Hi all
 
I have an embarrassment of riches, having not only Sonar X3 but an OctaCapture and a Fractal Axe FX II.  I'd like to get some kind of sync going between them all.  The Axe can do tempo-based effects, and I'd like them to lock onto the Sonar clock.  But HOW?  The Octa-capture is working fine as the main sound card and audio input device.  The Axe shows up in Sonar as an audio source, so communication exists.  I've plugged a midi cable in a couple of configurations but so far no dice.  Any suggestions would be very welcomed--this really should work somehow.  
 
thanks in advance
 
LJR

That's rather specific question I must say. I can only tell you how I do it with another device. Maybe it gives you some hints or gives you inspiration on how to approach this. I own a BOSS GT-10 which allso can can do tempo based effects. I realy realy realy love this piece of hardware. I can connect it using USB and then it communicates both audio and midi through USB. I suppose the AXE FX is superior and can do the same.
 
Then within a sound patch I can setup the time based effects to respond to a BPM setting instead of a timeset value. So if I have a song that is 135 BPM I can set my delay to 135 BPM within the patch on my GT-10 and choose the note value (whole, quarter etc...). This way the effect responds as desired. It's however not realy syncing but more staying in tempo. I think it will be more difficult if you have BPM changes within your song. I never experimented with that but maybe it is possible to let Sonar send the midi info about the BPM to the AXE FX to let it adjust to that tempo and keep in pace. I don't know if the AXE can do that.
 
So this are just a few ideas. I know it's not an answer but maybe it helps :-)
 
Best regards,
 
Rinie

Pure speculation from me. I do not have this or similar equipment.
 
In the documentation for AXE, Page 88:

TEMPO -Sets the current System Tempo. Whenever a tempo is entered, whether via this control or by tapping or by MIDI clock, the System and Global Tempos are set to this value. The Global Tempo is not affected by the tempo stored with a preset when the preset is recalled and remains in effect.

I have not found any other place which mention it, so they specify no details.
 
Connect MIDI Input(Output) of AXE to Computer. For example, throw OctaCapture MIDI.
 
Under "Project/MIDI" properties (in SONAR) you can try to set "Send MTC" to the AXE MIDI input. May be some other options can have some effect...

First bear in mind you (almost always) can't use two audio interfaces ASIO drivers at the same time. Which may have an impact on you or may not not depending on how you work and how you route audio.

However clock sync is done via MIDI.

I don't have an Axe FX but assuming the Axe does MIDI over USB and works look pretty much all MIDI devices and you've installed any drivers needed for it, it should show up as available MIDI ports in Sonar's preferences/MIDI devices sections. Make sure the relevant boxes are ticked so Sonar will use it.

To send MIDI clock to tempo sync the Axe go into preferences/project and under those MIDI settings make sure the Axe is selected for Sonar to send clock to. These settings are per project, so will need to be set (or at least looked at to confirm they are set) for every project.

If the Axe only does MIDI via 5-pin MIDI sockets you'll need to connect those to a MIDI interface then ensure the relevant MIDI ports on that interface are being sent clock.

Even if you cant automate the tempo changes, you can use sonar to send program change messages to the AXE and have different tempos set up for different patches.
 
Also check the midi implementation, there may be a way to send CCs to the AXE specifying the tempo within a patch.  Just have sonar send a CC whenever you want a tempo change in the axe.

Thanks for all the input-I'll read your words carefully later tonight.  The setup is currently working; I apparently just needed to turn "ON" transmit MIDI start/continue/stop clock.  It took me a while to find this setting even after looking on that page repeatedly.  Neato, beat sync'd effects ala Adrenalinn--which is what got this all started in the first place. I'll post some audio once I get something worthy to display.  Can we post audio here?
 
ciao and thanks again
 
LJR

No direct uploads allowed but please feel free to post links to songs in the Songs Forum