Find out how to use MIDI to clock the arpeggiator of your synthesiser using Kenton MIDI to CV converters
Kenton’s MIDI to CV converters will allow you to use the MIDI Clock to clock the arpeggiator on your synth if it has an External Clock socket. Examples of synths with an external clock socket include:
- Korg MonoPoly
- Roland Juno-6, Juno-60, Jupiter-4, Jupiter-8, SH-101
Which Products do I need?
The following MIDI converters all have clock outputs, so can be used to clock your synth’s arpeggiator:
- Pro Solo Mk3
- USB Solo (not currently available)
- Modular Solo (not currently available)
- Pro-2000 MkII (not currently available)
- Pro-DCB Mk3
- Pro-KADI MkII
The following discontinued products can also be used to clock your synth’s arpeggiator:
- Pro Solo Mk I and II
- Pro 2
- Pro 4
You will need 1 x 3.5mm to 1/4″ jack lead or 3.5mm to 3.5mm mono jack lead to connect the converter to the External Clock In socket on your synth. Some common synths are listed below:
| Synthesiser | Socket | Lead required |
| Korg MonoPoly | ARPEGGIO TRIG IN | 3.5mm to 1/4″ mono jack lead |
| Roland Juno-6 | ARPEGGIO CLOCK IN | 3.5mm to 1/4″ mono jack lead |
| Roland Juno-60 | ARPEGGIO CLOCK IN | 3.5mm to 1/4″ mono jack lead |
| Roland Jupiter-4 | EXT CLOCK IN | 3.5mm to 1/4″ mono jack lead |
| Roland Jupiter-8 | ARPEGGIO CLOCK | 3.5mm to 1/4″ mono jack lead |
| Roland SH-101 | EXT CLK IN | 3.5mm to 1/4″ mono jack lead |
Connecting the MIDI converter
Use the following output on your MIDI converter:
| MIDI Converter | Output |
|---|---|
| Pro Solo Mk3 | Aux 2 or Aux 3 |
| USB Solo | Aux 3 |
| Modular Solo | Clock 1 or Clock 2 |
| Pro-2000 MkI and II | Clock Out |
| Pro-DCB Mk3 | Clock Out |
| Pro-KADI MkII | Clock Out |
| Pro Solo MkI (in sync mode) | Aux |
| Pro Solo MkII | Aux 1 (Clock) |
| Pro 2 | Arp Clock |
| Pro 4 | Clock |
MIDI Converter settings
You will need to set the Clock Divide Ratio, Clock Polarity and Continue = Start parameters on the MIDI Converter.
The MIDI Clock runs at 24ppqn (pulses per quarter note). Your synth will play one note per pulse, so you will need to set the Clock Divide Ratio to play notes at your desired speed (see table at bottom of this page).
Clock Polarity should be set to positive or negative, depending on your synthesiser’s requirements. Some of our converters have a dedicated polarity setting, others use Maximum and Minimum Values to set the polarity.
Continue = Start should be set based on how your sequencer sends start messages. Some sequencers, rather than sending a MIDI Clock Start message, send a Song Position Pointer = 0 message followed by Continue. When turned off, Continue messages will only be treated as Start if immediately preceded by a Song Position Pointer = 0 message.
The table below explains which parameters to set on your MIDI Converter:
| MIDI Converter | Parameter | Korg MonoPoly | Roland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pro Solo Mk3 using Aux2 | P30 – Aux 2 Controller | [CL1] Clock Divider 1 or [CL2] Clock Divider 2 | [CL1] Clock Divider 1 or [CL2] Clock Divider 2 |
| P31 – Aux 2 Minimum Value | 50 | 0 (default) | |
| P32 – Aux 2 Maximum Value | 0 | 50 | |
| P60 – Clock 1 Divide Ratio or P70 – Clock 1 Divide Ratio | Set to appropriate ratio – see table below | Set to appropriate ratio – see table below | |
| P92 – Continue = Start | On (default) or Off | On (default) or Off | |
| Pro Solo Mk3 using Aux3 | P40 – Aux 3 Controller | [CL1] Clock Divider 1 or [CL2] Clock Divider 2 | [CL1] Clock Divider 1 or [CL2] Clock Divider 2 |
| P41 – Aux 3 Minimum Value | 50 | 0 (default) | |
| P42 – Aux 3 Maximum Value | 0 | 50 | |
| P60 – Clock 1 Divide Ratio or P70 – Clock 2 Divide Ratio | Set to appropriate ratio – see table below | Set to appropriate ratio – see table below | |
| P92 – Continue = Start | On (default) or Off | On (default) or Off | |
| USB Solo | P44 – Aux 3 Controller | [CL i] Timing Clock (inverted) | [CLK] Timing Clock |
| P41 – Clock Divide Ratio | Set to appropriate ratio – see table below | Set to appropriate ratio – see table below | |
| P92 – Continue = Start | On (default on later verions) or Off | On (default on later verions) or Off | |
| Modular Solo | P70 – Clock1 type or P80 – Clock2 type | [cLi] Clock inverted | [cLn] Clock normal |
| P71 – Clock 1 Divide Ratio or P81 – Clock 2 Divide Ratio | Set to appropriate ratio – see table below | Set to appropriate ratio – see table below | |
| P73 – Clock1 voltage or P83 – Clock2 voltage | [ 05] +5v output | [ 05] +5v output | |
| Pro-2000 | SYNC Clock Divide | Set to appropriate ratio – see table below | Set to appropriate ratio – see table below |
| SYNC CLOCK Polarity | -ve | +ve (default) | |
| SYNC MIDI CLOCK Continue | Start or Ignored (default) | Start or Ignored (default) | |
| Pro-DCB Mk3 | b – Clock Divide Ratio | Set to appropriate ratio – see table below | Set to appropriate ratio – see table below |
| C – Positive / Negative edge clock pulse | Negative | Positive (default) | |
| D – Continue = start | On (default) or Off | On (default) or Off | |
| Pro-KADI Mk I and II | b – Clock Divide Ratio | Set to appropriate ratio – see table below | Set to appropriate ratio – see table below |
| C – Positive / Negative edge clock pulse | Negative | Positive (default) | |
| D – Continue = start | On (default) or Off | On (default) or Off | |
| Pro Solo MkI (in sync mode) | K – Clock Divide Ratio | Set to appropriate ratio – see table below | Set to appropriate ratio – see table below |
| L – Positive / Negative edge clock pulse | [Nv] Negative | [Pv] Positive (default) | |
| N – Continue = start | On (default) or Off | On (default) or Off | |
| Pro Solo MkII | 20 – Aux 1 controller number | [Cl] Clock | [Cl] Clock |
| 21 – Aux 1 minimum value | 50 | 0 (default) | |
| 22 – Aux 1 maximum value | 0 | 50 | |
| 40 – Continue = start | On (default) or Off | On (default) or Off | |
| 41 – Clock divide ratio | Set to appropriate ratio – see table below | Set to appropriate ratio – see table below | |
| Pro 2 | ARP CLOCK DIVIDE | N/A | Set to appropriate ratio – see table below |
| CONTINUE = START | N/A | On (default) or Off | |
| Pro 4 | SYNC > ARPEGGIO Clock Divide | Set to appropriate ratio – see table below | Set to appropriate ratio – see table below |
| SYNC > ARPEGGIO | Inverted | Normal (default) | |
| SYNC > MIDI CLOCK Continue | is ignored (default) or = start | is ignored (default) or = start |
The following table describes how to set the clock divide ratio to achieve your desired speed:
| Note Length | Divide Ratio | PPQN |
|---|---|---|
| Crotchets (quarter note) | 24 | 1 |
| Crotchet triplets | 16 | |
| Quavers (8th note) | 12 | 2 |
| Quaver triplets | 8 | |
| Semiquaver (16th note) | 6 | 4 |
| Semiquaver triplets | 4 | 6 |
| Demisemiquavers (32nd note) | 3 | 8 |
| Demisemiquaver triplets | 2 | 12 |
Solving MIDI Clock Problems
If you have issues with clocking the arpeggiator, please refer the troubleshooting guide here: Solving MIDI clock problems.
