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Synchronizing your MPC with Cubase 3 and Nuendo 3

mpc cubase nuendo
MPC5000 / MPC2500 as Master, Cubase / Nuendo as Slave

Use a MIDI cable to connect an available MIDI OUT of your MPC (such as MIDI Out A) to an available MIDI IN of your MIDI interface.

Using MIDI Time Code (MTC) & MIDI Machine Control (MMC):

In Cubase 3 / Nuendo 3:
  1. Navigate to Transport > Sync Setup…
  2. Under "MIDI Machine Control Settings," enable MMC Active.
  3. For "MMC Input." choose the MIDI Device port to which you connected your MPC.
  4. For "MMC Device ID," choose "All."
  5. Under "Timecode Source," choose "MIDI Timecode."
  6. Under "MIDI Timecode Source," choose the MIDI IN device port to which you connected your MPC.
  7. Press "OK."
  8. Enable External Sync by choosing Transport > Use External Sync or you can press the Sync option in the Transport Panel. To view Transport Panel, press F2 or choose Transport > Transport Panel.
On the MPC5000 / MPC2500:
  1. Go to the MIDI/Sync menu.
  2. Set "Sync Out" to the MIDI output port on the MPC into which you have plugged your MIDI cable (e.g., "SyncOut: A (Master)").
  3. Set "Mode" to "MIDI Time Code." Set "Frame Rate" to "30." (Note: Do not use "30D" which is a drop-sync and is intended for video equipment.)
  4. Set "Send MMC" to "ON."
  5. Press play or Play Start on the MPC and Cubase / Nuendo should now be playing in-sync to the MPC.

Cubase / Nuendo as Master, MPC5000 / MPC2500 as Slave

Connect a MIDI cable from an available MIDI OUT of your MIDI interface to an available MIDI IN on your MPC.

Using MIDI Time Code (MTC) & MIDI Machine Control (MMC):

On MPC5000 / 2500:
  1. Go to the MIDI/Sync menu.
  2. Set "Sync In" to the corresponding MIDI input port on the MPC.
  3. Set "Mode" to "MIDI Time Code."
  4. Set the Tempo of the MPC sequence to match that of your Cubase/Nuendo session.
In Cubase 3 / Nuendo 3:
  1. Navigate to Transport > Sync Setup…
  2. Under "MIDI Machine Control Settings," enable MMC Active.
  3. For "MMC Output," choose the MIDI Device port to which you connected your MPC.
  4. For "MMC Device ID," choose "All."
  5. Under "MIDI Timecode Out," enable the device port for your MIDI interface to which you have connected the MIDI IN of your MPC.
  6. Enable "MIDI Timecode Follows Project Time."
  7. Press "OK."
  8. Press Play. The MPC will now play in-sync with Cubase/Nuendo. (Using a pre-count is recommended.)

Using MIDI Beat Clock & MMC:

On the MPC5000 / MPC2500:
  1. Go to the MIDI/Sync menu.
  2. Set "Sync In" to the corresponding MIDI input port on the MPC.
  3. Set "Mode" to "MIDI Clock."
  4. Set to "Receive MMC: ON."
In Cubase 3 / Nuendo 3:
  1. Navigate to Transport > Sync Setup…
  2. Under "MIDI Machine Control Settings," enable "MMC Active."
  3. For "MMC Output," choose the MIDI Device port to which you connected your MPC.
  4. For "MMC Device ID," choose "All."
  5. Under "MIDI Clock Out," enable the device port for your MIDI interface to which you have connected the MIDI IN of your MPC.
  6. Enable "MIDI Clock Follows Project Position."
  7. Press "OK."
  8. Press Play. The MPC will now play in-sync with Cubase/Nuendo. (Using a pre-count is highly recommended with Beat Clock sync.)

mpc cubase nuendoCubase / Nuendo as Master, MPC1000 / MPC500 as Slave

Connect a MIDI cable from an available MIDI OUT of your MIDI interface to an available MIDI IN on your MPC.

Using MIDI Beat Clock & MMC:

On the MPC500:
  1. Go to the MIDI/Sync menu.
  2. Press Mode + PAD 7.
  3. Turn the data wheel to display "Sync."
  4. Press the DOWN cursor.
  5. Use the data wheel to change the sync mode to "Slave."
On the MPC1000:
  1. Go to the MIDI/Sync Menu
  2. Press Mode + PAD 9.
  3. Sync [F2].
  4. Sync In: 1 or 2 (wichever MIDI input you plugged your MIDI cable into).
  5. Sync Out: Off.
In Cubase 3 / Nuendo 3:
  1. Navigate to Transport > Sync Setup…
  2. Under "MIDI Machine Control Settings," enable "MMC Active."
  3. For "MMC Output," choose the MIDI Device port to which you connected your MPC.
  4. For "MMC Device ID," choose "All."
  5. Under "MIDI Clock Out," enable the device port for your MIDI interface to which you have connected the MIDI IN of your MPC.
  6. Enable "MIDI Clock Follows Project Position."
  7. Press "OK."
  8. Press Play. The MPC will now play in-sync with Cubase/Nuendo. (Using a pre-count is highly recommended with Beat Clock sync.)
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