Pulling my last remaining hairs out attempting to get this working. I’m a new Syntakt owner and a new Intellijel Metropolix owner. A simple goal, share Syntakt’s clock and run/stop/reset Metropolix from Syntakt’s start/pause+stop buttons. My setup:
Syntakt with TRACK3 assigned to MIDI out on CH1. On the modular side, a Palette 104 case with MIDI 1U and Metropolix; MIDI cable and 3.5mm adapter into the case. I can see Syntakt clock running and Metropolix runs at the same BPM when Metropolix’s Clock Src is set to EXTERNAL; when Clock Src is set to MIDI, it does not see the clock or respond to transport controls.
On the MIDI 1U Utility, I can see the clock running (CLK indicator light flashing constantly), and can see one single flash on the RST indicator light when Syntakt’s play button is pressed. No visible response from MIDI 1U when stop button is pressed once (stop), twice (reset).
I am routing sound from the Palette case back into Syntakt – that works great but I know it’s not relevant to the MIDI issue.
I have read the three manuals, read REDDIT and Elektronauts posts, watched every YouTube video on Elektron MIDI to modular – I just can’t figure out what I am doing wrong or where the issue lies – Syntakt, MIDI 1U, Metropolix, or all of the above. Please help, thank you.
how do you have the metropolix patched to the midi 1u module?
there is a couple of “modes” for the midi 1u that change the behavior of the RST output i would recommend hooking up the usb/midi to computer and trying this out
Are you sure you can set clock source to MIDI on Metropolix? It only has midi out over the back USB port or the expander AFAIK. you want to set it to external clock and use the conversion of the midi 1u module, but maybe im missing something.
The CV clock should stop pulsing when you hit “stop” on syntakt
and when you hit play it should send a “reset” pulse
i would imagine that’s the default behaviour but i have not used this module personally, just a lot of other midi to cv stuff that typically works this way out of the box. Did you purchase this brand new? Or was their a previous owner that might have some specific settings applied
All great information – THANK YOU. I have the MIDI 1U set in default in the CONFIG APP, as the option settings all feel very specific and there’s no clear documentation from IJ on these parameter settings, as far as I have found. I have changed CLK Mode and RST Output in all combinations via IJ Config App, and I see evidence that changes are being written to the utility.
For the METROPOLIX Clock Src options – three exist in the menu: INTERNAL, EXTERNAL, and MIDI. When set to EXTERNAL, all clock indicators flash gloriously. In MIDI setting, the clock indicator on METROPOLIX does not illuminate. Note that in EXTERNAL mode, there is no run/stop control functioning when operated from SYNTAKT.
I have read on multiple sources that ELEKTRON boxes have a clock broadcasting at all times, regardless of run/stop state. I can see this on my equipment as well when METROPOLIX has Clock Src set to EXTERNAL. And on MIDI 1U, I have tried various combinations of run/reset, always/running, etc. I can get the illuminations to work as hoped for on MIDI 1U (CLK flashing illuminator, RST steady illuminator when SYNTAKT is running), and I can see the RUN indicator on METROPOLIX illuminate in green once the SYNTAKT play button is pressed, but Track1/Track2, Mod tracks do not start.
The only connections between MIDI 1U and METROPOLIX are CLK and RST patches. I have checked these cables by placing them in other spots on my case, they are ok. And, I purchased these new (tx Detroit Modular) and have done factory reset on METROPOLIX multiple times during this endeavor.
Thank you again for the response and the thoughts. DEEPLY appreciated.
the way I used to get around this was just to have a dedicated track for “clock pulses”
so just a series of trigs on a track dedicated to “advancing the sequencer”
i know this isn’t necessarily the most ideal situation but it does get you going and gives you flexibility to clock the sequencer to your will (for instance putting trigs on every other step to get a 1/2 divided “clock”)
then you can also have a midi box in between that stops sending clock when it receives stop transport message, or just use that as your “master clock” and avoid using elektron stuff as analog clock brain. so ideal situation is slaving the Elektron to an external midi clock that can handle all of this logic more elegantly
of course that clock output on the midi 1u can still be used to clock FX etc and set “master tempo”
analog four always was the “sync bridge” for me between midi and CV but since then i’ve moved on to more advanced sequencers that consider this stuff in advance for the end user
I beleive Metropolix will not receive stop if set to external clock src. You will just get clock and reset. When I had mine, the only way to get stop start reset and clock was to use usb via my solo box. Worked great with transport from Bitwig that way but I know that doesn’t help you out. I’ve never used the 1u midi module so unfortunately can’t speak to that.
no experience for me with the 1u midi either other than a quick blast through the manual
i use an SND acme 4. i’m sure someone has figured out a work around for this, but atleast maybe you can try using trig or gate out patched into metropolix clk input to get the desired behaviour. No trigs = stop
Thank you. In my tests, I can manually start both SYNTAKT and METROPOLIX at the same time and they will maintain synch to the degree that my lousy music requires. I would just prefer to use that stop/start function on SYNTAKT and rely on that in my set. I thought I have exhausted combinations with external clock on METROPOLIX, but will definitely give it a try when I’m back in front of my gear.
Thank you! I think your solution is above my skill level as of today, but I have copied this into my notepad of things to learn and try.
Regarding a MIDI box, do you have a recommendation? I was also thinking of a USB host box, and link the SYNTAKT with the modular palette via USB. Curious as to what you might think of that.
you will have to DYOR a bit but this looks like the best bang for buck right now
hoping some other elektronauts can chime in. I’m a fan of SND Acme 4 and the ERM multi clock but they are increasingly expensive. I would get the ERM multi clock and be done with it as its much easier and faster to attain with a return policy if you find it over kill but the above would also fix all your issues…
the erm multi clock and acme 4 are more CLOCK GENERATORS and SYNC devices where the MRCC Is more of a midi router that gives filtering transport controls etc. but it does not generate its own clock. In this case you could still use your Syntakt as Master
also regarding the trig/gate trick with a midi track, you will shred a track on the Syntakt setting it to a midi machine BUT all you would do is point it to the channel out to the Midi 1U and any any notes you put on the sequencer would show up as trigs on the MIDI 1u. Put a step on every note for your sequence and it will act as a clock pulse. No trigs sent out when u hit stop. Still got reset that works as it should but now you will only get pulses when your tracks are playing. Trig out of midi 1u -> clk input of metropolis set to external and you should be golden (minus a dear syntakt track)
Thank you – an excellent idea. Turns out I had 2HP remaining in my palette, and bought the Micro-extender. Installed and ready. I’ve read pgs. 175-177, what you’ve suggested makes sense; I will toggle MIDI Clock Out to off, in addition to Clock Sr and MIDI transport.
I don’t have the correct parts to connect the USB-B on Syntakt to the Micro-USB, so I’ll get that cable and give it a try.
One question: I am not connecting two hosts in this arrangement, correct?
Boom, perfect clock and start / stop. I can’t remember the exact settings on the metro, but they were self explanatory. External clock, and reset to start / stop or something like that.
Greetings, Elektronauts nirun, SIM80, pmags, SeanBonham, (and Ihor from YT),
Update/closure on the request: with your advice and suggestions, I am able to start/stop/reset Metropolix from Syntakt – and put it to great use with my second-ever live performance. Thank you!
Two issues contributed to this problem. First, my lack of experience and no trial/error process in place, and second, a brand new intermittent Type-A MIDI adapter (it wasn’t “cheap” but it was a piece of junk).
As of today, two ways to start/stop/reset – (1) via the MIDI 1U using external clock/reset settings in Metropolix, and (2) directly into Metropolix with the DIN sync cable. I haven’t been able to sequence Metropolix via MIDI and pass data / make sounds, but that wasn’t my immediate goal. Start button on Syntakt starts both sequencers, they stay in synch, stop and start maintains sequence location, and stop and reset takes sequencers back to step 1. Beautiful.
