protools grid help when tracking

[franklin94]

mpc1000 jj os, mbox 2 PTLE 7.3

macbook pro, dual core 2.16ghz

when tracking with MTC into protools tracks are not aligned to grid correctly as you can see by they included pics.

i insert 2 blank bars on the mpc so it can catch up when recording because otherwise it will cut off the 1st second or so

now i set the tempos to match and record my loop into protools

when i'm done i go to edit and move around the blocks but they don't trim perfectly because they aren't aligned to the grid correctly

i have everything hooked up properly as far as i know so why is it off like this?

pics

http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/4148/dsc05345gy7.jpg

see how the grid comes after the beginning of the kick drum?

[Phil Ogden]

For triggering the MPC1000 using MIDI Beat Clock with Pro Tools as the master device:
NOTE: (The only type of sync the MPC1000 has and can use is MIDI Beat Clock.)
1) Use a MIDI cable to connect the MIDI OUT of your Digidesign hardware (or M-Audio if using M-Powered) to one of the MIDI Inputs of the MPC1000.

In the MPC1000:
2) Go to the "MIDI/Sync" menu.
3) Set "Sync In" to the corresponding MIDI input port on the MPC.

In Pro Tools:
4) Set your tempo in Pro Tools. (See instructions at the bottom of this page.)
5) Go to the Setup menu and choose MIDI Beat Clock. Check the boxes for "Enable MIDI Beat Clock" and the corresponding MIDI output port.
6) Press play. The MPC should now be playing along with Pro Tools.
NOTE: (Make sure that the value for bars, in the MPC, is NOT set to zero. If it is set to zero, it will not be triggered.)


http://www.myspace.com/philogg

[franklin94]

^^^^isn't it better to MIDI connect with MTC instead of beatclock?

[Phil Ogden]

Possibly, but according to the Digi FAQ, the MPC only accepts Midi Beat Clock.

http://www.myspace.com/philogg

[citi]

^^^^isn't it better to MIDI connect with MTC instead of beatclock?

not for the MPC. It needs to be beat clock or you get audio drift.

[franklin94]

well do i lose the mpc swing then?

[citi]

no it just syncs the clocks together. It doesn't touch the mpc quantizing.

One more tip. Instead of adding a 2 bar headstart, why don't you just set a 1 bar loop record?

[franklin94]

how do i do that

[MUSIII]

Whenever I Sync my 1000 with MIDI BEAT CLOCK and record multiple passes, all the passes don't seem to quite line up. For instance, I layer maybe 3 sounds as my Snare. I then do sepearate passes, while the system is all synced, and record each of those to a seperate track....However in the final recording, they will not be lined up exactly right as they were in the MPC. I then Have to manaully realign the samples that are supposed to be triggered all at once.

anyone else get this problem? Kind of annoying...

[emluper]

Yeah, beat clock is only 24 ppq so that leaves alot of room for slop. Two things you can try. First, it might help to try switching all the tracks to tick based. Given the current situation it can't hurt. Second, I would place a sync point (cmd-,) at the first transient in the second track (use tab to transient), repeat this for the third track. Then tab to the first transient on the first track and cntl-shift-click on the second track. This will line the two transients up with each other, then repeat with the third track and you're all lined up.

Of course all of this depends on whether the drift is just when the recording starts and not throughout the entire audio region. Regardless, this method will show what's happening either way.

Erik