Elektron Musical Instruments

I have been reading these "Midi Timing" e-mails for a month or so now, and I remember maybe a year or 2 ago when someone had first brought up midi related latency issues with regards to the MD and I said to myself, welcome to the organization!

I understand that many of the users on this issue wish that there would be a conclusion, some sort of OS patch, anything!

It seems a bit obvious from a H/W point of view, but according to Daniel the DSP has some limitations with regards to the chunking of data needed to provide the user with semi real-time functionality and semi accurate timing. When looking back at a previous e-mail when someone measured the midi machines themselves and compared it to the audio kit latency this seems to somewhat confirm this. In an effort to manipulate the DSP chunking of data to what would be a more desirable "feature" or unique sound Daniel described the following:

>Another hint of that the small timing fluctuation is deliberate and
>hosted by a very high precision timer (We're talking MHz that's
>divided down) is that it's never ever drifting, and the different
>delays follow a special cycle. Not exact each turn, and nothing we've
>pushed as a feature, rather something that we'd honoured

Would it be awesome if the DSP internal to the MD had sample accurate timing? or you could somehow turn off the "deliberate" fluctuations in timing, only leaving the chunking latency of the DSP? Sure, I think it would be.

I am not trying to make excuses for Elektron (ok 2 some degree I am), but it would seem to me at least the MD H/W is here to stay and any S/W changes to the OS will not change the DSP limitations and perhaps "deliberate" fluctuations (Although this surely could be changed in a S/W form).

I agree with Leo's points but I expect a pessimistic outcome.

Elektron is selling gear, regardless of any Midi latency issues users are hearing & experiencing. Not only that, a majority of the users both pro and consumer are enjoying AND creating music with Elektron gear!

My Story...
I spend most of my free time in the studio working on projects and the rest of my time working for a DAW S/W & H/W company. Years ago when I first started using my MD my ears and DAW (Pro-tools) had told me that indeed my MD does stray a bit more than some of my other gear (MPC etc...) when using its internal sequencer. Over the years due to this and other un-related midi issues I have spent less and less time recording, editing and worrying about midi and instead use my DAW as a master midi beat clock and slave most of my gear to it leaving me more time to worry about the audio recording and editing process. Since making this change I have never looked back! (unless i am not in the studio). I agree with Daniel that, when run for say 24 hours, the MD will not stray from the DAW timing as a whole, but it is the tiny occassional fluctuations (Not sample accurrate by any means) that is bothering many MD users.

Keep up the measurements and discussions, I find them informative and entertaining...
Do I expect this to be addressed in a future OS patch? I am not holding my breath..

-JC

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: j3l1yt0t5 
  To: elektron-users@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2007 1:57 PM
  Subject: [elektron] Re: Elektron's "magic" timing signature



  > 
  > In other words, contrary to most people still like to believe, 
  > there's no magical groove at all in the MPC sequencer, just some 
  > incredibly accurate MIDI engine at work.
  > 

  amen

  > 
  > Then, on top of that, you can have all the "Swing", "Groove", 
  > "Humanize" functions in the whole world (and I'd be the first user to 
  > make use of them!!!) but without a solid time base a "magic" groove 
  > doesn't make very much sense, IMHO.
  > 
  > 

  amen

  > Not being able to properly sync the MD to other sequencers in 
  > real-time, due to its built-in "magical" timing irregularities, 
  > definitely has a negative impact on my work-flow. Many other users 
  > have expressed the same frustration.

  amen

  > 
  > And having to interrupt my jams in the studio because my MD loops 
  > needs to be edited/tightened up after being recorded in my DAW, 
  > that's another big annoyance I've always experienced.
  > 
  > 

  amen

  the midi timing should at the very least be as 'magic' as the internal
  timing. consistency is a must.



   

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