Sending MIDI Clock with SMF

[soundog]

I'm trying to set up SLM so it will send two audio files plus a Standard MIDI File; all in sync. I'm splitting the two stereo files into 4 mono audio channels using a 4-out usb interface. The audio part of this project is working OK, its the MIDI I'm having trouble with. I've followed the manual under "To sync a Standard MIDI File with a recording" section, and other sections. I'm using iOS/iPad.

The SMF contains midi beat clock info that I need to send to an external loop pedal. I've added the two audio files and the midi file to SLM (and to a song). The audio files are playing in sync but I am getting no clock data out. The MIDI icon does not flash in the SLM window.

I suppose the first question to ask is: does Set List Maker support sending midi clock that is included in a SMF?

[arlo]

I don't know if the iOS MIDI framework will use Beat Clock messages inside an SMF file. Do you have any other data in the SMF file and is that working? Alternatively, if you attach the SMF file to a new MIDI preset and send the preset, does that send out the Beat Clock messages?

[soundog]

Thx for the reply, Arlo. I have successfully sent this MIDI file (containing note info and clock) from another app, so I know my system supports everything. SLM is sending the notes but not the clock.

I'll try attaching the SMF to a new MIDI preset and report back.

[soundog]

A question .... I have a complex setup/database (lots of MIDI stuff) and am wondering if there is someway to restore the app to default settings and start a new database. In other words, is there some way to "start fresh" to experiment, but still be able to retain my attached documents?

[soundog]

I'm convinced their is a shortcoming in SLM that is preventing midi clock from being sent from a SMF. Here's troubleshooting I've done:

- I'm using a SMF that has midi clock and note on/off info.
- from iOS, the SMF successfully sends the clock and note on/off using a different app (Multitracker). So I know SMF clock+note sends OK in iOS.
- using SLM, the SMF will send the note on/off OK, but not the clock data. If I configure the same song to send a "hard-wired" tempo with the SMF...the clock sends along with the SMF note on/off. (But, of course, it is SLM's song temp, and not synced to the midi file and audio).
- I'm using Midiflow to monitor MIDI activity, and it confirms the SMF data stream is being sent, but not the SMF clock data.

Any ideas for a workaround or fix?

[arlo]

Can you give me your file to test with?

[soundog]

Here's a simple test file. Midi clock running at 105 bpm, and some drum note on/off data that starts after 1 measure (sending on channel 10). I'm curious what you find out .... I'd love for it to work!

[arlo]

Okay, I'll let you know what I find.

[soundog]

Have you had a chance to see what's going on? I haven't found any workarounds here. I'm using Multitracker to verify midi clock is sending OK on my iOS system via SMFs (so I know my hardware setup is good).

[arlo]

I just released a huge update two days ago, so I probably won't be able to look at this for a week or two.

[soundog]

I totally understand, thanks for letting me know (everyone deserves a respite after a huge update!) Just post here with any updates ... I'll check every now and then.

[arlo]

Sorry for the slow reply. I checked your file and it doesn't contain MIDI Beat Clock data. Instead, it contains a header that tells the MIDI sequencer what tempo to play at. That's different than sending ongoing Beat Clock messages to sync a different device.

Do the drum notes play at the correct tempo? If so, the file is working as intended, and you would need another way to set the tempo on the loop pedal. Depending on how the loop pedal works, that could either be a single MIDI message that you send when selecting the song, or Beat Clock messages that you send with Set List Maker's built-in tempo function (turn on Settings > Tempo & Pitch > Send MIDI Beat Clock, then start the tempo when you start your recordings and SMF playback).