Problems syncing TB303 with MPC 2500

Hi everyone, i recently got an MPC2500 and have been unable to get it to successfully sync with my TB303. I have the MPC's out connected to the IN of a Kenton pro 2000 Mk2 and the 'Sync 24' of the Kenton connected to the 'Sync in' of the 303. Once i press play the 303 starts but it either slightly prolong's the first note (almost like a slide) and then resumes playing a 16th behind the beat or starts perfectly a 16th behind the beat. I contacted Kenton and he assures me its a problem with the way my sequencer is outputting midi data. As the Kenton box just transfers the sequencers information. Has anyone else had a similar issue or could point me in the right direction for fixing the issue? I should note that the 303 runs fine when the din sync cable is unplugged, and the sequencer running on its own. Cheers

Right, i can see i didn't leave much in the way of information as to where im up to and what iv tried so far, and believe me Iv tried everything i can think of. Iv Got my MPC set to sync out 'All' and 'MMC on' which i believe is the 'Midi machine control' responsible for the starting and stopping of devices by remote. So theres got to be a way of outputting the song position correctly. I cant find anything in the MPC manual on how it outputs these sets of information, except the basic procedure for setting up the device as master or slave etc. I haven't got any other devices that use the roland sync 24 standard so i don't know how to test if its the MPC or the 303 (assuming that John Price from Kenton is right, and its not the Kenton box) From what i understand some machines strip time and position information away when sending midi data, but again iv gotten stuck with my searches on the web. Iv seen from posts involving 303's and MPC's that there are people out there running them in harmony, but I'm really not sure where i should be focusing my energy. Am i looking at getting something like the quicksilver upgrade for the 303 or am i missing something glaringly obvious in the MPC settings. Again any help is welcome. Im a 16th step away from the funkiest bass imaginable but at the moment my 303 just sounds like an uninvited dinner guest. Cheers Clapf.

Have you tried it with sync out from the MPC, and MMC off?

Hi, Thanks for the reply. Yes iv tried it with sync out and MMC off, but just to be sure iv just tried it again. Basically iv tried every combination on the midi/sync/note page i can come up with. It sounds like theres an issue with the way the 303 is receiving information about where it should start. Usually its something small iv missed and the whole thing falls into place but i'm really struggling with this one. I think the problem is i don't understand how the MPC outputs its sequencer information and how that relates to the way the 303 receives midi and the way the kenton pro 2000 receives and passes on information at the sync 24 port. So i'm a bit stuck as to whats causing the problem. Cheers

Thre is a description of sync24 here...

http://www.philrees.co.uk/products/sync-if.htm


It contains clock, run, and continue signals.

The TB-303 doesn't respond to continue, so only uses the clock and run signals.

There is no song positon pointer, or other position information used.


Can you test is using the MIDI Clock output of another sequencer, hardware or software?

Thanks Simon. Iv done some digging online and it looks like ill need to get one of the 'Innerclock' Sync-gen boxes.

http://www.innerclocksystems.com/New%20 ... ducts.html

Some shocking revelations about the state of midi clock and sync in general on there lol. Just to be sure iv got a friend coming over with his mc202 so i can completely rule out an error on the 303, and as soon as my Motu Patchbay comes back from being fixed i can start looking for some temporary work arounds until i can pay the £560 for this new piece of gear. Thanks for your time pal.

http://www.analoguehaven.com/komaelektronik/rh301/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBWrM6g-ZVY

This will give you one way you could sync your 303 to your mpc. Check it out!

Thats a nice problem to have!

Have you tried a different sync 24 cable? Maybe it's knackered.
Heads up: not all MIDI DIN cables have the correct sync 24 connections wired up, so be sure to get a proper Sync 24 cable.

I can clock my TR606, TR727, TR808 and x0xb0x from my MPC 2500 and/or MPC 3000, through my Kenton Pro 4 with Midi Clock to Sync 24 just fine.

Midi clock.
MMC off.
Continue is ignored.

Those Innerclock boxes are hella expensive.