Sync Maschine 3 with traktor pro 4 issues

BHarm65
BHarm65 Member Posts: 2 Member
in Maschine

Hi,

I tried to setup an hybrid set with Maschine 3 in sync with Traktor pro 4 with S4 MK3 deck.

I run into issue with the sync issues. I tried the link button on both.

  1. I start traktor pro 4 and enable Link.
  2. Then I start Maschine 3 and enable Link and sometime it connects to Traktor Pro 4 but most times it will not. Then I restart the whole sequence until it connects.

But what the most annoying thing is when it is connected to Traktor pro 4 you can only use the master sync and not the master from the decks. It is also not possible like shown in the video from Boris (Look at timecode: 2:27) to change the BPM in Maschine 3 and Traktor Pro 4 follows this change.

I also tried this setup with Traktor Pro 3 and Maschine 2 but the result is the same.

What am I missing, can someone help me please.

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Comments

  • mhuellwegen
    mhuellwegen Member Posts: 7 Newcomer

    On Windows 11 I encountered a similar behaviour today when linking Traktor Pro 4.11.23 to Maschine 3.0.1

    And yes, it's also not possible to change the BPM in Maschine 3 (as shown in Boris' video at 02:27) while Traktor Pro 4 following these BMP changes. Only in rare situations both apps are BPM synced.

    And when BPM synced, I discovered a strong, acoustic offset of the beat.
    Also re-sync with ctrl+alt+space seems to work but does not help in case of the strong offset delay.

    Does any user encountered similar problems on Mac, too?

  • mhuellwegen
    mhuellwegen Member Posts: 7 Newcomer

    Today I got a set of new MIDI cables and tried MIDI Clock, but again got unusable results.

    When I synchronise Traktor with Maschine's MIDI clock, Traktor starts playing the synchronised track while constantly changing the BMPs by +/- 5%, which is of course absolutely audible (like ‘walking’ in snaking lines).

    Also, the speed of the track doesn't (ever) match Maschine's metronome at all.
    But now, at least in MIDI clock sync mode, Traktor Pro 4 follows Maschine's BMP changes (as shown in Boris' video at 02:27), but never at the right speed, nor at the right synchronised beat (I mean the first base kick beat is 1 of 4).

  • Kiko
    Kiko Member Posts: 5 Newcomer

    Hi guys, i also tryng to sync machine mk3 and x1 mk3 on traktor for windows,

    did you get a solution? can be in contact to help eachother?

  • viper9711
    viper9711 Member Posts: 210 Pro
    edited January 10

    I would be interested in that too. I'm planning on getting an MK3.

    But if the MIDI synchronization between 3.0 and Traktor 4.11 really doesn't work reliably, that would be a deal breaker for me.
    I want to run Traktor in auto mode as master. That means Machine should follow the BPM as a slave.

    OS is Mac 15.2

  • Kiko
    Kiko Member Posts: 5 Newcomer

    i have windows :/

  • Kiko
    Kiko Member Posts: 5 Newcomer

    dont buy, is horrible

  • viper9711
    viper9711 Member Posts: 210 Pro

    Have you created a virtual device for MIDI-out transmission in the Traktor Controller Manager?
    This is a prerequisite for MIDI-out to work in Traktor!

  • mhuellwegen
    mhuellwegen Member Posts: 7 Newcomer

    @viper9711 "Have you created a virtual device for MIDI?"

    My 1st attempt was using "Ableton Link" (as the communication protocol between Traktor Pro as MASTER and Maschine as CLIENT) as a more modern solution, but without success.

    Then i gave MIDI a chance by using a very short physical 5pol DIN MIDI cable to create a physical loop (MIDI-OUT to MIDI-IN using both MIDI sockets on the rear of the machine hardware) binding Traktor software to MIDI-OUT and Maschine software to MIDI-IN in their respective software settings.

  • viper9711
    viper9711 Member Posts: 210 Pro

    This can be solved very easily under Mac OS:

    1. In the Controller Manager in Traktor, create a generic virtual device, ports for Out: Traktor Pro 4 Virtual Output
      Under the External Sync menu: select EXT+Enable Midi Clock
      The Midi Clock is started and synchronized in the browser next to Snap/Quant. Select "Auto".
    2. In Maschine, in the Midi settings, select Midi Input: Traktor Pro4 Virtual Output.
      This way Maschine follows the BPM from Traktor. You don't need an extra Midi cable for this.

    If you want to use Ableton Link you have to enable Sync to the Decks !

    The disadvantage of Ableton Sync: The tempo only follows the master clock. The "Auto" function only works via MIDI.

  • mhuellwegen
    mhuellwegen Member Posts: 7 Newcomer

    @viper9711 "Have you created a virtual device for MIDI?"

    Yes, for this scenario: "syncing 'Maschine as client' to 'Traktor as master' using MIDI"

    I have used a short 5pol MIDI cable (as my hardware "MIDI loop cable" solution while both programs (Traktor software and Maschine software) running on the same and fast windows 11 computer.

    I have created a "GENERIC MIDI" device in Traktor's "Preferences > Controller Manager" and bound the "Output-Port" of the "GENERIC MIDI" device to "Maschine MK3 EXT Midi" and in Maschine I used the "Preferences > MIDI tab to configure Sync mode as "Receive Clock" with an clock offset of -50 ms and "Maschine MK3 EXT MIDI" as MIDI-Input to receive the clock data traktor sends out.

    With these settings I got an acceptable 😉 result by using Traktor's MIDI clock so Maschine follows Traktor's track, which is the MASTER track and you click play on the "extra MIDI clock controls" in the "master panel".



    But for the scenario: "syncing 'Maschine as client' to 'Traktor as master' using Ableton Link"

    I do get a LINK and maschine software will show this as "1 LINK" on the "Main Header bar beside the main controls" and running a progress bar as an indicator for the beat but at the moment with no useful results to synchronise machine playback to a tractor autiotrack, nor controlling traktors playback speed while using the maschine tempo knob. Sometimes, but very very rarely if I klick LINK and PLAY on Traktor or Maschine and whatever I do additionally as well, Traktor changes to the tempo of Maschine.

    But for me this is only a sign that the two programmes can establish any LINK at all via Ableton Link,
    but not yet usable for me.

    To summarise, I can say:

    MASTER CLIENT SETUP SYNC
    __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    Traktor Maschine EXT-MIDI works, (Masschine follow tempo and can be resynced)
    Traktor Maschine A-LINK does not work for me (at the moment)
    Maschine Traktor EXT-MIDI does not work for me (at the moment)
    Maschine Traktor A-LINK does not work for me (at the moment)


    Regards,
    Martin

  • viper9711
    viper9711 Member Posts: 210 Pro

    I don't know anything about Windows.
    Both work under Mac OS, but the disadvantage with Ableton is that the Auto mode doesn't work. This means you have to manually select the deck that is playing as the master each time.

    This is really stupid in practice - in MIDI mode with Auto it happens automatically.

  • mhuellwegen
    mhuellwegen Member Posts: 7 Newcomer

    @viper9711

    > "Both work under Mac OS, …"
    Ah okay, so on Mac…

    "MIDI Clock" and "Ableton-LINK" should work while Traktor is the MASTER and Maschine will become the CLIENT?

    Viper,

    have you ever tried it the other way round, so Traktor will become the CLIENT
    and MASCHINE will be the MASTER for Track timing as shown in Boris' video
    at 03:00 ff (youtu.be/1vv6wlHUed8) Btw, Boris is using Mac as well…

    But I assume that it is more common for Traktor to be the MASTER and set the clock, right?

    What I'm missing in Maschine software is a knob to adjust the "clock offset" during playback, since audio-render performance of Maschine software could cause additional/different latency depending on which sounds and how many and how many effects are used on the Machine software, right?

    Regards,
    Martin

  • mhuellwegen
    mhuellwegen Member Posts: 7 Newcomer

    @viper9711

    https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/203612#Comment_203612

    You don't need an extra Midi cable for this.

    On Windows there is no "Traktor Pro 4 Virtual Output" available so you have to use additional software simulating a virtual midi cable or using the Maschine hardware MIDI-IN and -OUT ports instead of a virtual connection.

    At least that's what I know 😉

  • viper9711
    viper9711 Member Posts: 210 Pro

    The opposite direction shouldn't be a problem - I can try it one of these days

  • mhuellwegen
    mhuellwegen Member Posts: 7 Newcomer

    @viper9711

    I can try it one of these days

    That would be great.

    By the way, I've also made some progress with Abelton Link (it certainly seems to be a misunderstanding in the operation on my side and the main problem is that I have not yet fully understood when Machine synchronises to "which tractor track" but in some way (Traktor as master, Maschine as client) it seems to be working.

    Nevertheless, I still miss a knob with which I can (fine-)adjust an offset so that, for example, the Machine playback is really accurate on beat.

    For MIDI clock, I found "Clock Offset" for "Send/Receive Clock" mode in Maschine preferences dialog.
    And a similar setting for MIDI Clock in Traktor as well.

    But when using A-LINK this offset doesn't seem to do anything.

    Viper, are you using MIDI or A-LINK for syncing and how do you then adjust the exact beat grid to Maschine playback so Traktor and Machine tempo not only matches bpm but also in perfect sync, also during any Maschine latency, e. g. on short "high hat" samples?

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