\"wait for note\" misses first note?

hello, i am using pro tools to record songs that i have written on a roland mc-909. since everything is already sequenced, i want to record the midi data into pro tools, and then get audio into pro tools by sending each individual midi track to a sound module and capturing the resulting audio. i also want to enter the tempo data into the ruler, and line up my midi data with the bars and beats ruler. it would make sense for me to use "wait for note" and just hit play on my sequencer, but for some reason, when the data is recorded in the edit window, the first note is missed. i feel like i had this working properly in the past, but i am not positive. any ideas on how to make this work? eric

It's typical to include a measure of leading space in sequences on external sequencers to allow time for sync lock. Try adding a blank measure to the beginning of your sequence on the 909.

nope, if i put in a blank measure, it gets all the notes, but the first couple of notes come in before they are supposed to. this would be ok if i didn't want my midi notes to line up with the grid, but i feel like my $600 digi setup should be able to perform this task. is there a way for me to have pro tools start recording, and then trigger my mc-909? i just want my measures to line up. eric

i am still not sure how pro-tools would tell the 909 when to start. is there a command i can save to a midi track that would start the 909 at the same time, every time? that way all my tracks will line up and the bars will line up too. since i am doing loop based music, it would be advantageous. eric

If you sync them properly, when you press the play button in Pro Tools, the MC-909 should start just as if you pressed the play button on it, and it will play along following the session in Pro Tools. (keep in mind that I don't have the 909, and I'm just stating this from experience syncing other sequencing gear). Perhaps you can find someone who has the 909 here, or on one of the Roland forums to help you with a tutorial.

yeah, i monkeyed around with it for a little while, and i got it to work by setting up midi time code from pro-tools, and slaving the 909. it lined the notes up perfectly! thanks for the advice. now i just have to figure out how to sync the spdif so i can record digitally into protools. eric

There is nothing very cryptic about it, and it is covered in the Reference Guide, Chapter 15, in a section titled "Recording From a Digital Source". The Reference Guide is available as a PDF from the Windows Start menu. That is where you will find detailed instructions for "How To". Things to note:Sample rate of all pieces involved needs to match. If your external unit is set to 48kHz, then the session you are recording to should be created at 48kHz. If 44.1kHz, then 44.1 There can be only one digital clock source. Most times Pro Tools is set to clock to the external unit at least one of the units involved needs to be set to clock internally (obviously) when connecting s/pdif, you must use a 75ohm cable, not a regular RCA cable