Elektron Musical Instruments

Hi all - long time between posts I know but this question I just had to answer given what 
we've been doing recently.

We are still a few weeks off production run but the Sync-Lock does exist finally:- 

http://web.webhost4life.com/innerclock/index.asp?action=page&name=16 

Our sole focus at Innerclock Systems from day one has always been getting rhythmic 
timing back where it should always be – in the pocket. 

When we designed and released both the original Sync-Shift in 2004 and the Sync-Shift 
Mark II in 2006 we had real needs that required a real solution - Start Lag Time in tempo-
synchronized systems. Drove us crazy – had to find a fix so I could sleep at night! 

One long-term issue of continual frustration over many years for us has been the poor 
stability of external Midi Clock Tempo synchronization in a software/computer 
environment. A full analysis of this problem is way beyond the scope of this post of course 
but the issue is an old one and familiar to all of you of that I am certain. 

In our experience, electronic music producers these days usually fall into two main groups 
- those that choose all hardware over software and those that choose to do it all inside a 
single computer using plug-ins and softsynths. 

There are a number of reasons for this of course but a big one is the difficulty in achieving 
reliable synchronization between computer music applications and hardware in the 
outside world. Why is this so hard? 

Two main reasons: 

1. Latency – The difference between the time it takes for your soundcard to generate its 
internal audio and the start time of all your external gear. 

2. Midi Clock Slop - PC/Mac (and some hardware too) generated Midi Clock is mostly 
soggy custard and even the best timing external Hardware (think MPC-3000/Machine 
Drum) will run and sound like an old wet blanket when driven from even the best software 
application. 

We have always appreciated the myriad of advantages that modern computers offer to 
electronic music production (Think Live, Reaktor, Reason etc) but the poor timing 
integration to the outside world where so much quality vintage and current hardware and 
hands-on creative interactivity thrive has left us mostly no choice but to leave them well 
alone. 

18 months ago we set about trying to find a no-compromise solution to this problem so 
we could close the gap between computers and external hardware in tight rhythmic 
electronic music production. 

The Sync-Lock lets you still use a PC/Mac - any application of your choice as well - and 
generate sample/grid/tempo accurate simultaneous Midi Clock, Din Sync and Voltage 
Triggers for your analogue gear too. 

All of this is done without USB or Midi Clock generation from the software itself and is 
therefore immune to any jitter/slop and because the sync is provided via your soundcard 
audio outputs – there is effectively zero latency offset between your computer's internal 
audio and the start times and tempo sync of your external equipment. 

Sync-Lock Trig I/O conversion time is under 20 microseconds! 

True Plug and Play. You can have your cake and eat it too! 

There are some neat added features too – Footswitch Manual Quantized Stop/Force Re-
Start and of course you can program in Midi Clock/Din/Trigger tempo changes, pauses, 
stutter restarts, you can very easily program in swing to your sync track in your application 
of choice – set all your external hardware to play straight and let the Sync-Lock shuffle all 
your external devices at the Sync Source rather than try and work out bounce settings by 
feel. 

No latency, hard swing funk between Ableton Live Audio, a TR-808, an Elektron Machine 
Drum and an Analogue Step Sequencer by just pressing the PC space bar is a wondrous 
thing to behold! 

And not a Midi/USB cable from the computer in sight. 

Contact Andreas at Scheiders Buero in Europe,  Sean at Analogue Haven in the USA or 
email us directly for more information.

http://www.schneidersbuero.de/
http://analoguehaven.com/
info@...

Best as always to all. 

David 
www.innerclocksystems.com