# QC not following MIDI clock **URL:** \ **Category:** Quad Cortex\ **Created:** [March 26, 2024, 11:26am UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/qc-not-following-midi-clock/13737 "2024-03-26T11:26:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Julien](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/unity.neuraldsp.com/julien/32/6127_2.png) [@Julien](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/Julien)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 11:26am UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/qc-not-following-midi-clock/13737/1 "2024-03-26T11:26:39Z")
Hi, I can’t get my QC to follow incoming midi clock. I know MIDI clock is flowing correctly through the QC as it passes it through MIDI thru to other pedals. However, the QC is on internal tap tempo and doesn’t follow the incoming MIDI clock. Also, the tap tempo LED is red (I’ve seen in videos that it could be green and blue when following MIDI clock). There aren’t many MIDI settings on the QC and I feel I’ve tried everything. Could the unit be faulty ? Any help would be greatly appreciated ! Cheers ---
**Author:** ![xush](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/unity.neuraldsp.com/xush/32/5100_2.png) [@xush](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/xush)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 4:08pm UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/qc-not-following-midi-clock/13737/2 "2024-03-26T16:08:49Z")
The Midi Thru functionality is weird on the QC, I would focus on experimenting with that setting to see if it’s causing the sync issue. However, that’ll be a problem for your other devices if that is the culprit. ---
**Author:** ![Julien](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/unity.neuraldsp.com/julien/32/6127_2.png) [@Julien](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/Julien)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 4:36pm UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/qc-not-following-midi-clock/13737/3 "2024-03-26T16:36:05Z")
Thank you for your reply. I feel like the MIDI Thru / MIDI Out works as intended : - When MIDI Thru is ON in global settings, MIDI clock is passed to the next pedals in MIDI chain, but QC cannot send MIDI CC through preset midi out option. - When MIDI Thru is OFF in global settings, it is the opposite : MIDI clock is not transmitted but I can use Preset midi out to dend CCs to pedals in the chain. That is a bit frustrating because of course I would like the best of both worlds : MIDI Clock transmitted AND send Preset MIDI Out. Anyway, my problem is more straightforward and, as I see no post on the subject here, I’m afraid of having a faulty unit. Or maybe I’m missing something obvious… : **Whatever the MIDI setting QC never syncs to external MIDI Clock** The connexions and MIDI cables seem OK as I am able to pass MIDI clock to other pedals through QC via MIDI Thru as stated above… May I ask, what is the normal LED colors for tempo ? I saw a 2022 video where it seemed like green was for internal tempo and blue for MIDI sync. On my unit, tempo LED is always red. Does that mean something ? ---
**Author:** ![sleiweke](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/unity.neuraldsp.com/sleiweke/32/2166_2.png) [@sleiweke](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/sleiweke)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 5:08pm UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/qc-not-following-midi-clock/13737/4 "2024-03-26T17:08:22Z")
@Julien It does seem like something is not right with your set up. When the tempo light flashes blue, they your QC is synced to external beat clock. I’ve never seen red. I wonder if that means there’s a midi loop happening or something like that. What do your midi settings look like on the QC? ![Screen Shot 2024-03-26 at 12.16.01 PM](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/neuraldsp/original/2X/6/62bbb999149afd7cc455c198b614cb31477b7cf5.png) ---
**Author:** ![DiffractionCircuit](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/unity.neuraldsp.com/diffractioncircuit/32/3793_2.png) [@DiffractionCircuit](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/DiffractionCircuit)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 5:45pm UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/qc-not-following-midi-clock/13737/5 "2024-03-26T17:45:28Z")
I keep a Disaster Area SmartClock Gen3 on my pedalboard along with my QC and I’ve never been able to get the QC to receive the MIDI clock. (I use the SmartClock with external Boss delay pedals on my board.) I’m away from my QC at the moment, but I’ll keep checking in on this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Julien](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/unity.neuraldsp.com/julien/32/6127_2.png) [@Julien](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/Julien)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 6:19pm UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/qc-not-following-midi-clock/13737/6 "2024-03-26T18:19:33Z")
Thanks @sleiweke ! The culprit was “Enable MIDI clock out” set to DIN. When set to OFF, LED flashes blue and QC follows external clock 🥳 To wrap this up : Set-up (only using MIDI through DIN, no USB): External MIDI Clock → QC DIN MIDI in QC DIN MIDI out/thru → External Device MIDI Thru ON + Enable MIDI Clock Out OFF : - LED flashes blue (or green if no clock received) - QC is synced to external clock - MIDI clock is transmitted to external device - Preset MIDI OUT does NOT transmit CC to external device MIDI Thru OFF + Enable MIDI Clock Out OFF : - LED flashes blue (or green if no clock received) - QC is synced to external clock - MIDI clock is NOT transmitted to external device - Preset MIDI OUT does transmit CC to external device MIDI Thru ON + Enable MIDI Clock Out DIN : - LED flashes red - QC is NOT synced to external clock (internal tap tempo) - External MIDI clock is transmitted to external device - Preset MIDI OUT does NOT transmit CC to external device MIDI Thru OFF + Enable MIDI Clock Out DIN : - LED flashes red - QC is NOT synced to external clock (internal tap tempo) - QC internal clock is transmitted to external device - Preset MIDI OUT does transmit CC to external device ---
**Author:** ![davidjlewis78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4bbf92/32.png) [@davidjlewis78](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/davidjlewis78)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2024, 5:40am UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/qc-not-following-midi-clock/13737/7 "2024-04-29T05:40:18Z")
I am having the exact experience that you are having. If MIDI Thru is on, then my delay pedal receives the MIDI Clock attached on the MIDI In on the QC, but sending Program Change messages does not work. If MIDI Thru is off, MIDI Clock does not pass through, but sending Program Change message works. My tempo light also flashes red. ---
**Author:** ![Julien](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/unity.neuraldsp.com/julien/32/6127_2.png) [@Julien](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/Julien)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2024, 8:11am UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/qc-not-following-midi-clock/13737/8 "2024-04-30T08:11:30Z")
Yes, it’s a bummer. It means that QC cannot transmit an external clock and Preset MIDI commands at the same time to MIDI devices. It would great if QC could merge incoming MIDI and internal MIDI to the OUT port. ---
**Author:** ![Julien](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/unity.neuraldsp.com/julien/32/6127_2.png) [@Julien](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/Julien)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2024, 11:10am UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/qc-not-following-midi-clock/13737/9 "2024-04-30T11:10:34Z")
Found the feature request on the forum : [Merge MIDI IN messages with QC Preset MIDI OUT when MIDI THRU is enabled](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/merge-midi-in-messages-with-qc-preset-midi-out-when-midi-thru-is-enabled/7769) It seems it is on Neural’s roadmap… ---
**Author:** ![chrismadson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dec6dc/32.png) [@chrismadson](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/chrismadson)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2024, 8:54pm UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/qc-not-following-midi-clock/13737/10 "2024-10-15T20:54:58Z")
Sorry to revive an old thread… but why not just have the QC last in the chain so everything else receives MIDI Clock first, or get a MIDI hub? Edit… the first option wouldn’t work because you want the QC to send commands. But, a hub should still work I would think? ---
**Author:** ![andycoalter](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/unity.neuraldsp.com/andycoalter/32/6115_2.png) [@andycoalter](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/andycoalter)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2024, 12:16pm UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/qc-not-following-midi-clock/13737/11 "2024-10-16T12:16:16Z")
Would using your QC and having it send midi / tempo to your other pedals work in your setup? Thats what I do. All 3 wet effects pedals I use are external to the QC and I tap tempo on the QC\* which sends to all 3 pedals if needed. \*Frustratingly - wish I could see the current tempo on the screen, and then twist the tap switch to adjust on the fly ---
**Author:** ![Julien](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/unity.neuraldsp.com/julien/32/6127_2.png) [@Julien](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/Julien)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2024, 1:39pm UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/qc-not-following-midi-clock/13737/12 "2024-10-16T13:39:24Z")
@chrismadson @andycoalter The use case is the following : I have two pedals in my QC FX loop. I want to use the QC footswitches to control midi parameters on those pedals, and still feed an external clock (that comes from a larger set-up) to the QC and to the pedals that are rhythmic based. It seems the only way to achieve this would be if QC could merge the midi messages it receives (mainly the clock) to the internal midi messages it outputs. It is not possible as of today and is the feature request linked above. ---
**Author:** ![andycoalter](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/unity.neuraldsp.com/andycoalter/32/6115_2.png) [@andycoalter](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/andycoalter)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2024, 2:09pm UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/qc-not-following-midi-clock/13737/13 "2024-10-16T14:09:33Z")
@Julien This is how I have my rig setup (kind of). All of my wet effects are in the QC’s FX loop. I have the QC buttons (D & H specifically) set up to control Program changes on my “delay” Specular Tempus pedal. Separate program changes from a Morningstar MC6 to control my “reverb” specular tempus pedal and Synesthesia. The tempo is set in the QC from the tap (and twist 😡 ) switch sent out through my midi out of the QC, into the Morningstar MC6 (which connects all 3 GFI pedals via midi cables). Theres probably an easier way to do it, but this suits my use case. Once my preset for each pedal is loaded, I can adjust parameters on the individual pedals (more mix, less decay, more modulation, more repeats, less repeats etc.) based on the room/song. Hopefully this is helpful - unless you absolutely need the external clock system, or you’re asking midi to do more complex commands than just program changes. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Phil29](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/unity.neuraldsp.com/phil29/32/7301_2.png) [@Phil29](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/Phil29)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2024, 9:31am UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/qc-not-following-midi-clock/13737/14 "2024-11-06T09:31:13Z")
I What’s the command I have to send to QC to set the bpm at 98, for example ? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![jsauer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a4c791/32.png) [@jsauer](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/jsauer)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2024, 3:57am UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/qc-not-following-midi-clock/13737/15 "2024-12-05T03:57:44Z")
Appreciate this! I just started working with the Quad and I’m also pretty new to midi. Currently I’m using the Morningstar mc6 pro to send midi to the quad. I’m planning on using it to turn on different reverb presets from a Big Sky (connected through the fx loop of the quad) while simultaneously changing programmed scenes on the quad (though I haven’t tried this yet…hoping it will work). I also like using the mc6 to switch to gig view and toggle between scene and stomp mode. I say all this to ask this; can my quad send tempo to the Big Sky if my MC6 is routed to send midi data to the quad? It seemed like you said your work around was having the quad send midi to the mc6 and then out to your other pedals. If it can’t send tempo to the big Sky, can I program the quad via midi to change presets in my Big Sky in scene mode? If the question doesn’t make sense, please disregard! ---
**Author:** ![andycoalter](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/unity.neuraldsp.com/andycoalter/32/6115_2.png) [@andycoalter](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/andycoalter)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2024, 2:28pm UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/qc-not-following-midi-clock/13737/16 "2024-12-05T14:28:57Z")
The short answer is yes. Midi out (for tempo) from the quad to BigSky. Midi in (from MC6) to the quad. I have my set up so my tempo is synced (via connection from MC6) to all 3 GFI pedals because I sometimes like to have a tremolo/reverb effect that is set to global temp in addition to the delay obviously. ---
**Author:** ![ozanerk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e68b1a/32.png) [@ozanerk](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/ozanerk)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 9:15am UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/qc-not-following-midi-clock/13737/17 "2025-10-31T09:15:09Z")
I posted a problem in another thread. Do you have such an experience? Or do I do sth wrong? I am open to suggestions. > [@Delay repeats detune when QC receives MIDI clock and sync toggle is ON](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/delay-repeats-detune-when-qc-receives-midi-clock-and-sync-toggle-is-on/12002/8): > > I send MIDI clock from Ableton Live 12 to Quad Cortex. However the TREMOLO block’s synced cycle is repeating with a small latency compared to the click/tempo of Ableton. So if I want to record a loop into Ableton with my tremolo engaged (like slicer synth preset) the slices never sit on beat , always staying a bit late as if I can never catch the beat. When I use Quad Cortex without Ableton, the green tempo line and my slices are very in sync. But with blue light of tempo synced to Ableton, slices start late. > > I guess that QC cannot receive immediate sync info and stays always late with the same amount as if all the beat info shifted a bit forward. > > A very bad problem, since this way we can never record a proper tremolo effect in absolute sync with any DAW. > > We urgently need a tons of better MIDI implementation for QC! ---
**Author:** ![ozanerk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e68b1a/32.png) [@ozanerk](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/ozanerk)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 11:07am UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/qc-not-following-midi-clock/13737/18 "2025-10-31T11:07:17Z")
As far as I explored the issue on some net forums, the problem seems to lie on the latency of Ableton’s midi clock out. It might be compensated either by overall driver error compensation on audio settings of Ableton or by individual midi clock delay compensation on MIDI settings of Ableton. I tried both separately and got convincing results. So QC receives midi clock very tight 🙂 fortunately. ---
**Author:** ![DiffractionCircuit](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/unity.neuraldsp.com/diffractioncircuit/32/3793_2.png) [@DiffractionCircuit](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/DiffractionCircuit)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 2:31pm UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/qc-not-following-midi-clock/13737/19 "2025-10-31T14:31:34Z")
MIDI sync and output clock stability can be _improved_ by lowering Ableton’s sample size (like 32 or 64 samples), but it will never be perfect. But decreasing sample size can cause audio stuttering if you’re working with a big project. It’s a combination of software and computer hardware limitations, but like you said, not necessarily the QC’s fault. ---
**Author:** ![ozanerk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e68b1a/32.png) [@ozanerk](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/ozanerk)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2025, 6:48am UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/qc-not-following-midi-clock/13737/20 "2025-11-01T06:48:59Z")
Unfortunately I have another observation. Having all delay compensations set up in Ableton, when I play the project QC’s tremolo/slice effect starts very tight on beat and seems to go flawless. However after some time (a few minutes within the song), when I try again to use my sliced preset, sync seem to be lost. So there is a shift on the clock sync from Ableton. I am not sure about whose fault this is. Either Ableton’s clock out is not consistent and deviates in time. Or QC receives it unstable. Eventually the sync drops. [Next page](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/qc-not-following-midi-clock/13737.md?page=2)