start/stop/continue and relocation messages are sent to sync the transport of the master and slaves.
The MIDI Clock master sends a series of 24 ppqn (pulses per quarter note) beat clock messages to all slaves. The interval of these messages allows the connected slaves to determine the master's tempo and beat position. Along with the 'beat clock' messages, 'Start', 'Stop', 'Continue' and 'Relocation' (Song Position Pointer) messages are sent to sync the timelines of the master and slaves.


Only the MIDI clock master can start or stop the playback or change the tempo. Slaves are always simply following the master.
Only the MIDI Clock master can start or stop the playback or change the tempo. Slaves are forced to follow the master, thus the terms 'master' and 'slave'.




== Running Renoise as MIDI Clock Master ==
== Running Renoise as MIDI Clock Master ==


=== Setup Devices ===
=== Set Up Devices ===


To use Renoise as master, simply setup a MIDI clock master MIDI device in Renoises [[Preferences#MIDI|MIDI Preferences]].  
To use Renoise as the master, simply set up a MIDI Clock master device in the [[Preferences#MIDI|''"Edit -> Preferences -> MIDI"'']] panel. You can also specify which message types should be sent from Renoise. Send only MIDI Clock messages if you just want to transfer tempo to the slaves. Note that Renoise only sends out MIDI clock messages while playing back a song.
 
There you can also specify which message types you want to send from Renoise. Send only "MIDI Clock" messages if you only want to transfer tempo to other slaves. Please note that Renoise only sends out MIDI clock messages when the song is running.


=== Adjust Offsets ===
=== Adjust Offsets ===


Use the offset slider in the preferences to shift clock messages back and forth in time. This sometimes is needed to compensate delays, phase offsets, that are introduced by MIDI hardware. Audio latency is always automatically compensated by Renoise.  
You can use the ''"Offset"'' slider in the ''"MIDI Clock Master"'' preferences to shift clock messages back and forth in time. This is sometimes needed to compensate delays (phase offsets) that are introduced by MIDI hardware. The easiest way to test and adjust this is by using a steady metronome sound on both the master and slave. If the sounds do not play back on exactly the same beat, try adjusting the ''"Offset"'' slider in Renoise until they match.


The easiest way to test and adjust this is by using a steady metronome alike sound on both the master and slave. If the sounds are not applied with a small delay, try adjusting the offset slider in Renoise until they match.
Please note that the smallest possible negative latency is limited to the current latency of your soundcard. If you need further negative latency, you can increase your audio latency in the [[Preferences#Audio|Audio Preferences]].




== Running Renoise as MIDI Clock Slave ==
== Running Renoise as MIDI Clock Slave ==


=== Setup Devices ===
=== Set Up Devices ===


To connect Renoise to a MIDI clock master, again setup the MIDI clock device in Renoises [[Preferences#MIDI|MIDI Preferences]], but this time in the MIDI Clock Slave section. To quickly enable and disable the connection to external devices, use the small "clock" icon in Renoises [[Transport Panel]] next to the BPM. Both, a device and the sync clock mode must be enabled to sync Renoise to other devices.
To connect Renoise to a MIDI Clock master, use the MIDI Clock slave device section in the [[Preferences#MIDI|''"Edit -> Preferences -> MIDI"'']] panel.


After you have set up a MIDI clock device in the preferences, and the MIDI master is connected, you should notice a blinking LED on top of Renoises screen:
To quickly enable and disable the connection to the master clock, use the small [[Image:3.2_transportpanel-midislaveclock.png|text-bottom]] button in the Renoise [[Transport Panel]], next to the BPM. This icon will only show up when a MIDI Clock slave device has been set.


[[Image:Renoise_midi_blink2.gif]]
Important: A MIDI device must be selected and the sync clock mode icon must be enabled to sync Renoise to other devices. After you have done this, you should notice a small green blinking LED at the top of the Renoise interface:


The LEDs next to the small icon show the MIDI clock input in green and output in red.
[[Image:3.0_midi-io.gif]]
 
The LEDs next to the small clock icon show the MIDI Clock input in green and output in red.


=== Adjust Offsets ===
=== Adjust Offsets ===


Just like in the MIDI clock master mode you can correct small offsets between Renoise and the master with the Offset slider in the preferences.  
As with the MIDI Clock master mode, you can correct small offsets between Renoise and the master with the ''"Offset"'' slider in the preferences. Again, the easiest way to test and adjust the offset is by using a steady metronome on both the master and slave. If the sounds are not in sync, try adjusting the offset slider in Renoise until they match.
 
Again, the easiest way to test and adjust the offset, is by using a steady metronome alike sound on both the master and slave. If the sounds are not applied with a small delay, try adjusting the offset slider in Renoise until they match.


=== Adjust Smoothing ===
=== Adjust Smoothing ===


MIDI messages often have only a very rough timing, thus the beat clock messages transferd from MIDI clock masters to Renoise, may result into an unsteady playback. Depending on how precise the incoming MIDI clock stream is, you can use the smoothing option to setup how fast Renoise should react on changes from the MIDI clock master: The higher the smoothing value, the more stable the sync will be, but the slower will Renoise react on 'real' BPM changes from the master. Try playing around with the smoothing to find a good value for your setup and needs.
MIDI messages often only have very rough timing, so the beat clock messages transferred from a MIDI Clock master to Renoise may be imperfect. Depending on how precise the incoming MIDI clock stream is, you can use this option to set how fast Renoise should react to changes from the MIDI Clock master. The higher the Smoothing value, the more stable the sync will be, but the slower Renoise will react to 'real' BPM changes from the master. Try playing around with the Smoothing to find a good value for your setup.
 
Please note that
 
=== Loading New Songs Without loosing Sync ===


You can detach and reattach Renoise to a running master at any time. To do so simply stop the song in Renoise as MIDI clock slave and not on the master. You can even load a new song, then hit start with the new song again and Renoise will sync itself again as smooth as possible to the master. This is extremely useful when playing live, because you then don't have to stop the master at all, but can also switch songs in Renoise.
=== Loading New Songs Without Losing Sync ===


When "reattaching" Renoise to the MIDI clock master, Renoise will shift its playback position as smoothly as possible to the master. This means, the closer you start playing at an on-beat, the less correction will be needed and the smoother the adjustment will be.
You can detach and reattach Renoise to a running master at any time without losing sync. To do so, simply stop the song in Renoise when running as MIDI Clock slave, instead of stopping the master. Now you can even load a new song and hit start again, whereupon Renoise will resync itself as smoothly as possible to the master, which is still playing. This is extremely useful when playing live, because you can continuously run a master and also switch songs in Renoise. When reattaching Renoise in this manner, the closer you start playing to an on-beat, the less correction will be needed and the smoother the adjustment will be.

Latest revision as of 13:13, 11 October 2019

MIDI Clock

MIDI Clock is a MIDI protocol that allows the syncing of playback (transport and tempo) of multiple sequencers, synthesizers, drum machines etc. This can be external MIDI hardware, other software on your computer, or software running on other computers and connected to Renoise via MIDI cables.

There are two MIDI Clock modes: master and slave. Renoise fully supports both modes.

The MIDI Clock master sends a series of 24 ppqn (pulses per quarter note) beat clock messages to all slaves. The interval of these messages allows the connected slaves to determine the master's tempo and beat position. Along with the 'beat clock' messages, 'Start', 'Stop', 'Continue' and 'Relocation' (Song Position Pointer) messages are sent to sync the timelines of the master and slaves.

Only the MIDI Clock master can start or stop the playback or change the tempo. Slaves are forced to follow the master, thus the terms 'master' and 'slave'.


Running Renoise as MIDI Clock Master

Set Up Devices

To use Renoise as the master, simply set up a MIDI Clock master device in the "Edit -> Preferences -> MIDI" panel. You can also specify which message types should be sent from Renoise. Send only MIDI Clock messages if you just want to transfer tempo to the slaves. Note that Renoise only sends out MIDI clock messages while playing back a song.

Adjust Offsets

You can use the "Offset" slider in the "MIDI Clock Master" preferences to shift clock messages back and forth in time. This is sometimes needed to compensate delays (phase offsets) that are introduced by MIDI hardware. The easiest way to test and adjust this is by using a steady metronome sound on both the master and slave. If the sounds do not play back on exactly the same beat, try adjusting the "Offset" slider in Renoise until they match.

Please note that the smallest possible negative latency is limited to the current latency of your soundcard. If you need further negative latency, you can increase your audio latency in the Audio Preferences.


Running Renoise as MIDI Clock Slave

Set Up Devices

To connect Renoise to a MIDI Clock master, use the MIDI Clock slave device section in the "Edit -> Preferences -> MIDI" panel.

To quickly enable and disable the connection to the master clock, use the small 3.2 transportpanel-midislaveclock.png button in the Renoise Transport Panel, next to the BPM. This icon will only show up when a MIDI Clock slave device has been set.

Important: A MIDI device must be selected and the sync clock mode icon must be enabled to sync Renoise to other devices. After you have done this, you should notice a small green blinking LED at the top of the Renoise interface:

3.0 midi-io.gif

The LEDs next to the small clock icon show the MIDI Clock input in green and output in red.

Adjust Offsets

As with the MIDI Clock master mode, you can correct small offsets between Renoise and the master with the "Offset" slider in the preferences. Again, the easiest way to test and adjust the offset is by using a steady metronome on both the master and slave. If the sounds are not in sync, try adjusting the offset slider in Renoise until they match.

Adjust Smoothing

MIDI messages often only have very rough timing, so the beat clock messages transferred from a MIDI Clock master to Renoise may be imperfect. Depending on how precise the incoming MIDI clock stream is, you can use this option to set how fast Renoise should react to changes from the MIDI Clock master. The higher the Smoothing value, the more stable the sync will be, but the slower Renoise will react to 'real' BPM changes from the master. Try playing around with the Smoothing to find a good value for your setup.

Loading New Songs Without Losing Sync

You can detach and reattach Renoise to a running master at any time without losing sync. To do so, simply stop the song in Renoise when running as MIDI Clock slave, instead of stopping the master. Now you can even load a new song and hit start again, whereupon Renoise will resync itself as smoothly as possible to the master, which is still playing. This is extremely useful when playing live, because you can continuously run a master and also switch songs in Renoise. When reattaching Renoise in this manner, the closer you start playing to an on-beat, the less correction will be needed and the smoother the adjustment will be.