Analogue-sequencer

> Hi all, I started with the P3 few time ago. Now that I'm 
> starting to understand the sequencer, I found a big problem: 
> I can't get the P3 sychronised with the midi clock from Cubase.

> I found this same behaviour with a Radikal Technologies 
> Spectralis, finally I sold it, the guy from Radikal told me 
> that the problem is about the way that Cubase sends the midi 
> ticks, his machine wasn't made to handle with this, he 
> promissed a further software revision to make it synched with Cubase.

It sounds like Cubase is sending MIDI clock bytes in bursts with highly
irregular timing.
This is a problem with Cubase (and possibly the MIDI interface device
drivers) rather than the P3 or Spectralis.
The tempo of MIDI clock is defined by the interval between each clock.
By sending irregular clock bytes, Cubase is wildly varying the tempo all
over the place.
Sending 3 ticks at 1000 bpm followed by 3 ticks at 50 bpm may average out at
around 100 bpm, but it is not the same thing.

P3 doubles the incoming clock rate to its own 48ppqn resolution, and if the
incoming tempo exceeds the maximum tempo P3 supports (around 250bpm) it can
lose sync.
It might be possible to 'smooth' the rate the clock bytes are received, but
this would be adding extra load just to fix Steinberg's bad software, so it
isn't a big priority for me at the moment.
IIRC, Cubase SX can't sync to incoming MIDI clock (?) Probably because they
can't write timing critical software to save their lives...

I know there are some MIDI interfaces which support a Steinberg protocol for
sending the MIDI data in advance, and clocking it out at exactly the right
time - maybe this would make the clock pulses regular and help devices which
respond instantly to tempo changes ?

Best regards,
Colin Fraser
Sequentix Music Systems Ltd
http://www.sequentix.com