cannot midi sync to sonar 8 HEEEELLLLLPPPPPPP

im using a hp desktop
a lexicon lambda
a mpc 2500
and sonar 8

im trying to track my mpc into sonar 8
but for some reason i cannot set it up
so that sonar is the master and my mpc is the slave
i been to the akai site where it gives you complete instructions
on how to do this(detailed insturctions) i follow them exactly
but when i hit record on the daw...the mpc does not trigger
ive checked my midi cable to see if they were hooked up right
they wasn't.i rehooked them still nothing,,tried different configs as far as settings
and even transmitting some mtc coming out of my mpc to sonar...so the cables and midis are good,,,still no mmc,,,,every video ive seen makes this look easy,,,but mine is not working,,,,the soundcard maybe has settings i cant get to,,i dont know i need help,,

I haven't worked with Sonar, but Im guessing its the same as every other
DAW but check out the Akai website first and see if you followed every single step correctly. It should work

http://www.akaipro.com/syncsonar

ive tried that,,,,i have tried this in every config,,that my mind can create
i even had akai on the phone with no luck,,,my next step is to download midi
and test all my input,,,but moslty to test sonar to see if it is sending data
cuz right now it seems like there is a blockage sending from sonar to my lambda
but i did slave sonar with the mpc,,,,,i will check this out in a few hours to see if that worked will post back

What audio interface are you running it through? Is MMC on, on your MPC?

In logic & Pro tools it took me literally less then 1minutes to sync it up. The answer is within Synchronization & Midi Settings.


Do you have another program to reference too? (Logic, Pro Tools, FL , Reason, etc etc )

no i dont have another program i can only afford one lol...
sonar is what im using for daw,,,and my card is a lexicon lamda
yes everything is on,,my mpc is set up perfect to what akai said it should be even downloaded midi ox and made sure that my card was sending data ,,,,it was,,,on all channels even read the data from my controller through the usb,,,,the mpc is sending data,,,but it will not recieve,,,either a setting on my daw or cpu is not allowing data to be sent to the mpc,,,,i have almost giving up,,or im going to have to slave sonar,,,

if your daw doesn´t send mmc you´ll have to hit play on the mpc first (it won´t start playing though, it waits for incoming time code). now if you hit play in your daw your mpc should follow.

and remember: to sync up properly you should insert one empty bar at the beginning of your sequence (on your master device).

You dont need sync for tracking out with any DAW, after all its only recording audio.

Use your DAW like a tape recorder if you cant get sync set up how you want it. Keep those creative juices flowing and dont worry about synchronisation where it isnt essential.

1. Set the DAW to record.

2. Press play on the MPC.

3. Manually align your audio to the DAW grid.

clint246clint wrote:1. Set the DAW to record.

2. Press play on the MPC.

3. Manually align your audio to the DAW grid

Although your right on Synchronization not being essential. It definitely makes ones life soooooo much easier to have it sync up with the DAW. I mean it doesn't hurt doing it this way the work flow takes much longer though.

to end this thread properly ..or if anybody who has advice can add later


i had to set my mpc as the master
hit record in sonar
sonar waits for the mmc and mtc
then hit play on the mpc

the mpc starts playing at the same time sonar tracks the beat
the process is long cuz not only do i have to do what i listed above
but i have to go into sonar and change the clock from midi sync
everytime i want to hear playback,i must change it back to record
only having two tracks recording at once it does become time consuming
but there is a tool bar that allows me to switch the clock without going into options each time

but,,,i can do my drums on the mpc then go track it all ,switching back and forth
is not really how i wanted it to be but it works,,,in the future i will try to sync it again but for now im content still would have liked it to sync up and have a more of a all in one feel,,

i did make my first beat with this setup and i discribed it as sounding like a bunch of gerbals were jumping around on my keyboard,,,so i have a long way to go,,,,thank you all for the help i hope i can contribute and learn on this site

Suringe, could you give us a list of how your sync options look like in sonar?

From my experiences, if you want sonar to be the master, it's clocking source should be set to "internal".

Second, the transmit mmc option under the midi out tab in sonar should not be checked since your intent is to slave the mpc rather than control its transport.

Third, under your sync option, you should see options to send midi clock & midi time code. Since you're not dealing with midi clock, those options should be left blank or unchecked.

It's the midi time code stuff that you should be focused on, such as transmit mtc & setting the frame rate to 29.97 or 30. Then select the mtc midi port that's connected to the mpc's midi in.

From there, it's how you've got the recieve options in the mpc set so that it will lock to the incoming midi signals sent from sonar. And make sure the frame rate on the mpc matches what's set in sonar as well.

Well in sonar 8 pe I have internal,midi snyc,audio,and smpte .my understanding is to slave sonar the midi sync or smpte have to be selected...to have sonar as the master internal has to be selected.audio is the regular setting for playback of audio and recording of audio...yes you are correct about mmc and mtc.but it still will not sync with sonar as the master...even with all you have mentioned selected...as well as the mpc midi sync config correct....I've tested my inputs with midiox the mpc will send just not receive....idk why and my list looks exactly how you explained...

suringe wrote:the mpc will send just not receive....idk why

Well, when you're solely on your seq page, and you go to the "sync seq" option and hit the "yellow/orange window" button, it should show you your sync in & sync out preferences.

Also, under your midi button, you'll see some options such as routing for "midi in I, midi in II, & drum pad". These routings carry a "destination" which toggles between seq, sampler A, B, & midi out A.

Whatever midi in selection you're working with should show "SEQUENCER".

If this isn't the case, then this is probably why you can't slave your mpc to sonar. Plus defective midi cables will create similar scenarios that will drive you nuts, which is why you should always keep a stash of extras just for situations such as this.