Sim'n Tonic Forums

Hi, guys.

So, I've got a Nome II on the way and I want to already have the cords and cables I need so I can use it right away. I'm in the middle of mixing a beat, and the slight timing issue is a splinter that I can't get out. I make my beats on Reason 13 and mix them in Pro Tools. Reason wasn't listed as one of the compatible DAWs in the manual (though after reading some of the other questions and responses, I'm confident it'll be fine), so the option to do the beat in Reason and then import the MIDI to Pro Tools is there. I looked and the jacks on the Nome II and couldn't come up with the concise way to connect it past the USB connection to power it on. I know it said the USB also communicates to the computer. For my purposes, can I stop there or will I need a DIN connection as well?

I use an Akai MPK machine as my MIDI controller that plugs directly into the computer (Mac) via USB, but I also have an audio interface with one MIDI in/out port and no USB connection available where I get my monitor output. I also have a granddaddy Casio keyboard that's MIDI compatible using DIN cables, so I have two sets of the old school MIDI cables.

Hi

Old school MIDI cables - yes that's what you need.

Anything that is not plugged in the Nome (using either the MIDI or ANLG outputs) will not get the clock from the Nome, and therefore its timing will be the same as it is now. And please note that the Nome is a clock - only sends Clock on time with the DAW. You can get it to "forward" MIDI Notes but their timing will be unchanged, same as if you were using the MIDI output on your current interface.

To sync with Reason you could either sync Reason to the Nome over USB-MIDI - try that first if it is precise enough, or you could use the audio sync track method, i.e. sending an audio sync track to the Nome (that requires dedicating an audio output from your interface for sync).

Simon

I'm confused. You say the Nome is only a clock. So it's not going to record with close to perfect precision timing? DAWS already have a clock. I was under the assumption this would make the sequencer in my DAW record with pinpoint precision on the grid.

GodsMirror wrote: ↑09 Sep 2025, 08:02 So it's not going to record with close to perfect precision timing?

The Nome does not record anything, it only sends a clock precisely in time with the DAW, with a latency that you can adjust easily (forwards or backwards).

Then your machines receive that clock, and use it to generate the audio that is recorded by the DAW. They do that using either their internal sequencer or arppegiator. Because the clock is stable, precise, non-jittery, and its latency can be adjusted (unlike your DAW's clock), you can adjust it so those recordings fall exactly on the grid of your DAW.

Bet. Thanks.