Ditto X4 MIDI sync?

[popvulture]

So my friend and I have started this new project, and at the moment it's just the two of us. We've been writing songs with loopers and an Arturia Beatstep Pro controlling GarageBand and a Novation Bass Station II. Turning out very fun so far.

The big problem we've run into is syncing loops with the BeatStep. It's pretty much impossible without some sort of BPM sync—otherwise even if our stomps are off by a millisecond, shit will start to run amok as more time goes by (insert grand statement about the world here).

It seems like the offerings out there are all too big and/or too expensive (RC-300, Pigtronix, Boomerang) except for the Ditto X4.

So has anybody used this feature on it yet? If so, how do you like it? The manual online isn't too helpful... I guess you just plug it in and it syncs to the BPM of whatever you plug it into? Basically just quantizes the phrase slightly to fit the tempo?

Someone enlighten me! Maybe there are also other solutions that I don't know of...

[popvulture]

So I partially answered my own question with this:

[youtube][/youtube]

But of course have a new question now... say both of us were using our own looper. Could we run the midi out of the BeatStep into one Ditto, then run the MIDI Thru of that one into another Ditto so that they both sync?

Starting to get a headache already.

[chrisdermo]

So I partially answered my own question with this:

[youtube][/youtube]

But of course have a new question now... say both of us were using our own looper. Could we run the midi out of the BeatStep into one Ditto, then run the MIDI Thru of that one into another Ditto so that they both sync?

Starting to get a headache already.

That's exactly right.
The midi sync has worked fine for me, I run a beatstep out into a midi thru splitter and from there into the ditto, sy300, ehx 8 step and line6 m5. I also use the midi thru from the ditto into a slicer (keep sync perfectly too)
It recognises the midi clock as soon as the cable is plugged in (I don't think I had to change any settings?), and luckily, unlike the 8!step, doesn't respond to midi start and stop messages. It basically cuts the loop bang on the beat so if you hit it a little early or late it won't screw the whole thing up.

Wondering if the beatstep clock out would work with the Digitech jam man pedals..... Hmm

[01010111]

If the beatstep outputs midi-clock signal then definitely. But there are cheaper options for stomp-box midi clocks than the beatstep. There's the Molten Voltage Tempode and the Disaster Area Designs SMARTClock.

[popvulture]

The thing I like the most about the BSP is that you can control so many things with it at once... it's also so easy to use. The only real trouble I've run into is controlling multiple software synths/drum machines at once in a DAW, but even that's doable, just requires a little tweaking.

Good to know you've had good luck with the X4, chrisdermo. I believe my other guitarist and I will both be getting one...

[Dark Barn]

If you have problems with the MIDI thru (daisy chaining through MIDI thrus can add latency) then you might need a splitter of some sort, so that the clock messages reach both pieces of kit at roughly the same time.

[popvulture]

That makes sense—seems like they're readily available too... there's this one (1 -->4) and a 1 --> 2 that's 10 bucks cheaper.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ ... AgpS8P8HAQ

[Dr. Sherman Sticks M.D.]

^the quadra thru works great. just make sure that whatever you plug the 1 side into sends power over midi or else it won't work. most things do but i've run into a device or two that didn't (usually a battery powered device).

i also have this one that runs off 9v or standard boss/1spot power (pedalboard friendly)
https://amptonelab.com/products/midi-splitter/

[popvulture]

I will admit my MIDI ignorance and say that I didn't even think of it sending power, so that's therefore a super helpful tip. That splitter looks a bit more serious. Thanks man!

[Dr. Sherman Sticks M.D.]

no prob! yea they don't mention power over midi a lot so it can be hard to figure out what devices do and don't from manuals/documentation.

i end up using the quadra thru itself to find out whether a device sends power over midi or not…lol

[chrisdermo]

There were a lot of threads about using the quadra thru with the bsp last year, I don't think they work together? As the midi out comes from a jack. I have a crappy old casio midi thru I found on eBay for £16, has 2 midi ins and 8 outs (each out has its own switch to select which in it feeds from) runs of 9v. However I found the midi thru on the ditto x4 to work perfectly for me. The thru on some of my synths is far less reliable.
While the bsp is hardly the cheapest midi clock solution, it is the best except for maybe an mpc for controlling a ton of things at once, and if I really wanted to I could even add another bsp or sequencer to control a bunch more synths/pedlolz and sync it back to my first one, having even more shiz sync'd and sequenced! I just wish the bsp could sequence midi cc changes too.

[Dr. Sherman Sticks M.D.]

ooh yea mini jacks? prob not anything connected to the power pin of the Midi DIN on those as they are usually TRS, so theres only 2 spots to connect (prob send and receive only)

[popvulture]

I picked up an X4 today and it works perfectly with the BSP. I haven't plugged anything into the thru yet though, so we'll see how that works. It's good to hear from chrisdermo that it's worked well before. I was wondering if the BSP has midi power via that small jack...

My big wonder is how plugging a second X4 into the thru for the other guitarist would work. I hope there's no latency there, otherwise will have to look harder at the splitter option.

[chrisdermo]

Anyone do the beta firmware update that add's midi cc's to this beaut?
They have a Mac installer for it now, so i'm going to bung it on mine tonight and pray for the best. Idea is that I can use logic, and eventually an mpc, to sequence the record stop/start/play and fx leaving my feet free to go bananas on my other pedals. If it works i'll be totally stoked.

[manymanyhaha]

I did when I was still using the x4's. The cc's worked fine.