Beat Buddy, Loopers, Midi Sync

BeatBuddy General
141

Thanks Daefecator. I have the settings correct and can sync there BB as a slave with both the DP-32 and the rangs, and as a master to the rangs. So both the rangs and the BB slave fine in that they starts/stops when the master DP-32 starts/stops. The problem is that the BB tempo drifts almost immediately (you can hear the BB drums slip away from the DP’s metronome tempo) while the rangs and DP stay in perfect sync for at least 30 minutes.

I cannot get the DP-32 to slave from the BB (nothing happens).

142

Well, that’s definitely bad :frowning:
As far as I know, if BeatBuddy is not last in the MIDI chain, it simply “eats” the sync events and doesn’t pass them further. The mode that was tested the most (and works fine!) is when BeatBuddy is the first in the chain. But I can see how this can be inconvenient :frowning:
MIDI sync (especially passing incoming MIDI events from MIDI In to MIDI Out) will be corrected as soon as possible! But in reality, it can take a lot of time, as there are other more prior tasks to do.

143

By first do you mean 1st slave or 1st as in master?

144

Guess I meant DP > BB … nothing in-between, does it stay synced?
Then Rang2 > BB - does it stay synced?

145
146

Hey guys, I really need to know the appropriate set up re: which leads go where, etc? As I’ve recently ordered + received my BB. Now I specifically want to utilise the MIDI sync feature of the BB with my TC Helicon Voicelive 3. Just a run down on what I’ve attempted (but obviously unsuccessful); using BB as the master to VoiceLive 3 I’ve connected the MIDI cable OUT to IN with VL3. And that’s pretty much it. Am I missing something as there was no (BB) sound that came out - even after I’ve adjusted & tweaked the VL3 unit for MIDI sync. Please help as I really need to use both for my gigs. Thank you in advance! Will (Sydney, Australia)

147

Hi Will, I saw your post in the TC forum this morning. Based on what you stated, it sounds like you’re almost there… and yes, it’s pretty simple. Just a couple of things.

  1. Make sure on the BB Main Settings>MIDI Messages, BB is set as the Master out for the midi messages.

  2. VL3, system>MIDI>Midi Tempo is on.

Update. Just re-read your post, and saw this… “Am I missing something as there was no (BB) sound that came out”

The steps below will solve this. But it’s important to know, the MIDI cable is for the tempo sync only between the devices. Not for sound. No. 3 below discusses how to hear the BB through VL3.

When BB is on, you’ll see the VL3 MIDI sync indicator blinking regardless if MIDI Tempo is on or off on VL3, however when in the Looper layer/mode, you’ll see the Tempo # correspond to what you change your BB Tempo too. And of course, during REC or Playback, it keeps the beat! Don’t change the tempo in the middle of recording.

  1. Optionally, it’s your decision on where you want to direct your BB output too. In my case since I monitor through the VL3 using headphones, I use the BB Headphone out to VL3 Aux In

3a. Now, when in the VL3 Looper, you can also decide to include the BB as part of your Recording. In the Looper UTIL, INPUT, you would select ALL. This tells VL3 to record all the Input sources when you record the loop. It will included what’s coming from AUX (BB). True, that on playback now you’ve got a doubling effect. Or, don’t include the AUX as an input source, and BB will continue to be in sync during your playback.

Sounds like you have the connections right, but if the above steps don’t help, double check your connections.

Oh, IMPORTANT. Make sure you are using the latest firmware that came out recently, for the VL3. It has lots of fixes in it for the syncing. Otherwise, you’ll have old problems already identified and fixed. Many users and TC have already saved you the trouble of reporting them.

Jeff

148

has anyone tried to sync the beatbuddy with a Roland GR-55

149

Just tried some clock sync tests with BB slaved to my Zoom HD16 multitrack recorder and same as the above post - it starts off in perfect sync and then drifts off a bit over time which is a real shame (& more so when you trigger a few fills occasionally). I bought my BB to lay down rough drum tracks on the multitrack that I could replace later via clock sync with either BB, EZDrummer or Sony Acid loops but this problem seems to render it a little useless to me so not happy at the moment!

Daef, I see you mentioned some BB loops (such as Rock 1) having midi sync problems - was this ever fixed so they’re all okay now? Or was that problem just with the intros which I’m not using anyway?

150

Hi All
Purchased the Beatbuddy and connected it as Jeff says above. Sometimes the sync is not there, I mean the first couple times I used the BB with the VL3 looper it was in perfect sync, then the 3rd (or so) time it would not stay in sync. After a reboot of the Vl3 it would sync again. Any thoughts? Thanks

PS: Just posted this at TC forum as well.

151

If you don’t use intros, the BeatBuddy is definitely not the reason of the erratic behaviour you are seeing.
Otherwise, take a look at here - http://mybeatbuddy.com/forum/index.php?threads/some-intros-are-incorrect-length.582/#post-2095

152

The midi clock sync drifting out of time after a minute or so when synced to my Zoom HD16 multitracker was too much of an issue for me so reluctantly I’ve sold my BeatBuddy. Even my cheapo Boss DR-3 can stay in time via clock sync so it’s not good enough that a relatively expensive thing like BB cannot stay in sync. Summing up, BB is a great sounding pedal and drummer substitute for live work (which I don’t do) but its lack of reliable clock sync, any other form of midi communication but clock sync, the ‘beta’ clunky software and slow firmware updates means it’s not the right recording pedal for me at the moment. Ah well, back to EZDrummer and Addictive Drums!

153

Why was my new thread deleted? I know it was the same as my last post above but I figured it was important enough to have its own thread after I’d written it. Talk about censorship!

154

I’ve seen that your new thread, and although I would at least know who deleted that if it was me, I think that copy-pasting posts is not a good idea anyways. There was no other information aside from the one that is in your post #146.

Thanks for your honest feedback and your overall desire to make BeatBuddy a better pedal!

155

Well obviously the main difference to whoever deleted my post is that what I’ve written is pretty much buried in this thread whereas it was much more visible in its own thread - bit dodgy methinks! It can’t have been deleted just for duplication as for example ‘Marie Anderson’ had several posts about her headphone volume issue recently.

156

I was just about to say that was the next thing to fix. Thanks for telling! I was too busy in Frankfurt last week, and wasn’t able to check forums regularly (as I usually do).

Sorry for any inconvenience with double-posting, I’ve fixed them now!

P.s.: “Burying” something in a thread (as you say it) is not actually hiding stuff. Any internet search machines (like Google search) will easily find it and show your post in the results. I see and read all the posts, but I prefer having several meaningful topics with lots of posts all focused on one topic than to have a lot of topics with several posts that are all about the same just for “visibility”.
That’s not visibility, that’s cluttering!

157

Please see my thread at http://mybeatbuddy.com/forum/index.php?threads/beatbuddy-great-but-by-no-means-perfect-yet.3231/ for more details and a BB appraisal.

158

I made my several posts (one in each main area in the forms) in the hopes that someone would actually respond, since I had been unable to get any assistance when I initially emailed the company directly. My SINCERE apologies to anyone in this forum who felt that my desire to have my equipment in working order for my upcoming gigs were not as important as the gig they were attending (sarcastic message that I received). Every show I play, I get asked about my pedal and how I like it etc…so I would think that the company would appreciate positive feedback being given on their product (and Im sure that they do) but I understand that if you don’t work for the company, you could most likely care less about my issue as it doesn’t effect you. I would like to say thank you to Jay who responded to my issue with an explanation for the delay, and a tip that was helpful in alleviating the situation until the next firmware update is available. Because of some of the comments I received, Im honestly hesitant to even ask any more questions on here…even though I thought that was the whole point of a forum - share feedback, get help, ideas, etc…
There is no need for anyone to respond to this post, as most likely it will get deleted like yours did Klink…
I will do my best not to bother anyone in this forum again.

159

Dear Marie, I am really sorry if you feel that way. I already explained that I was in Frankfurt, and couldn’t respond to your posts quicker. Usually I read all of them.

But to be completely honest, just take a quick look here - http://mybeatbuddy.com/forum/index.php?threads/getting-an-error-that-head-phone-volume-is-6.2583/#post-11668.
You said you have a problem in a post #3, while the solution to your problem was already listed in the post directly above yours in #2. You could have initially solved your problem right away if you just paid more attention to reading than posting! You actually confirmed that post #2 was your solution here - http://mybeatbuddy.com/forum/index.php?posts/11919/ almost a week later.

We put our best to help you, but the matter of the fact is noone could help you better than yourself.

160

This is not a Beatbuddy issue, this is a Flashback x4 issue - I’ve been trying to get them to work on it for a WHILE now - check out my posts on the Flashback forum, http://forum.tcelectronic.com/topic/17203/pretty-please-with-sugar-on-top-enable-looper-midi-on-the-flashback-x4/ I’m hoping they can do something with their firmware - it seems like it would be a fairly simple fix, since they are midi enabled for the delay, you would think they could enable the looper as well. I’m wondering if Daefactor might be able to help them? I’m posting this same message as a reply to one of his posts.