Metronome Problems

One more problem...

(3) First measure of recording is not working properly. I tried recording 8 measures of quarter notes playing along with the midi metronome. I have a background in percussion, so I can play a reasonably accurate quarter note :)

Upon playback, the first quarter note in the first measure is almost doubling over the 2nd beat of the measure. The rest of the quarter notes are fine.

I had posted this questions a while back and got advice to not record in the first measure. While I appreciate this practical "work around" advice, is there a way to fix this problem? I am really trying to get my system up and running and working properly.

(using MOTU micro lite Midi interface)

Thanks!

-- Rob

P.S. Couldn't get through to Cakewalk support this morning... arrgh. Is it often like that?

If you can't get good timing in the first measure when recording, it's not just a metronome problem. For reference, both the metronome and recording in the first measure work perfectly for me, but only since I got a new interface. My old M-Audio Omnistudio did something very similar to what you are decribing. But MOTU has a reputation for excellent timing, expecially with MIDI, so it seems a little unusual. First check and tell us what your timing master is under audio options, and wehther this project is using the audio clock, or MIDI clock. Also, have you verified that this metronome click is actually coming from your external sound module on port #2, or might it be coming from a soundcard's wavetable synth represented as port #3? And what is port #1? If it's onboard audio like Realtek, you might want to deselect its MIDI/Wavetable port in SONAR, if not disable it altogether in Device Manager.

Another thing to check would be the playback timing of a step-entered/quantized series of notes in the first couple measures. When I was trouble-shooting this problem with the Omnistudio, I created a series of very short duration notes (like 15 ticks) at 64th intervals, and I could actually hear playback pause for a moment in the first beat. But only when using the audio clock as a timing reference. Pure MIDI projects played and recorded smoothly.

Brundlefly,
Thanks for your detailed reply. Here are some answers to your questions:

First check and tell us what your timing master is under audio options,
Playback and recording master is currently set to "none". The test projects I am using only contain Midi info at this time. Per recommendations in previous threads, I have disabled the audio driver from my onboard Realtec in the Bios. I have an Edirol Firewire FA-66 midi/audio interface, but it is not installed yet because I am waiting for a Firewire PCI card to arrive in the mail.

and wehther this project is using the audio clock, or MIDI clock.
Midi Clock

Also, have you verified that this metronome click is actually coming from your external sound module on port #2, or might it be coming from a soundcard's wavetable synth represented as port #3?
Yes, midi click is definitely a chosen drum sound from a patch on the external sound module (Roland XV-3080).

And what is port #1? If it's onboard audio like Realtek, you might want to deselect its MIDI/Wavetable port in SONAR, if not disable it altogether in Device Manager.
As noted above, Realtec audio was disabled in Bios.

Another thing to check would be the playback timing of a step-entered/quantized series of notes in the first couple measures. When I was trouble-shooting this problem with the Omnistudio, I created a series of very short duration notes (like 15 ticks) at 64th intervals, and I could actually hear playback pause for a moment in the first beat. But only when using the audio clock as a timing reference. Pure MIDI projects played and recorded smoothly.
I will try this idea tonight, thanks!

-- Rob

Tried Brundlefly's suggestion to create a simple rythym using the step-sequencer.

Credit where credit is due.. that was Bapu's suggestion.

Here is what I discovered. First 1/16th note does not play until the 2nd 1/16th note when the groove is started. Once it loops it plays the entire groove (including the first note) correctly. This is exactly what the midi metronome does in the first measure of a project.

Not sure, as I've never had this problem in MIDI-only projects. I just went an re-read your other post about your setup to undestand why you might have three MIDI ports listed. It seems to suggest that our Kurzweil controller is connected to a soundcard MIDI port, or does it use USB? If it's USB, I would tend to wonder whether the drivers are working well with SONAR.

In any case, whatever your current setup is, I would suggest you wait until you get the FA-66 set up, as it may resolve all of these issues.

Kurzweil PC-88 controller and Roland XV-3080 sound module are both plugged into MOTU micro lite Midi USB interface.

Oh, right. Ti many martoonies last night, I guess. Or was that the night before...?

Best thing to do would probably be to get some input from other Microlite users. But out of curiosity, what all is listed under Options/MIDI Devices? Just the five Ins and Outs on the Microlite? Are they all enabled, or only the three you mentioned? Since the Microlite allows you to route MIDI any way you like, you might try putting the XV-3080 on its own port instead of using the Thru on the keyboard. Not that I expect this to make any difference, but it would take a variable out of the troubleshooting process.

Edit: Maybe if you change the post's title to MOTU Microlite/SONAR MIDI Timing Problems, or something similar, you'll get some more interest.