856 for ZELLERSASN (Firmware 1.6 released, last page)

[multi_s]

Hi

yes we will announce in advance on the mailing list.

we also have a bunch of positives and your and you're that will be up in a few days.

s

edit:

they will go up during the week. i try not to work weekends anymore.

s

[Tristan]

Do you confirm that it has no external tap / tempo / bpm sync in, if so, is that something to be added on in a firmware update?

[multi_s]

you can do it through midi. you use a certain note to trigger the loop iirc.

s

[DRodriguez]

What Scott's partner there told me was no midi clock in, but you can trigger the record via midi to be in time. Also in one of the modes there is absolute tempo on one of the knobs, so you can set the BPM via midi that way.

[glitch]

Well, if it takes MIDI Note input to trigger recording (and likely also overdub, play, & stop), then I'd bet they're planning to accept MIDI Note Input for Tap Tempo. So you could program a sequence with two or three notes on, say, C3 and that would set the tempo, just the same as if you tapped on exactly those beats. Or you could set up a MIDI metronome that would then sync the 856 to it (i bet you'd have to use a hella smoothing algorithm, though). At least that's what I'm guessing....

While that will work fine for those guys who are setting up MIDI sequences in a studio, that's not gonna do a lot for those of us that Loop Live while using MIDI as a central clock source. I'll generally set up my Novation Circuit as a Master using MIDI Clock (as well as providing some backing beats if I need them), then sync all my other effects and my other loopers (Infinity, Ditto X4, or Looperlative LP-1, depending on what I'm using at the time) to that central Master. In my setup, that architecture is likely gonna cause this thing to drift out of sync. Or else I'm going to have to add a whole other piece of gear to my setup whose sole function is just to send quarter notes to the 856. Not worth it there, cause I'm trying to cut down on devices, not add them.

FWIW, setting BPM manually is not going to do it as a workaround; it seems good on paper but it likely won't work. I've tried it and the differences in the internal clock crystals between what one device says is 110bpm vs. what another one says is 110bpm is going to cause drift (one device may run at 110.245bpm and another at 110.773bpm). I've done this with two of the exact same model of the device even, and component differences on the same manufacturing line cause drift. Hell, even temperature differences on the same day between two of the same model unit can cause drift. Basically, if the units aren't talking to each other, they're eventually gonna drift. (Which may actually be good if you're into Steve Reich, FWIW.)

So obviously, I'm hoping I'm wrong. But that's what it's sounding like to me....
_

[DRodriguez]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I do not believe there is tap tempo. It bases it's clock on the loops you make. But it does do midi note triggers.

[glitch]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I do not believe there is tap tempo. It bases it's clock on the loops you make. But it does do midi note triggers.

So in that case, saying "clock" in the first place can be a bit of a misnomer, because there is actually no sync mechanism. Kinda like taking two reel-to-reel recorders, hitting 'record' at the exact same moment, then 'play' at the exact same moment.

So there isn't a clock at all then. Is that right...?
_

[glitch]

So there isn't a clock at all then. Is that right...?

Other than internally to the unit itself, I should add...

If that's the case, then fine. Better even, now that I think about it. If the 856 is meant to be a self-contained device that functions with only itself as a reference, then good on it. I'd much rather see it as just that alone, rather than trying to do proper sync to the rest of the outside world (which is not easy, for a number of hidden and very deceptive reasons) and then only doing a half-assed job of it.
_

[Seance]

clocks are for losers anyways.

Clocks are losers. That's why they're always getting punched.

[DRodriguez]

clocks are for losers anyways.

[coupleonapkins]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ni7x_lxsjtE[/youtube]

[baremountain]

So I'm guessing the September release date is off the table?

[DRodriguez]

Probably making improvements based on real world testing and feedback or building a bigger batch of something so that there are fewer angry left out people. I'm all for waiting, it's easier on my wallet this way too.

[UglyCasanova]

Would be cool to be kept in the loop...you know....because...looper...sort of...

I suck.

[multi_s]

we will be selling them on Monday, so yes we missed sept timeline but that's life. There should also be a few positive and maybe some your and you're on monday or the following week. we will have more ct5 in about another week or so.

for now since we don;t have much social media, the best way to know when things go up is to sub to the email list. however i still check these threads quite often, but that is the best way since we send out an email when we stock the store.

s