"wait for note" misses first note?

[eric105]

hello, i am using pro tools to record songs that i have written on a roland mc-909. since everything is already sequenced, i want to record the midi data into pro tools, and then get audio into pro tools by sending each individual midi track to a sound module and capturing the resulting audio. i also want to enter the tempo data into the ruler, and line up my midi data with the bars and beats ruler. it would make sense for me to use "wait for note" and just hit play on my sequencer, but for some reason, when the data is recorded in the edit window, the first note is missed. i feel like i had this working properly in the past, but i am not positive. any ideas on how to make this work?

eric

[spkguitar]

It's typical to include a measure of leading space in sequences on external sequencers to allow time for sync lock. Try adding a blank measure to the beginning of your sequence on the 909.

[eric105]

nope, if i put in a blank measure, it gets all the notes, but the first couple of notes come in before they are supposed to. this would be ok if i didn't want my midi notes to line up with the grid, but i feel like my $600 digi setup should be able to perform this task. is there a way for me to have pro tools start recording, and then trigger my mc-909? i just want my measures to line up.

eric

[spkguitar]

is there a way for me to have pro tools start recording, and then trigger my mc-909?

My apologies; I thought that was what you were already doing.

Yes, there is a way. I've never done it, as I don't have the 909, but Setting up your MC-909 to be a slave device and sync to an external source is covered on page 127 of the manual.

Just make sure that Pro Tools is sending MIDI clock.

[eric105]

i am still not sure how pro-tools would tell the 909 when to start. is there a command i can save to a midi track that would start the 909 at the same time, every time? that way all my tracks will line up and the bars will line up too. since i am doing loop based music, it would be advantageous.

eric

[spkguitar]

If you sync them properly, when you press the play button in Pro Tools, the MC-909 should start just as if you pressed the play button on it, and it will play along following the session in Pro Tools. (keep in mind that I don't have the 909, and I'm just stating this from experience syncing other sequencing gear).

Perhaps you can find someone who has the 909 here, or on one of the Roland forums to help you with a tutorial.