We’ve seen boxes that claim to sync everything you have to everything else you have. But the E-RM multiclock claims to do it even with a computer as the clock source – without jittering.
Just announced, the multiclock is the follow-up to the midiclock+, the clever MIDI sync box introduced by Berlin’s boutique E-RM Erfindungsbüro back in 2012.
The most important thing to know about the multiclock is that it takes this obsession with getting sync right directly to your computer’s audio card. Whereas MIDI and MIDI over USB from a computer are inherently susceptible to jitter, E-RM claims that the audio synchronization gives them sample-to-sample accuracy. That allows you to use a computer as a clock source without some of the nastiness that can often ensue.
Rewind. Plain explanation. Remember when you could use a phone to tell what time it was? A lady’s voice would intone from the other end, “the time is now… 7:45 and 33 seconds pm.” Think of a MIDI stream as giving you those time indications a little irregularly – not quite on the right tick – and an audio stream giving times that are always exactly correct, many times per second (44,100 times per second for a regular CD audio setting, for instance). That’s my explanation, not E-RM’s, so I hope they approve.
You still retain the versatility to use what you want. So you can use MIDI or DIN (from more reliable MIDI gear that isn’t a computer, that is). You can use clock signals from analog modular gear. If you really must use a USB MIDI connection, fine – that works.
Or, of course, the multiclock – like the midiclock+ before it – can simply be your stable clock source for everything else.
This is all fine and well, but I think it’s the adjustment that makes this interesting. You can tweak timing on everything – each channel has two knobs for shifting and shuffling. That can allow you to fine-tune sync or even create your own grooves. I can really imagine dialing in something more life-like and human with this.
It isn’t just sync, either. A “MIDI Map & Merge Matrix” lets you route and merge MIDI notes and control messages over MIDI or USB to particular outputs.
E-RM is a neighbor of mine – in Berlin and this week at Messe – so I’m curious to give this a try. 449€ is a hefty price, but … it could be the last sync/clock device you ever buy. And it could change the way machines in your studio arrive in time. I can also tell you E-RM are obsessive about quality and sustainable production. So yes, it’ll be great to evaluate these claims in performance.
Details:
multiclock will be available from May 2015.
The MRSP is 449 e for the standard version, 519 e with USB.
A matching power supply is naturally included.
Colorful caps for all knobs are available on request.
Technical Information:
tempo range: 30-300 BPM
max. shift range: ± 250ms
Connectors:
1 x Audio-Sync input
1 x MIDI/DIN Sync/Modular Clock input
4 x MIDI/DIN Sync/Modular Clock output
1 x LFO output (0-5 V)
1 x power jack (9 V-15 V)
4 x USB MIDI input (optional)
1 x USB MIDI output (optional)
The thing I don’t understand about the E-RM products is why they don’t have the option to generate clock on their own. The midiclock+ product description seemed vague about whether this was possible, so I emailed them not too long ago and learned that it only used a PC as a source. They said, however, that clock generation would be a feature that the new product would have. Apparently, not. Do you have any insight into why they want to tether us to a computer, Peter?
With ability to swing and shift the individual streams, it seems like this would be an essential piece of a hardware if it could generate and send clock over all the included formats.
Hey Nagasaki,
both multiclock as well as midiclock⁺ can of course generate clock as a standalone masterclock device on their own!
Thanks,
Max – E-RM
That’s great. You might consider clarifying this in your product material since it is a key feature. Deserves its own bullet point. Congrats on the new product. Looks excellent.
You can as well use a pulse .wav file from your DAW as reference for the clock.
http://www.makenoisemusic.com/manuals/modular-pulse.WAV
Thanks, but my point was that I want to use this without a laptop, and when I do use it, I don’t want to devote one of my precious few audio outputs to a clock signal.
that’s a fair point
The thing I don’t understand about the E-RM products is why they don’t have the option to generate clock on their own. The midiclock+ product description seemed vague about whether this was possible, so I emailed them not too long ago and learned that it only used a PC as a source. They said, however, that clock generation would be a feature that the new product would have. Apparently, not. Do you have any insight into why they want to tether us to a computer, Peter?
With ability to swing and shift the individual streams, it seems like this would be an essential piece of a hardware if it could generate and send clock over all the included formats.
Hey Nagasaki,
both multiclock as well as midiclock⁺ can of course generate clock as a standalone masterclock device on their own!
Thanks,
Max – E-RM
That’s great. You might consider clarifying this in your product material since it is a key feature. Deserves its own bullet point. Congrats on the new product. Looks excellent.
You can as well use a pulse .wav file from your DAW as reference for the clock.
http://www.makenoisemusic.com/manuals/modular-pulse.WAV
Thanks, but my point was that I want to use this without a laptop, and when I do use it, I don’t want to devote one of my precious few audio outputs to a clock signal.
that’s a fair point
The thing I don’t understand about the E-RM products is why they don’t have the option to generate clock on their own. The midiclock+ product description seemed vague about whether this was possible, so I emailed them not too long ago and learned that it only used a PC as a source. They said, however, that clock generation would be a feature that the new product would have. Apparently, not. Do you have any insight into why they want to tether us to a computer, Peter?
With ability to swing and shift the individual streams, it seems like this would be an essential piece of a hardware if it could generate and send clock over all the included formats.
Hey Nagasaki,
both multiclock as well as midiclock⁺ can of course generate clock as a standalone masterclock device on their own!
Thanks,
Max – E-RM
That’s great. You might consider clarifying this in your product material since it is a key feature. Deserves its own bullet point. Congrats on the new product. Looks excellent.
You can as well use a pulse .wav file from your DAW as reference for the clock.
http://www.makenoisemusic.com/manuals/modular-pulse.WAV
Thanks, but my point was that I want to use this without a laptop, and when I do use it, I don’t want to devote one of my precious few audio outputs to a clock signal.
that’s a fair point
Cool, but still, if I just want to have tight clock from my pc it seems like a couple of Expert Sleepers modules would do the same job for half the price. Correct me if I’m wrong.
Cool, but still, if I just want to have tight clock from my pc it seems like a couple of Expert Sleepers modules would do the same job for half the price. Correct me if I’m wrong.
Cool, but still, if I just want to have tight clock from my pc it seems like a couple of Expert Sleepers modules would do the same job for half the price. Correct me if I’m wrong.
For audio-derived MIDI syncing, don’t forget about Innerclock systems!
Good piece of gear too, but not as flexible as this, and it also uses 2 outputs out of your sound card instead of one. I also really like the hands on element in the multiclock and not having to tweak the phase through the software… Game changer in my setup
For audio-derived MIDI syncing, don’t forget about Innerclock systems!
Good piece of gear too, but not as flexible as this, and it also uses 2 outputs out of your sound card instead of one. I also really like the hands on element in the multiclock and not having to tweak the phase through the software… Game changer in my setup
For audio-derived MIDI syncing, don’t forget about Innerclock systems!
Good piece of gear too, but not as flexible as this, and it also uses 2 outputs out of your sound card instead of one. I also really like the hands on element in the multiclock and not having to tweak the phase through the software… Game changer in my setup
Thanks a lot for the info.
Thanks a lot for the info.
Thanks a lot for the info.
Looks great! Can you also shift timing in for example quarter notes? So give each midi out a different start point independent from each-other?
Looks great! Can you also shift timing in for example quarter notes? So give each midi out a different start point independent from each-other?
Looks great! Can you also shift timing in for example quarter notes? So give each midi out a different start point independent from each-other?
I have the ERM Midiclock and I’d like to say that’s the most reliable piece of gear I bought in years. I does what it says, period. The crafting is incredibly robust, these things could survive a nuclear war. Some would say a little bit over-priced and I get the point, but it really solves your sync problems once and for all, for many many years where you still be buying other pieces of gear. Since MIDI looks like it’s here to stay for quite some time again, it’s really a good investment.
Can you confirm that it allows you to sinc ableton live with external gear, jitter free, when recording?
I have the ERM Midiclock and I’d like to say that’s the most reliable piece of gear I bought in years. I does what it says, period. The crafting is incredibly robust, these things could survive a nuclear war. Some would say a little bit over-priced and I get the point, but it really solves your sync problems once and for all, for many many years where you still be buying other pieces of gear. Since MIDI looks like it’s here to stay for quite some time again, it’s really a good investment.
Can you confirm that it allows you to sinc ableton live with external gear, jitter free, when recording?
I have the ERM Midiclock and I’d like to say that’s the most reliable piece of gear I bought in years. I does what it says, period. The crafting is incredibly robust, these things could survive a nuclear war. Some would say a little bit over-priced and I get the point, but it really solves your sync problems once and for all, for many many years where you still be buying other pieces of gear. Since MIDI looks like it’s here to stay for quite some time again, it’s really a good investment.
Can you confirm that it allows you to sinc ableton live with external gear, jitter free, when recording?
Is that you Hibou?
Considering buying the clock too. I still have troubles understanding why a computer couldn’t do the job. But as a matter of fact it cant. So this clock mos def looks like a pain in the ass reliever / time saver.
Thanks for your feedback.
Yes it’s me Noé 😀 Alors pour info je n’ai pas la multiclock mais bien le petit modéle midi-clock avec deux sorties. Et ouais, ça marche bien… On s’en est servi à plusieures reprises avec Baptiste, on à même une fois jammé à trois ordinateurs avec une repique par la carte son. Aucun souci pour l’enregistrement non plus. Ce truc marche!