Need help syncing two MacBook Pros with S4s to one MIDI clock
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  1. #1
    Tech Convert
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    Default Syncing two MacBook Pros with S4s to one MIDI clock - STILL NEED HELP

    I'm trying to get two laptops running Traktor with S4s to sync using the MIDI in/out ports on the S4s.

    I tried this tutorial from Traktor Bible:
    http://www.traktorbible.com/en/kontr...ng_two_s4.aspx

    I skipped step 3 because I'm going into a mixer, but did everything else. My only problem comes with setting up new devices on each machine. The tutorial says to use select the Traktor S4 MIDI port for output/input respectively on each machine. When I add a new device, I can only select None, Traktor Virtual Input/Output or All Ports.

    I also tried this T Squared tutorial from Youtube:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxRNQUswbMw

    The video is using Traktor though, not Traktor 2. None the less, I tried it and it didn't work either. But the video is basically the same as the Traktor Bible, save for the added steps of creating devices for the MIDI clock.

    Either or, none of this has worked for me.

    Can someone offer some advice. If you need more details, let me know.
    Last edited by treehopr; 02-16-2012 at 08:46 AM.

  2. #2
    Tech Wizard
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    Well, there's your problem... you skipped steps. They're using MIDI cables to send signals (to the slave). Having a MIDI Master means you'll need to SYNC at some point or this won't work. Native Instruments knows that MIDI synching isn't reliable and has a tendency to fall out of sync. Experimenting with the MIDI Clock Send Offset may work for you, but you'll have to play it by ear *AND* you'll have to sync fairly regularly (once every few minutes).

  3. #3
    Tech Convert
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    Quote Originally Posted by DigitalTiger View Post
    Well, there's your problem... you skipped steps.
    The only step I skipped was routing the master output of the slave controller as a live input into the S4. Instead I'm routing both master outputs into a mixer.

    Am I correct in assuming that MIDI syncing uses only MIDI in/out data and none of the actual audio? If so, then the step I skipped is irrelevant.

  4. #4
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    Still seeking assistance.

  5. #5
    Tech Guru zestoi's Avatar
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    the most important messages sent out for midi clock are:

    a) a 'tick' sent out 24 times for each beat to set the actual tempo (tho it doesn't seem very well regulated at all from traktor) and

    b) a 'sync' message that says where the start of a beat is

    you can (and will probably have to quite often) click the 'play' icon in the traktor clock section to resend out the 'sync' message quite often

    i don't know how u get those messages out of the S4 midi port, i would have expected the port to be available somehow in traktor for selection? sounds like u need to enable midi mode for the S4 via the NI controller manager for the S4 or something?

    i haven't tried to sync traktor to an external clock (whether from another traktor instance or anything else) but i presume selecting EXT on the slave and "send midi clock" on the master should be enough
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