CT-6500 MIDI Question

[spval]

Hi everyone.
 

I'm trying to send timing data from my DAW (Perfomrer Lite) to the CT-6500 to control the tempo so the synth synchronizes with the sequence.

 

I currently have the midi out from my interface connected to the midi in on the synth.

 

They do seem to be talking to each other because when I record a drum beat on the Casio and stop the sequence, the drum beat stops on the Casio.

 

However the synth does not react at all to the tempo set in the sequence.

 

I know this can work because I also use an outboard drum machine (Alesis SR-16) that automatically follows the timing data from the sequence.

 

Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks!

[Brad Saucier]

That's called MIDI sync.  It requires a MIDI device to be set to slave mode. Unfortunately the CT-6500 does not have this feature.  It's not something typically found on arranger keyboards.  Drum machines however, yes it's a common feature on those.  

[spval]

Ok thank you. Is there a way you would recommend trying to synch an arrangement on the CT-6500 to the sequence? Would I have to just match the tempos by ear or could I get it close and then somehow quantize the 6500 audio track in the sequence? Thanks again!

[Jokeyman123]

Butting in-I posted here awhile back-with 1-2 Casios that do not have midi sync-for example my PX-560, I did an experiment. I did what you are thinking but with all hardware midi devices. I attempted to manually synchronize several of my midi devices manually without using any midi sync at all, including some older midi equipment-to test how accurate the internal clocks were. I used an old Roland PMA-5, a Yamaha QY-100 and the PX-560 and XW-P1-I had 4 things going at once-and to my surprise, these all held together and for more than a minute or two. I did not test beyond around 5 minutes and did not measure to a very fine degree how accurate the sync was, but by ear it sounded spot on which I was certain would not happen. I did not try this with a computer DAW so might not work as well, but it might.

 

All of these but the 560 have midi clock control, so their internal timing might be understandable even without using a midi connection-but seeing how accurate the PX560 was in relation to all this other rather ancient equipment-especially since as the 560 also has "auto-arranger" functions, even those worked in perfect sync! It was pretty wild listening to 3-4 different arpeggios, patterns all in audible sync, without a midi cable between any of them. Guess this is a tribute to how accurate the timing clocks are with all this equipment. The only thing i did not try was manually syncing to a DAW-not sure how accurate a computer's internal clock would be in relation to hardware instruments specifically designed to have tight timing, but might work. If your computer is reasonably fast, and the CT-6500 has as good internal timing as these other Casios, it might work. Woyuld be a good experiment to try, certainly would open up some creative possibilities. I think I'll try it right now! I have an i5 and i7 CPU laptops running all kinds of DAW's. I'll post back with results.

 

Another problem, which I found easier with hardware controls-is STARTING 2-3-4 separate parts in sync. I'm not sure any DAW software will respond as quickly to a manual "kickstart" as one would by hitting an electronic switch! But if you're quick enough to play passages on a keyboard......

[Brad Saucier]

Another option would be to record the MIDI output of the Casio with the DAW software as it plays back,  so you can create quantized tracks.

[Jokeyman123]

I have just tried this experiment. Loaded a midi file-an arrangement with 5 midi tracks into a DAW, and called up one of my arrangements on my Casio workstation. Set the tempo manually for each-hit play on DAW and keyboard exactly together-stayed in perfect sync for over 3 minutes. Tried with a few different arrangements/styles-stayed in sync manually. So if you did what Brad suggests, there should be no midi "slop" if you add tracks to your DAW sequence after you record the Casio into it. Whatever tempo you use record your Casio into the DAW, should stay in sysnc with whatever tracks are already in the DAW. Looks like the clocks can be synced manually. Nice. I used a shuffle beat, a jazz "swing" beat and straight 8 rock beat-especially listening to the snare backbeats, and the groove was perfectly in sync. Better than some bands I've played in...🤪

Edited April 14 by Jokeyman123

[CYBERYOGI =CO=Windler]

Non-midi keyboards with tuning trimmer may vary their tempo depending on tuning, if tuning controls its CPU master clock. Very early Casios with tempo potentiometer (like Casiotone 401) even used a separate oscillator controlled by it to step the rhythm/accompaniment sequence at a multiple (e.g. 16 times) of the beat tempo. A patent describes that the oscillator is clocked much faster while the "syncro" LED is lit and rhythm not started yet (waiting for key press), to quickly wind the selected pattern forward to step 1. So theoretically it would be possible to feed an external rhythm clock signal into the CPU that is synched with midi.