Using CC64 to set tempo on Helix Rack 3.5

[stratblue]

Hi.

 

On page 75 of the Helix manual it says that CC64 can emulate the tap tempo button press (value 64-127). I set my sequencer to send CC64=100 every quarter note but apart from the very first time I tried it, when it worked perfectly, I get very odd results. I made some videos to demonstrate the problem, the sequencer is running at 90bpm.

 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/StdDK9krqBTyr1po9

 

If someone can point out where I've gone wrong, that would be great.

[PierM]

I believe you are confusing Tap/Tempo with Sync/Clock. They are two very different things. Tap Tempo does trigger internal clock. External clock link directly to internal clock, through PPQs, bypassing Tap Tempo.

 

What you are doing sending a continuous sequence of CC64 is to just triggering the tap tempo, which is an input always passing through its own little code logic to calculate and interpolate a time delta between consecutive Taps. This is not a clock, it's just a way to remote the Tap Tempo using external controllers. A typical clock isn't working with just a message per quarter, it needs to send a least 24 PPQ, with the slave calculating its own tempo based on that input which can't be the Tap listener. :)

 

If you want to sync your Helix with an external master, you need to feed it with a MIDI clock. As soon as you send a MIDI clock, and you set your Helix to receive MIDI Clock, you will see that tempo led will start flashing Blue, and Helix will try to stay clocked with that master. Tap Tempo will be bypassed by the external Clock. To achieve a solid sync it's always better to not have other busy MIDI traffic going on, which would introduce jitter and latency making tempo unstable.

 

"Helix can send and receive MIDI clock via its MIDI 5-pin in/out, as well as via USB. MIDI Clock options can be enabled and configured within the “Global Settings > MIDI/ Tempo” options. MIDI Clock Send: Transmit MIDI clock to synchronize the tempo of external pedals, rack gear, and software to the current Helix TAP Tempo rate. MIDI Clock Receive: Synchronize the Helix time-based effects (such as delay and modulation) to incoming MIDI clock from external DAW software, drum machines, keyboard workstations, or other modelers. Note that the Helix Control’s TAP footswitch will flash blue (instead of the default red) to indicate the incoming tempo rate when receiving MIDI clock."

[stratblue]

Hey there.

 

Thanks for the reply.  I can send midi clock to the Helix if I want, you may not have seen my other post,

 

but I can't get that to work reliably either, the blue ring flashes very obviously out of time while the rest of my gear hooks up faultlessly for hours.

 

If I set the tempo in the global prefs it works, if I tap the tempo on the footswitch, it works but the CC64 function from the manual seems faulty. One of the reasons I bought the Helix was tempo synced delays and setting it with note values, I was just kinda hoping it would sit there and just do it, whatever I was up to...