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  #1  
Old 01-07-2025, 08:19 AM
dcoffset dcoffset is offline
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Default Pro Tools sync to external MIDI Clock Sequencer

I'm trying to synchronise Pro Tools to an external MDI Sequencer using MIDI clock or MTC but neither seems to work on 2024.10.1

Peripherals > MTC Reader set to Any Port

Is anyone else having this issue?

ps. I also tried with MTC but nada
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  #2  
Old 01-10-2025, 02:42 AM
dcoffset dcoffset is offline
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Default Re: Pro Tools sync to external MIDI Clock Sequencer

created a support case as this seems like a bug to me: case ID 04917085

I have tested the same hardware config with other DAW and they work with external clock. If anyone else can recreate this it would be helpful.
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  #3  
Old 01-11-2025, 04:40 PM
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Top Jimmy Top Jimmy is offline
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Default Pro Tools sync to external MIDI Clock Sequencer

Pro Tools’ use of MMC, MTC, and beat clock is not as direct as done in other DAWs. Quite honestly the way it’s implemented is somewhat unintuitive. If you want to transfer from an external sequencer into Pro Tools, it’s way more reliable to have the external sequencer chasing beat clock from Pro Tools rather than the other way around.


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Old 01-11-2025, 10:52 PM
loopzilla2 loopzilla2 is offline
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Default Re: Pro Tools sync to external MIDI Clock Sequencer

Quote:
Originally Posted by Top Jimmy View Post
...it’s way more reliable to have the external sequencer chasing beat clock from Pro Tools rather than the other way around.
...not to mention the insane digital clock jitter created when a DAW is slaved to MTC/SMPTE. Yes, some devices mitigate and smooth SMPTE jitter (MTC is 4-frame-burst SMPTE inside the midi spec), but there's a reason we all switched to DAW-as-master in these cases.

I have my analog sequencers connected with midi beat clock converters and have been thrilled with the result. I use midi-start/stop to trigger sequencer playback (because beat clock doesn't have a start-trigger command), then send a dedicated analog clock-pulse line (converted from the beat clock signal) to each sequencer. When PT starts, the whole world lights up in time. It's especially awesome when delay compensation is applied to beat clock output.

Hope this will help...

Last edited by loopzilla2; 01-11-2025 at 10:55 PM. Reason: 4-frame burst, not 1/4 frame.
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Old 01-12-2025, 04:45 AM
dcoffset dcoffset is offline
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Default Re: Pro Tools sync to external MIDI Clock Sequencer

I have run this setup w/ PT as clock master, and also used a "sample accurate" MIDI clock device (ERM receiving an audio pulse), but just been trying to figure out why I can't do it the other way round. The issue is more workflow related and I currently prefer using an external MIDI sequencer as part of the writing process.

So far, Ableton seems to work but timing is awful, Bitwig is impressively tight. But PT doesn't sync to an external device at all.

I appreciate this may not be the "standard way" but it is a feature in Pro Tools and currently I can't seem to make it work - hence the bug report.
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  #6  
Old 01-12-2025, 04:59 AM
dcoffset dcoffset is offline
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Default Re: Pro Tools sync to external MIDI Clock Sequencer

Quote:
Originally Posted by loopzilla2 View Post
I have my analog sequencers connected with midi beat clock converters and have been thrilled with the result. I use midi-start/stop to trigger sequencer playback (because beat clock doesn't have a start-trigger command), then send a dedicated analog clock-pulse line (converted from the beat clock signal) to each sequencer. When PT starts, the whole world lights up in time. It's especially awesome when delay compensation is applied to beat clock output.

Hope this will help...
Just out of curiosity, what clock are you using?
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  #7  
Old 01-12-2025, 08:17 AM
smurfyou smurfyou is offline
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Default Re: Pro Tools sync to external MIDI Clock Sequencer

You are putting the transport online after setting it up?
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  #8  
Old 01-12-2025, 10:34 AM
dcoffset dcoffset is offline
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Default Re: Pro Tools sync to external MIDI Clock Sequencer

yep, it flashes blue and says it's online.
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  #9  
Old 02-02-2025, 11:23 PM
skylar_battles skylar_battles is online now
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Default Re: Pro Tools sync to external MIDI Clock Sequencer

Hey everyone!

I'm fairly certain Pro Tools cannot be the Slave to an External Master (e.g. drum machine) for MIDI Beat Clock. If anyone finds a way to do so, please let me know!

DAW as the Master is an easier workflow and now works perfectly in Pro Tools given that "MIDI Beat Clock from Pro Tools to external devices would send erratic signal (PT-325433)" was fixed for the 2024.10 release!
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  #10  
Old 02-03-2025, 08:20 AM
smurfyou smurfyou is offline
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Default Re: Pro Tools sync to external MIDI Clock Sequencer

Quote:
Originally Posted by skylar_battles View Post
Hey everyone!

I'm fairly certain Pro Tools cannot be the Slave to an External Master (e.g. drum machine) for MIDI Beat Clock. If anyone finds a way to do so, please let me know!

DAW as the Master is an easier workflow and now works perfectly in Pro Tools given that "MIDI Beat Clock from Pro Tools to external devices would send erratic signal (PT-325433)" was fixed for the 2024.10 release!
I believe you are correct. PT will send out Beat Clock but expects to chase MTC and MMC commands.
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