gutta wrote:Well first off you have to choose with one to be the master and which one to be slave. Do you want to sequence on the MPC or do you want to sequence in Cubase?
First you must decide what type of synchronisation you want, this will determine which unit should be the MASTER and which should be SLAVE.
SMPTE- If your MPC has the SMPTE chip you can use SMPTE to sync your gear to an ABSOLUTE TIME REFERENCE. Using Cubase, MPC can be MASTER OR SLAVE. SMPTE is the industry standard for proffesional synchronisation purposes.
MIDI TIMECODE- Similar to SMPTE except the signal is carried using Midi cables, making it a cheaper alternative. Using Cubase, MPC can be MASTER OR SLAVE.
MIDI CLOCK- Differs from the above in that it provides TEMPO BASED synchronisation between devices. Also transmitted using Midi cables. The MPC must be the SLAVE device when using Midi Clock because Cubase (SX) does not receive Midi Clock but can transmit Midi Clock to other devices.
Midi Clock is the most useful when you want the MPC and Cubase in sync REGARDLESS OF TEMPO CHANGES. So if you change the tempo in Cubase, the MPC will lock to the MASTER tempo set by the program. SMPTE and Midi Timecode do not automatically lock to tempo, just absolute time so tempo changes must be inserted manually ON BOTH DEVICES!
My advice? USE MIDI CLOCK TO SYNC YOUR MPC AND CUBASE
On MPC set-up using SHIFT>MIDI/SYNC
In Cubase set-up using TRANSPORT PANEL>SYNC SETUP
Once set up correctly, use Cubase (MASTER) to start, stop, rewind your sequences in harmony. If the timing isn't exactly perfect, you may have to manually adjust the OFFSET slightly on either device.
