With 1.4.5.1, I am experiencing inconsistent instances of drift when syncing Tempest to my Pro Tools via USB.
I acknowledge the possibility of user error, although I have tried to mind the details. I hope it is user error. I am posting it here because I figure this is where important matters concerning 1.4.5.1 should be placed. And I want to get this communicated and debunked or corroborated asap. I am unaware if this is a long-standing, current and known issue. I looked over the entire Fixed Bug log, and latest outstanding issues list, and I’ve been keeping up to date with this forum off and on. I will provide details to be helpful. Sorry for the excess and non-pertinent info.
- The drift is not consistent. Some times it happens, some times it does not. It happens enough for me to be concerned. It’s inconsistency is puzzling.
- Abbreviations: PT=Pro Tools. T=Tempest.
SYSTEM:
- Pro Tools 12.4 vanilla. Master.
- Late 2011, 13” MacBook Pro. Mac OS 10.8.5.
- Tempest, Main OS: 1.4.5.1. Slave.
- Sync via USB.
- 1 USB cable. Tried in both ports on the MacBook Pro. No USB hub. (Should I try a powered USB hub, in between Tempest & MBP?)
- Digidesign 003, only for audio. It’s MIDI ports disabled.
- Tempest settings:
- MIDI Sys Ex: Source: none.
- System: MIDI Clock. Clock Out: none.
- System: MIDI Clock. Clock In: USB
- System: BPM/swing/… Sources
- 1. BPM Source: … The default was Project.
- I tried Project, System, and Beat. But, mostly left this at Project.
- Tempos tried: 180 bpm, 220bpm, 240 bpm, 260 bpm.
- I established the delay from Pro Tools sending MIDI Beat Clock to Tempest to recording T via PT. (Measured the distance between the grid line and T’s click transient.) It was 203 samples. I set PT’s MIDI Beat Clock Offset to -203.
- This resulted in a tight synchronization between PT’s & T’s click. ….
- PT Hardware Buffer size at 256 samples.
- DIN MIDI port on T, empty.
- Used a Tempest Project that was created from an Initialized Project, in 1.4.5.1.
- This project contains 10 two-bar Beats.
- Tempest in Beats Mode.
- Pads set to Beats.
- Beat Quantize off.
- T click on, mostly. Sometimes T click off.
- PT click on always. From stock click track. “Click 2”. It’s an audio file, I believe. I’ve tested that before, and this click is solid.
- New, PT project. Only containing a click track and the small recordings for finding the Midi Beat Clock offset.
TEST:
- Set one of the tempos above; beginning with the slowest one (180).
- Began on measure 5. (To avoid timing issues I get when beginning on measure 1)
- Let PT play for a while.
- Sometimes, I simply listened to PT's & T's clicks for a while.
- Also, I would trigger (perform) the beats, in time to the click. So, it’s a “musical” test. And a FUN test!
- When there was no drift, the groove was tight. The 10 sequenced beats were in the pocket relative to both T’s click and PT’s click.
- No drifts occurred with tempos of: 240bpm, 220bpm, 180bpm
- Drifts occurred with tempos of: 280bpm, 220bpm, 260bpm
- After fresh “powering on” I observed both drifts, and non-drift passes.
- I had 2 “observation” sessions in the same day (today). Each within 45 minutes.
- For this test, I did not loop PT
RESULTS:
- Inconsistent. Sometimes there was drift. Sometimes there was no drift.
- Sometimes the drift became clear by 8 seconds (220bpm). Sometimes by the 2 minute mark (260bpm).
- Once, I went 6min30sec with no drift. (220bpm). This followed a fresh shutting of everything down, swapping the USB cable to the other USB port on MBP.
- But, was then followed by the drift @ 2 minutes (260bpm).
- It always began in sync. So, when there was drift, and I started at the beginning (measure 5), it was completely synced. Every single time.
NOTES:
- When there was no sync, it was wonderfully tight. And an amazing experience. An amazing experience to “perform/arrange” my previously sequenced 10 two-bar non-quantized Beats.
CONCERNS:
- The fact that it is inconsistent worries me because I don’t know how I can “prove” it.
- The ability to have Tempest reliably synced, without drifting to my DAW, Pro Tools, would be a wonderful thing. I am concerned this won’t come to pass.
REQUESTS:
- I would like suggestions on how to eliminate user-error from my attempt to sync T to PT.
- I am willing to consider work-arounds. Even other DAWs, and additional sync boxes.
DISCLAIMERS:
- My MBP 2011 is untested in every way. New to me. New OS install. New PT install. ... But, it's an Avid-supported computer, on a tried & true Mac OS, and a reliable PT version.
Thank you for your time and help. It’s truly a wonderful instrument.