MIDI song position pointer messages

Cubase
1

Can Cubase send SPP MIDI messages?

I’ve set up MIDI synchronization and MIDI clock is working, start/stop is working, but Cubase doesn’t send Song Position Pointer messages.

I’ve hooked up the MIDI output to the MIDI-Ox utility and confirmed that no SPP messages are being sent.

It doesn’t say in the manual that it sends them, so I’m wondering if there is any way I can do it?

2

Hi,

What happens, if you enable the MIDI Clock Follows Project Position option in the Project Synchronization Setup?

2 Likes
3

I’m on Cubase 12 but here it sends Song Position Pointer messages whenever the Project Cursor is relocated or Stop is pressed.
None of the MIDI Clock preferences needs to be checked.
I also tested with MIDI-OX.

1 Like
4

Ah, I got it! I was analyzing this further, trying to answer your questions, and I discovered that it is the “Always Send Start Message” setting that disables the sending of SPP messages.

The MIDI Clock protocol has a Start message that starts the song from the beginning, and a Continue message that starts it from the Song Position Pointer.

I guess they figured if you’re going to start it from the beginning all the time, there’s no point in sending SPP messages, which makes sense.

I just didn’t take the time to understand that setting and checked it compulsively.

Thanks for the replies!

5

I honestly don’t know what the “MIDI Clock Follows Project Position” checkbox does. The Timing Clock messages don’t seem to change looking at them in MIDI-OX when I check that box versus when I don’t.