Cubase-Pamela's New Workout-PolyEnd tracker Sync issue

[LennyH]

I am having a hard time getting my midronome to properly sync my modular rack via an ALM Busy Circuits Pamela's New Workout (PNW) and my Polyend tracker. I've followed all of the connection steps properly and have tried a few different methods to get this to work with no luck. Here are the details of my set up and some screenshots of the sync using each method.The results between din sync and 24PPQN mode varied but 24PPQN at least started very close to being on time. Either way the tracker (the bottom lane in each screenshot) is always about 54ms behind, even with the built in delay comp turned on. Any ideas on how to solve this would be much appreciated!

Computer: Mac Studio M1 Max with buffer set to 32 samples
DAW: Cubase Pro 12
Interface: Motu 828es via Thunderbolt
Sync track is playing from Cubase track 1 to output 3 of the 828es via TRS cable to the Midronome

DIN Sync mode with lock and start from Cubase

• 1/8" Analog out of Midronome in DIN mode.
  1/8" cable to tip/ring splitter.
  Tip goes to PNW clock input.
  Ring to goes PNW reset input
  PNW set to "gate sets clock state set"
  Midronome midi out 1 out to Polyend Tracker midi input
  Tracker set to receive start/stop and clock from midi input

24 PPQN Sync mode with lock and start from Cubase

• 1/8" Analog out of Midronome in 24PPQN mode.
  1/8" cable to tip/ring splitter.
  Tip goes to PNW clock input.
  PNW set to "Trig in resets"
  Midronome midi out 1 out to Polyend Tracker midi input
  Tracker set to receive start/stop and clock from midi input

24 PPQN Sync mode with lock and manual start

• 1/8" Analog out of Midronome in 24PPQN mode.
  1/8" cable to tip/ring splitter.
  Tip goes to PNW clock input.
  PNW set to "Trig in resets"
  Midronome midi out 1 out to Polyend Tracker midi input
  Tracker set to receive start/stop and clock from midi input

Not pictured (54ms delay)
24 PPQN Sync mode with no DAW lock and manual start

• 1/8" Analog out of Midronome in 24PPQN mode.
  1/8" cable to tip/ring splitter.
  Tip goes to PNW clock input.
  PNW set to "Trig in resets"
  Midronome midi out 1 out to Polyend Tracker midi input
  Tracker set to receive start/stop and clock from midi input

Not pictured (54ms delay)
DIN Sync mode with no lock and manual start

• 1/8" Analog out of Midronome in DIN mode.
  1/8" cable to tip/ring splitter.
  Tip goes to PNW clock input.
  Ring to goes PNW reset input
  PNW set to "gate sets clock state set"
  Midronome midi out 1 out to Polyend Tracker midi input
  Tracker set to receive start/stop and clock from midi input

[Simon]

Hi Lenny, thank you very much for posting here

Well it all seems very normal to me: your tracker has a 54ms delay

FIRST CASE:
I'm assuming the middle lane is some output from PNW.
If so, I can explain why on the first screenshot it is "early" (before the bar): the PNW takes the DIN Sync start/stop signal as a reset, and this signal is always a little early to give time for vintage Roland machines (for ex TR606) to "prepare" for sync.They do not use it as a time reset but simply as a "start syncing on the next clock" message (exactly like a modern MIDI Start message).
So what you would need is the feature called "Start/reset for ANLG output" which will give you the possiblity to send start/stop on the ring, which will be designed for modern equipment, and will be sent right on the beat. Maybe this feature will make it in firmware 3.0 or before (it was not voted very high in the survey).

OTHER CASES:
Then apart from that first case, I think all next cases are exactly the same, correct?
What I can see is:

• PNW is constantly on time
• Tracker is constantly delayed by 54ms

Then you basically need to compensate for that delay, but without moving the clock sent to the PNW at the same time. And that's where we've reached the limit of the Midronome , for now you can only compensate for both of them (by adjusting the AudioSync track sent to the Midronome - either set a negative delay of 54ms in the Sync File Generator or move the track by 54ms to the left). If you want to compensate only for the tracker, you will need this future feature: Negative Offset on one MIDI port, which unfortunately (and very surprisingly!) was also voted quite low in the survey.

One other way would be to have 2 Midronomes, with both their AudioSync track and only one of them with a 54ms negative offset.

I hope that clarifies things!

Cheers
Simon

[LennyH]

Ah, that all makes perfect sense!

I actually just got through a bunch of forum posts that talk about how bad the tracker’s clock and sync abilities are. Might be time to get myself something a little more reliable.

I’d definitely be interested in a modern reset that can be used in my modular but I’ve been able to use PNW to provide those as a workaround. Looking forward to the future firmware releases.

Thanks again, Simon!