This is something that’s been discussed elswhere, but it’s still driving me mad! I don’t know if it’s an issue with Cubase or VCV or with my set up.
Using the Midi-CV module, I can sync up a clock in the VCV Rack plugin in Cubase 12 using the clock output. If I start Cubase from the beginning of a project, the BPM matches and everything is nice and synced. No problems there at all. Unfortunately, no matter what I do - if I start playback from anywhere other than the beginning of the project, the pulses in VCV will be out of step with Cubase.
I can see on the Scope that the pulse fom the Start output on the MIDI-CV module is solidly lined up with a 1/4 note pulse generated from the MIDI-CV module’s Gate output. The pulse generated from the Continue output, however, will be offset - depending on where the playhead is when I hit play.
As you can see in the image - the top traces are a quarter note pulse from a Cubase midi part and the bottom traces are from the Start output (on the left) and the Continue output (on the right).
I can’t find anything in the Cubase sync set up or on VCV that would make the Continue pulse line up properly with the timecode.
Thanks for that. I thought I’d read everything here (and in the Steinberg forums), but I’d missed that thread, so I’ll have a look.
I appreciate that - but all I want is for the Cubase timecode to tell a clock in VCV where the first beat of the bar is. I’ve got a few workarounds, depending on what I’m doing, so I can make it work - but it’d be nice if it worked without having to add an extra process.
I have the CLK/N divider in the MIDI-CV module set to whole notes. The CLK/N output goes to the Trigger In on the ML Modules Trigger Buffer module. The Trigger Out on that module goes to the clock’s Reset input. The MIDI-CV module’s CONT output goes to the Arm input on the Trigger Buffer module.
This way - when you press play in Cubase from anywhere in the project that isn’t the start point, the Trigger Buffer will arm and then wait for a pulse from the CLK/N output - which will be on the first beat of a bar. The clock will then reset itself and be perfectly synced to Cubase.
That is a good idea. I have not tried it yet, but a CC-Automation with a short pulse should do the same trick but is more versatile for starting (and stopping) at different locations of the song.
Definitely - or even just using gates from midi notes on an unused channel. But I was after something that was more free running, but would still stay on the beat - if that makes sense.
