Hi Guy,
Welcome to YamahaSynth!

Recording multiple Arp’s to an external DAW is at the deeper end of the pool for all the reasons you have stated. First, it is NOT you playing, it is the Arpeggiator. The Arpeggiator is a pre-recorded, often chord intelligent Phrase that requires musically intelligent input to start and reproduce results. No, the act of touching the MODX keyboard will not start the transport of any connected device... it means nothing to the DAW. Think about what you're asking, the DAW does NOT know if you touched a Key on your instrument. Even if it could “hear” or sense it, it simply does not have the ability to follow you. (This can and does work internally using the MODX PATTERN functions ‘KeyOn Start”).

Rather, you will want to synchronize the clocks so that the act of starting the DAW will start the clock of the synth. I do not know (and cannot offer suggestions about) Ableton. But if it is like most DAWs it prefers to be the Master clock. So let’s tackle that first.

Set the Tempo in your DAW, and make sure you are transmitting standard MIDI clock to the MODX via your MIDI connection. For example, if you are connected to the MODX via USB for MIDI, then set the MODX to slave to MIDI clock via Port 1. I don’t know Ableton, but look up how to Send MIDI clock OUT. You’ll definitely want to use Ableton Live as the conductor (Clock source) and the MODX’s clocked features and you (as player) will follow the conductor.

In the MODX
[UTILITY] > “Settings” > “MIDI I/O” > set MIDI I/O = USB (green)
Also set MIDI SYNC = MIDI

Now, the MODX will follow the Tempo as set in your DAW. It will still be your responsibility to play the keyboard in time with the tempo... this means you must control the Arps following the timing as dictated by incoming Tempo from Ableton. Most DAW will generate an audible click, w/count-in, as a reference.

The MODX Arp Phrases are pre-recorded, this means ‘start timing‘ is mission critical. If you start an Arp Phrase by playing a little bit late, the entire Phrase will be clock shifted, precisely, that amount late... throughout.

You can use the Arp Sync Quantize value to give you some help with the ‘start timing’. This will be clearer as you begin using this method. In general, when controlling Arpeggiators, you can be anything but LATE. Remember, the Arpeggiator must analyze the chord quality you are triggering BEFORE it can begin intelligently constructing the musical phrase that it outputs. If you are behind the beat (Late), you get what you deserve; ie. the wrong root note. Therefore, with Arps you learn to anticipate placing the chord ever so slightly before the downbeat. Setting the Arp Sync Quantize to a 16th note or 120 clock ticks (meaning you must hit the controlling keys within that distance before the beat) this is typically more than enough for even the clumsy musician with no sense of time.

The reason DAWs like to be Master clock is they also record and play audio... while tempo adjustment of MIDI data requires next to no CPU muscle and has no negatives, tempo adjusting audio is very CPU intensive and can result in artifacts in the audio when asked to stretch the tempo too far.

Recording one Arp to a DAW is tough enough, attempting to record multiple Arp Phrases,simultaneously is, as mentioned, out in the deeper end of the pool. It can be done, however. We suggest starting by learning to accomplish this with a single Part — then once you master this, then, and only then, attempt multiple Arps.

You’ll have to look up how to make Ableton the Master MIDI Clock...

Once you get that going, the rest is easily done.

An Alternate Method: No MIDI Jedi Knight Merit Badge necessary.
Record the Arps to the MODX Performance Recorder (easy peasy) — it’s designed to do this.
Then export the data as a .mid — you can literally drag and drop the data via your USB connection into your DAW.

Using the new PATTERN function to transfer Arps a Scene
Set KeyOn Start = On this guarantees a perfect beginning
Set LOOP = OFF during the Record, this guarantees a perfect ending

Once you have your Arps recorded in the MODX you can export them as Standard MIDI Files (.mid) to your favorite DAW

Thanks a lot!! I'll check both methods.

Regarding using the new PATTERN function, you mentioned:

you can literally drag and drop the data via your USB connection into your DAW.

How do I do that? When saving, I have only the option to save it to my USB drive. How can I drag it w/o physically connecting the USB drive to my Mac?

How do I do that? When saving, I have only the option to save it to my USB drive. How can I drag it w/o physically connecting the USB drive to my Mac?

Yes, you can SAVE each Scene 1-8 as a separate .mid file. Each Scene can be from 1 to 256 measures in length. Each can be a separate .mid file if you prefer to ‘shuttle’ them over to your computer via a USB stick. That method is good for long term storage (just to back them up individually).

To Drag and Drop data from the Performance Recorder to your DAW: MODX ver2.00 (and later)
Create your Pattern Scenes
Touch “Edit/Job”
Touch “Chain”
Create a Pattern Chain — this is a playback order for your different Scenes; you are, basically, creating a linear structure by telling each Scene at what measure to start playing. The first column is the Measure #, the second column the Scene to be played, (1-8, End). The End command tells the Chain to Stop. (Notice a Scene will play as many measures as you let it... That is, say you set the Record Length to 8 measures for Scene 1, when constructing you CHAIN, you might want this to play two and one half times (20 Measures)... you would set it to start at measure 1, Scene1... then at measure 21 set Scene2.

When you have the Play Order you desire, tap “Convert to Song”
This will place your data in an empty (linear) Song location. It also will appear in the [UTILITY] > “Contents” > “Data Utility” > SONG Folder. Hint: give it a Name

On your computer (connected via USB cable) open MODX CONNECT*
Bring it ONLINE
Click on “Song Import” — the current contents of your Song Folder will each appear as an icon.
Drag and drop that icon to Measure 1 of an empty MIDI Track in your DAW

Again I don’t know Ableton, but this is a .mid file... all DAWs can import .mid file data.
Example, in Cubase you would set the Preferences > MIDI > MIDI FILE > “Import Option” so that this action would assign each Channel to its own MIDI Track.

Recording Arps to the internal Recorder makes recording things like Arps so very easy and ensures your timing, and it avoids having to synchronize Clocks, setting Master/Slave, etc., etc.

*MODX CONNECT is utility software that can be run as a standalone application, or as a plug-in in any VST3 compatible DAW.
Download it from the Official MODX Download Page

How do I delete/erase/clear a recorded pattern?

From the Pattern screen tap the “Edit/Job” box
Touch “Track” > “Clear” > Set the option boxes to what you want to clear... if you wish to Clear the entire Pattern set both option to “ALL” and then execute. The Pattern will report ‘no data’ after all data is removed.

Alternate Method:
When data has been recorded to the Pattern (you will see a solid white box next to each Part that has data indicating that its Track has info), you can simply hit the Record button, set “Record Type” = Replace. “Replace” recording will wipe out previous data and allow you to lay down new data in its place. This works on a Scene-by-Scene basis in Pattern.

Thank you!

So I just got my new MPC One standalone hardware. It supports multitimbral MIDI record/playback. So I wanted to record multitimbral performance with arps but I can't make it synched to clock. MODX Connect obviously isn't the solution as I'm not using a computer. I tried configuring the MPC as the master clock or the MODX but it didn't help. Also tried recording the arps to MIDI on/off and it didn't help either. Still arps are not synched.

Any suggestions?

It is not clear what you want to accomplish. Are you recording the Arps to the MPC?
The Arps play from the MODX, what do you gain recording them as Midi to the MPC?
You can “paint” the MODX Arps from your Performance to the MODX Sequencer, then saving them as a .mid file, you can load them into the MPC.

It is not clear what or why you want to do this? But setting up SYNC is easy — in either direction.

If you want to use the MPC as master clock:
Connect a 5-pin MIDI cable from the MPC MIDI Out to the MODX MIDI In
In the MODX, go to [UTILITY] > “Settings” > “MIDI I/O” > set the MIDI I/O = MIDI (green)
Set the MIDI SYNC = MIDI
Make appropriate setting in the MPC to send MIDI Clock

If you want to use the MODX as master clock:
Connect a 5-pin MIDI cable from the MODX MIDI Out to the MPC MIDI In
In the MODX, go to [UTILITY] > “Settings” > “MIDI I/O” > set MIDI I/O = MIDI (green)
Set the MIDI SYNC = Internal
Make appropriate setting in the MPC to slave to MIDI Clock

Choose which one you want to be the master clock. Choose the routine above to set this up. This will ensure the two devices are synchronized EXCEPT for the human factor. You. Say you make the MPC the master clock...

Now, the MODX will follow the Tempo as set in your MPC. But it will still be your responsibility to play the keyboard in time with the tempo... this means you must control the Arps following the timing as dictated by incoming Tempo from the MPC. Use the MPC’s click, w/count-in, as a timing reference.

The MODX Arp Phrases are pre-recorded, this means ‘start timing‘ is mission critical. If you start an Arp Phrase by playing a little bit late, the entire Phrase will be clock shifted, precisely, that amount late... throughout. They’re in Sync alright, but if YOU miss the downbeat, it will NOT sound good!

Arpeggios do not start when you press an On button. The Arp On button ‘arms’ the Arpeggiator, you must trigger them by pressing notes designated on the Keyboard (you can set a note limit and velocity limit for these trigger/Control keys. The Arp Phrases are pre-recorded data — and much like two turntables, sync’ing them is very much a real-time skill. It one is a little off from the other they both can be 120bpm, but sound like chaos when offset. In you miss the downbeat, they are in sync but out of time.

You can use the Arp Sync Quantize value to give you some help with the ‘start timing’. This will be clearer as you begin using this method. In general, when controlling Arpeggiators, you can be anything but LATE. Remember, the Arpeggiator must analyze the chord quality you are triggering BEFORE it can begin intelligently constructing the musical phrase that it outputs. If you are behind the beat (Late), you get what you deserve; ie. the wrong root note and bad timing. Therefore, with Arps you learn to anticipate placing the chord ever so slightly before the downbeat. Setting the Arp Sync Quantize to a 16th note or 120 clock ticks (meaning you must hit the controlling keys within that distance before the beat) this is typically more than enough for even the clumsy musician with no sense of time.

Extra Credit:
The MODX is specifically designed to record its own Arpeggiators (8 of them) and it can do them all simultaneously with not complex setups or synchronization issue. You can then save the MODX Sequencer as a .mid file

Sorry, I don’t know the MPC but if it can load a .mid file that would be the quickest, easiest, and most efficient way to move data from the MODX to the MPC.

AGAIN: An Alternate Method: No MIDI Jedi Knight Merit Badge necessary.
Record the Arps to the MODX Performance Recorder (easy peasy) — it’s designed to do this.
Then export the data as a .mid — you can save them to a USB stick and move them over easily.

Using the new PATTERN function to transfer Arps to Pattern Scenes
Each Scene can hold from 1 to 256 Measures. There are 8 Scenes per Pattern (128 Patterns)
Set “KeyOn Start” = ON this guarantees a perfect beginning
Set “LOOP” = OFF during the Record, this guarantees a perfect ending

Once you have your Arps recorded in the MODX Pattern Sequencer you can export them as Standard MIDI Files (.mid) to your MPC

Thanks for the very detailed answer.

Yes, I would like to record the arps to MPC and use it as my main sequencer. I plan to add additional tracks coming from MPC and produce everything in MPC.
I couldn't succeed in syncing the MODX. I followed your instructions any try both MPC/MODX as the master. I even made sure that the chord I'm sending from MPC (editing after recording) is on the 1.1.1 beat and still MODX has some significant latency playing the arps.
exporting the pattern midi via MODX connect and importing it to MPC results in a perfectly synced midi but this requires me to use a computer.

I'm not sure if it matters or not - but MPC shows the start of a sequence as 0:0:0:0. This is going by the a FAQ for the Live - but I gather config is similar as the manual is the same for Live vs. One.

The MPC has lots of options for MIDI clock send. MIDI Clock or MTC. And then there's options to send (or not) out each port (1-4).