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schollz / _core

firmware for the zeptocore, zeptoboard, and ectocore
https://zeptocore.com
MIT License
70 stars 6 forks source link

Tempo sync issues between devices #530

Open AMG4FREE opened 3 days ago

AMG4FREE commented 3 days ago

Hi Zack. Thank you for making this nifty little musical device. I've enjoyed using it thus far.

I'm encountering an issue with tempo sync between devices.

I have a Teenage Engineering OP-Z with a Line Module installed (sends/receives midi messages and audio).

I have MiDi going out from the OP-Z into the input of the Itty Bitty MiDi, out of the Itty Bitty MiDi and into the Zeptocore, then audio out of the Zeptocore back into the OP-Z.

So far, when I press the "play" button on the OP-Z, the Zeptocore starts playing, which is what I was hoping for.

However, the BPM isn't matching up with the BPM coming from the OP-Z. I've tried enabling/disabling the Sequence Lock, enabling/disabling "tempo match", deactivating "Retrigger Pitching", and even activated Sync out so I could compare the clicks from the sync track of the Zeptocore with the metronome from the OP-Z. When I choose an empty sequence on the OP-Z and listen to the tempo clicks, they pretty much match up. It's only when I'm playing a fully fleshed out sequence with the OP-Z that there's a "lag" in the BPM coming from the Zeptocore.

No matter what I've tried, I can't seem to get the BPMs of both devices matched up. I'm pretty sure the issue is coming from the Zeptocore and not the OP-Z because the OP-Z plays consistently, but the Zeptocore's pitch wavers slightly, causing it to be out-of-sync with the OP-Z. When I play an empty track on the OP-Z and only have the metronome on, they sync of nearly perfectly. It's only when I have a full sequence on the OP-Z that the Zeptocore starts to go out-of-sync.

If I'm unable to get the Zeptocore to stay N'SYNC with the OP-Z, I'll be unable to use the Zeptocore in any live performance scenarios or with any other equipment.

I hope there's a quick fix for this. I saw your videos of you using the Itty Bitty Midi to sync things up and it seemed to work for you. Please let me know if there's anything I can do on my end to fix this. At this point, I can only use the Zeptocore as a standalone device because I'm unable to get it to sync with any other device.

Let me know if you have any more questions or need further clarification. Thanks in advance!

Hello (also) from Seattle, -Andrew

schollz commented 3 days ago

thanks! I will check this out with my op-z. I'm a little surprised as the midi sync works great with Ableton, op-1, and my tb303. I do have an opz (no line module though) but at least I can test the midi out on it to see if it's working

schollz commented 3 days ago

hmm actually after rereading your observations I'm super inclined to say it's the opz. If it works with no tracks you said it matches perfectly. the syncing is coming from the opz sending out midi clock messages. I wonder if for your full sequences when it doesn't work as well, maybe the opz is having trouble sending the midi timing messages on time. if they aren't on time, there is no way to know if that's intentional or not on a downstream device (like a zeptocore)