Out of sync looper

[Dan Montgomery <dmont@knology.net>]

I appreciate the help, especially from Per, on my decision of a new 
laptop for performance looping.  If I may, allow me to through out 
another puzzle.

It's almost time to replace my precious K2K.  For years, I've been using 
it with sequences of MIDI and samples to drive my guitar rack, featuring 
a Repeater, via the thru-put of a FCB1010.  The system has always synced 
rock solid.  

But, this board is getting pretty old, as it was a early version now 
fully updated.  I want to retire it to the studio while it still works 
and sounds great.  

Besides the incredible abilities of the K2K synth, there are two 
specific features that I have not been able to find equipment or 
software to replace, and they are both found in the Arrangement section 
of its sequencer.  It is the availability of both of them that has made 
this instrument indispensable to me.  

The first is the ability to set points within the arrangement that can 
be triggered via a pedal controller (in this case, an old Fatar MP-1).  

The second is the ability to set multiple infinite loop points within 
the arrangement.  These two together offer me the ability to move around 
the song at will, soloing instrumentally or vamping vocally over the 
preset loop sections, while playing linearly through verses, choruses, 
refrains, bridges, yada, yada, yada; basically arranging on the fly.

I think I can replicate most of this with Ableton Live 5, but not freely 
(only one loop point per arrangement).  

Here's where the looper content comes in.

When I insert my MOTU micro express into the MIDI chain, the Repeater 
will not longer solidly sync.  It gets close, but sooner or later swings 
+.5 to -1.3 bpm, and will not recover the downbeat.  

Not only will it not sync with the laptop, but responds the same to the 
K2K when it's clock is fed through the interface.  

 From what I've seen here and on the Repeater list, I have a relatively 
complex rig that allows me to feed the Repeater from AGtr, a Roland 
VG/GR rig &/or a mic at will.  I'd hate to lose this ability, but I 
gotta do something.

Anyone have any ideas where to look next?

I put this on the Repeater list also.  Maybe with the help of both 
groups, I can figure this out.


Dan Montgomery
music.download.com/danmontgomery
www.myspace.com/precentor