M:S Sync with Ableton Live

Elektron Gear Model:Samples
#1

Hi all, I’m having trouble getting my M:S to sync properly with Ableton live. Connected via USB. I’ve posted all my settings below the issue. Trying to get a live set together and if the M:S is super out of sync not sure how I’m going to play with such an off-beat drummer :confused:

  1. Starting the clock in Ableton Live 11.1 (play/record) starts the M:S sequence as expected, but the latency is egregious (94 ms at 32 sample buffer rate), far higher than any either piece of hardware I have connected. Ideally given the proper midi config settings in both the M:S and Ableton, the Ableton click track and M:S downbeat should be within a few ms of each other.

  2. How to I get the M:S sequence to restart everytime I stop and start the Ableton clock? When I stop and start Ableton on the down beat the M:S just continues the sequence from where it left off. Is there a way to always get the M:S to go back to the beginning of the sequence when the midi clock is triggered externally?

Settings:

  • Mac OS catalina 10.15.7
  • Ableton Live 11.1.1
  • Audio routing: M:S --> Motu Ultralite Mk5 via 2x1/4" --> UAD Apollo twin x via ADAT --> Mac
    — I would think such a convoluted routing system would be the cause of the latency, but none of my other pieces of hardware have a tough time syncing arpeggiators or lfos within 10ms via usb clock to Ableton.
  • M:S midi config: Sync clk in ON, clk out OFF, PCH in OFF, PCH out OFF, inp from USB, out to USB, out pol STD, out/thru OUT
  • Ableton midi config: M:S out - track, sync on

Thanks y’all, if I can’t get this to work within a reasonable latency threshold I may just have to sell it. Suppose an external master midi clock could work but the issue seems to be with the M:S.

#2

You have reduce latency while monitoring and all that checked right? Sometimes that gets unchecked on me and totally makes me think I’m losing my mind.

#3

I do indeed have that checked, good call though thank you!

1 Like
#4

Hmm I think I just found a workaround after about 4 hours of working on this – direct monitoring from UAD console provides near 0 latency, I can just use that instead of monitoring from Ableton live because a copy of the signal is automatically routed to the assigned channels. Still doesn’t solve problem 2 though.

#5

Is there any way your midi track delay got messed with? Also, maybe pattern/song in the midi channel settings in Ableton?

#6

Also, I’d try the midi port to see if you have the same issues there too, instead of USB.

#7

Unfortunately MIDI doesn’t work over ADAT (there’s no MIDI ports in my Apollo twin), but USB sync works fine for other devices. Regardless, I’m only recording via audio input and not the Ableton external instrument midi channel. Luckily I think monitoring via UAD Console will work fine, any ideas on how to restart the M:S sequence whenever the MIDI clock is retriggered from Ableton @mas_akala?

#8

Does double tapping stop reset it maybe?

#9

Pressing stop once resets it, but I have to then start and stop the Ableton clock and stop the M:S sequence in order for them to sync up again. E.g. I can’t start the M:S while Ableton is playing and have it sync to the midi clock (or at least the midi grid). I appreciate your responses!