One Clock to Rule Them All

Getting a groovebox, a synth and a drum machine to play in time together, without tears.

When you connect several machines, they each want to be the boss of the tempo. The fix: pick one device as the clock (the “leader”) and make everything else follow it.

Pick your leader

• Jamming without a computer: let the groovebox (Circuit Tracks) lead. Its MIDI tracks can also play the other synths’ notes.
• Recording into Ableton: let Ableton lead and send MIDI clock out to your gear, so recordings line up with the grid.

Connect it

• Most modern gear speaks MIDI clock, over USB or MIDI cables (often small 3.5 mm “TRS” jacks with adapter cables).
• Korg Volcas also use a simple sync pulse cable, a plain 3.5 mm audio cable between sync jacks.
• Every device has a setting for whether it sends clock or follows it. Check the manual for “clock source”, “sync” or “MIDI clock receive”.

Troubleshooting

• Something’s racing ahead? Two devices are both trying to lead. Set one to follow.
• Everything’s in time but starts late? Make sure the followers respond to start/stop messages, not just tempo.
• Swing sounds wrong? Swing is usually set on each device separately. Keep it on one, or match them.

Once it’s set up, you press play on one box and everything starts together.

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