Prime 4 and Midi-sync to drum machine-how to?

Engine DJ Hardware Standalone Controllers
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I would like to synchronize a drum machine (Roland TR-6s) to the BPM of the tracks from the Prime 4+ via MIDI.

Is that possible?

The USB port at the back sends and receives MIDI data. But I guess not in standalone mode, right?

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Ideally you need a device that has Ableton Link capability. Unfortunately the Roland stuff doesn’t have it.

If you have an iOS device, you can convert Link to MIDI with an app called…Link to MIDI Link to MIDI | Alexandernaut (and the appropriate cable).

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So Ableton Link output works - but the display constantly shows 120 BPM and does not follow the tempo of the master track??

It seems that the Prime 4 only receives but does not send - is that possible?

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Found out- Ableton Link runs over network

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I think the topic is over - Ableton Link capable drum machines are just too expensive for me - I actually only need a simple drum machine - but unfortunately they all only have MIDI

Really a real disadvantage that the Prime 4+ does not support midi-out

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There is a hardware device which bridges the two worlds of Ableton Link and Midi. Check out Missing Link or Missing Link Junior by Circuit Happy …

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Yes, but a) it’s expensive and b) it’s out of stock [and c) Steve didn’t spell Ableton correctly] :laughing:

The phone/tablet app (and a cable) would do the job.

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Thanks for the tip and the link - although it is available from Berlin - unfortunately quite expensive, in Europe 278€

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I installed the app for my iPhone 16. The question now is, is there a USB-C to MIDI jack cable???

I have to physically connect the drum computer to the iPhone somehow

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Yes, you could probably buy a drum machine for that money. :smiling_face_with_tear:

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I have now connected the Prime 4+ to the app. The Prime 4+ is the receiver of the MIDI beat. But I want the app to recognize the Prime 4+ as a transmitter and send the BPM of the track to the app via Ableton Link so that the drum computer recognizes the correct beat.

Do you have any tips? What am I doing wrong?

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With Ableton Link, there is no one device “in charge”. All the devices in the group are equal, and can start/stop/adjust tempo.

Obviously with your Roland not having it natively, you’re depending on the app and the cable to be correct.

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OK, I don’t know if I understood that correctly? I can set a tempo in the Link app. The Prime 4 also recognizes this - should the beat of the deck that is running then adapt to the tempo? That is not the case. It seems to me as if the app is the “master” as a clock generator.

Actually, when I start a track on the Prime 4, I should see the BPM of the track in the Link window and not the BPM of the Link app, right?

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Update: The BPM received by the Link app unfortunately only synchronizes the Beat FX section - not the BPM of the current track. It seems that the Prime 4 can only receive a BPM signal but cannot send a BPM of the current track itself.

This would unfortunately make the whole thing completely useless for my purpose. It’s a real shame that Denon is wasting so much of Ableton Link’s potential.

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Are you using sync on the Prime 4?

From page 63 of the manual:

• Sync: This determines whether Ableton Link is enabled (On) or disabled (Off). Ableton Link synchronizes beat, phase and tempo of Ableton Live and Ableton Link-enabled applications over a wireless or wired network. You must be connected to the internet to use Ableton Link.

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I have already read that - unfortunately the practice looks different

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■■■■ - I take it all back - sync wasn’t switched on - stupid me. Now it’s sending BPM :slight_smile: I found a suitable cable/interface.

Thanks for help

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