Zoom U-24 interface - midi sync not recognised (SOLVED)

bibenu

Just got a brand new Zoom U-24 ... seems like a nice piece of kit ....

EXCEPT

on the DIN midi port, midi sync is not recognised.

I spent AGES narrowing down my choice of Audio interface, and it never occurred to me that what for me is a major feature of MIDI would not be supported by this interface.

Is there any chance I'm missing something ? I've checked it out with a diagnosis tool that clearly sees the incoming midi sync via another interface, but using the same device cable into the U-24, no sync.

Considering my options .. I may return it.

dmnc

I could sync all kind of gear with my u24. What exactly are you trying to do?

klownshed

I’ve definitely had my zoom working with MIDi sync using logic on my Mac. I’ve synced it with an Arturia DrumBrute Impact and a Novation Circuit Monostation successfully.

rs2000

Details?

bibenu

@dmnc said:
I could sync all kind of gear with my u24. What exactly are you trying to do?

I'm using the iPad as a looper for various external instruments. All I'm doing right now is using a bass and a drum machine called SDrum, which produces midi sync. Without the U-24, and using another midi-only interface, the apps on the iPad (including midi wrench) see the incoming sync just fine. However if i route the SDrum's sync through the din sockets of the U-24, the midi sync doesn't show up. The DIN socket itself is fine for midi notes, but not for midi sync.

bibenu

This is what midi wrench sees when the sdrum is connected via the other interface

bibenu

@klownshed said:
I’ve definitely had my zoom working with MIDi sync using logic on my Mac. I’ve synced it with an Arturia DrumBrute Impact and a Novation Circuit Monostation successfully.

What provided the clock/sync in your setups ? The external hardware or the iPad ?

supadom

I’d be very surprised if this was the case.

supadom

Just checked. U44 works with no issue sending clock from Audiobus to Novation Circuit using 5 pin midi.

Make sure you are pointing master clock at zoom midi io.

bibenu

@supadom said:
I’d be very surprised if this was the case.

Thing is ... I can't think what I'm missing. The external device works via another interface, so that is not at fault. The cable I'm using has been tested via the other interface. The U-24 midi in din port itself is working for midi notes, but midi wrench does not show the incoming mid sync on it.

I suppose I could be making rash assumptions about midi wrench detecting stuff automatically ... that's the only possible thing I can think of that might be to blame other than the interface.

I would be VERY happy to be proven wrong.

supadom

I wonder whether midi wrench even shows midi clock. Generally midi monitors will show cc pc, note and possibly NRPN events.

Wrlds2ndBstGeoshredr

Try a different cable?

bibenu

@supadom said:
I wonder whether midi wrench even shows midi clock. Generally midi monitors will show cc pc, note and possibly NRPN events.

See screenshot above of midi wrench displaying midi clock when I use the other interface.

bibenu

@supadom said:
Just checked. U44 works with no issue sending clock from Audiobus to Novation Circuit using 5 pin midi.

My case is INCOMING sync .... would you be able to test sync from Novation circuit to Audiobus ?

bibenu

@Wrlds2ndBstGeoshredr said:
Try a different cable?

I've now tried two different cables. Both work fine as part of the connection with the other midi interface. Both do not work (the clock signal disappears from midi wrench) when connecting via the U-24 .

supadom

@bibenu said:

@supadom said:
Just checked. U44 works with no issue sending clock from Audiobus to Novation Circuit using 5 pin midi.

Make sure you are pointing master clock at zoom midi io.

My case is INCOMING sync .... would you be able to test sync from Novation circuit to Audiobus ?

Sorry man, I’ve packed it up and off to a gig shortly. Anyhow, if works one way I see no reason why it shouldn’t the other.

If it’s AUM then I don’t think it will slave. Audiobus will but from experience you’re always best slaving hardware to software.

rs2000

@bibenu MIDi wrench obviously shows the clock pulses so it seems that the U-24 blocks MIDI clock messages. This can happen, my Quicco Bluetooth MIDI dongles are pre-set to block sync as well, I had to unblock it by sending them a special sysex message once and now they work perfectly with MIDI clock.
Maybe the U-24 does not support MIDI clock at all?

bibenu

@rs2000 said:
Maybe the U-24 does not support MIDI clock at all?

That's what I'm afraid of, yes. That it does not support INCOMING clock. Supadom has found that a U-44 does actually support outgoing clock, but unfortunately that not what I'm trying to do.

EDIT: I've googled for this topic and not come up with anything concrete as yet.

rs2000

@bibenu said:

@rs2000 said:
Maybe the U-24 does not support MIDI clock at all?

That's what I'm afraid of, yes. That it does not support INCOMING clock. Supadom has found that a U-44 does actually support outgoing clock, but unfortunately that not what I'm trying to do.

Now that's a biggie, I'm quite surprised in fact - I'd contact Zoom support about any hidden trick to enable clock sync and if they don't respond or it can't be done, send it back.

wim

Well, it sounds as if iOS > hardware clock sync works according to @supadom, so it would seem odd if it it was supported only one-way.

On the other hand, setup details might be different. It's not clear whether @bibenu is using USB or 5-pin for the iOS side of the MIDI, and whether @supadom is doing the same. Maybe it's a problem bridging 5pin to USB for clock? I checked the manual, but it doesn't provide any details about midi really.

It sounds like maybe @supadom might be able to advise after his gig some time. (not speaking for him - just speculating)
So maybe hang in there a bit before giving up.

wim

I'll be no use in this thread, but interested all the same since the U-24 is at the top of my wishlist atm.

bibenu

@wim said:
It's not clear whether @bibenu is using USB or 5-pin for the iOS side of the MIDI, and whether @supadom is doing the same.

Sorry, I did try and make it clear, but just in case: The external device I'm using as the clock master (the SDrum) has a DIN connector. So I'm connecting a DIN cable from that to the midi din input on the U-24. I'm expecting Audiobus, and thence LoopyHD to sync to external signal.

wim

@bibenu said:

@wim said:
It's not clear whether @bibenu is using USB or 5-pin for the iOS side of the MIDI, and whether @supadom is doing the same.

Sorry, I did try and make it clear, but just in case: The external device I'm using as the clock master (the SDrum) has a DIN connector. So I'm connecting a DIN cable from that to the midi din input on the U-24. I'm expecting Audiobus, and thence LoopyHD to sync to external signal.

And going to the iPad via USB, correct?

I assume you've gone to the Audiobus sync settings to be sure that clock sync from the U-24 is enabled. You may also need to set the U-24 as a midi input as well (I'm not sure).

bibenu

BOOM: Solved it.

I was actually splitting the midi signal two ways (passive split) coming out of the SDrum, and sending the din clock signal to another device. As soon as I disconnected the other device, the U-24 started recognising the clock.

So while it was no problem for the passive splitter to work with the old midi interface, switching to the U-24 obviously showed up some horrible interaction ... impedances or something (?)

So I have to find some cleverer way of splitting the clock/sync signal. But i AM now in business with the U-24

Really sorry to have distracted you all with this.

wim

Great! So glad you figured it out.

bibenu

@wim said:
And going to the iPad via USB, correct?

Yes, correct.

I assume you've gone to the Audiobus sync settings to be sure that clock sync from the U-24 is enabled. You may also need to set the U-24 as a midi input as well (I'm not sure).

I definitely did the first but that wasn't the problem. See above.