- Learn

Learn Synchrony

Watch the complete workflow, from freely recorded performance to finished tempo map, or jump straight to the setup guide for your DAW.

- Walkthrough

From performance to tempo map

James Russell of Egg Audio turns a freely recorded MIDI performance into a tempo map, then refines the alignment and brings it back into the DAW.

Chapters · 8:17

- DAW setup

Get started with your DAW

Setup guides covering plugin installation, routing, recording your performance, and exporting the tempo map, for each supported DAW.

Cubase

Prerequisite: Disable “Ignore Master Track Events on Merge” in Preferences > MIDI > MIDI File.

Install and scan. Add Synchrony to your VST3 plugin folder and scan in Cubase’s Plugin Manager.
Create an instrument track. Load Synchrony as a VST instrument.
Load your score. Import the score MIDI file into Synchrony.
Record your performance. Arm the track and play your performance.
Align. Run the alignment to generate the tempo map.
Export the tempo map. Drag the tempo map directly from Synchrony into your Cubase project.

Logic Pro

Install and scan. Add Synchrony to your AU plugin folder. Logic scans automatically.
Create a software instrument track. Load Synchrony as an AU instrument.
Export your MIDI regions. Use Cmd+Alt+E. Use the Strip Silence button and tempo editor to remove unwanted data.
Load into Synchrony. Import the exported score and performance MIDI files.
Align. Run the alignment to generate the tempo map.
Export the tempo map. Drag the tempo map directly from Synchrony into your Logic session.

MIDI thru

Load your instrument on a second track, open Internal MIDI In settings, select Instrument Output > 1 Synchrony, and enable the Audition button.

Ableton Live

Install and scan. Add Synchrony to your VST3/AU plugin folder and scan in Ableton’s Preferences.
Create a MIDI track. Load Synchrony as an instrument on a MIDI track.
Export your MIDI clips. Use Cmd+Shift+E (Mac) or Ctrl+Shift+E (Windows). Note that tempo data won’t export, so adjust using Synchrony’s tempo slider or use the record feature for multi-tempo projects.
Load into Synchrony. Import the exported score and performance MIDI files.
Align. Run the alignment to generate the tempo map.
Export the tempo map. Drag the tempo map directly from Synchrony into your Ableton project.

MIDI thru

To audition instruments through Synchrony, create a second track with your instrument, set its input to your Synchrony track, set the input channel to “Synchrony”, set monitoring to “In”, and enable the Audition button in Synchrony.

Studio One

Install and scan. Add Synchrony to your VST3/AU plugin folder and scan in Studio One.
Create an instrument track. Load Synchrony as a virtual instrument.
Export your score. Option-drag your MIDI clip from the arrangement into the Files browser, then load into Synchrony.
Export your performance. Repeat for the performance clip. Adjust tempo manually or use the record feature.
Align. Run the alignment to generate the tempo map.
Export the tempo map. Drag the tempo map directly from Synchrony into your Studio One session.

Reaper

Install and scan. Add Synchrony to your VST3 plugin folder and scan in Reaper’s Preferences.
Create a track. Load Synchrony as an FX plugin on a MIDI track.
Load your score. Select a MIDI clip in your Reaper project, then press the load button in Synchrony. The notes will immediately appear in the score editor.
Load your performance. Select the performance MIDI clip and load it the same way.
Align and export. Run the alignment, then use Synchrony’s built-in Reaper integration to write the tempo map directly to your project.

- Quick reference

Colours and controls

Every control in Synchrony and what it does. Click a note colour to see what it means.

- Note colours

- Actions

SynchroniseEncodes the timing of your performance as a tempo map, written to the tempo lane.

AlignFinds the note correspondences: which note in the performance is which note in the score.

Map VelocitiesCopies each performance note’s velocity onto its matched score partner.

ResetClears the session: notes, matches and tempo.

- Edit tools

ArrowSelect, drag pitches, lasso. The default tool.

Add MatchClick a note in one editor, then its partner in the other, to pair them.

Remove MatchClick a matched note to break the pairing. Both notes stay.

MuteClick a note to exclude it from the alignment. Muting a matched note also removes its match.

- View modes

AnalysisThe inspection view. Notes wear their alignment colours; nothing can be moved.

VelocityDynamics on a blue-to-red gradient.

EditorMatch lines and the edit tools. Drag a note vertically to change its pitch.

- Editor

Sync EditorsThe editors scroll and zoom together. Click again in the app to free them.

Unsync EditorsEach editor scrolls independently; the tempo lane stays with the score.

Export Tempo MapSaves the tempo lane as a MIDI file, or writes it straight into Reaper.

- Clip panel

Load ScoreLoads a MIDI file into the reference editor.

Load PerformanceLoads a MIDI file into the performance editor.

Strip SilenceRemoves leading silence so the first note starts at zero.

RecordCaptures live MIDI. Press to start, again to stop. The button turns red while recording.

Musical TimeLays the performance out in the score’s beats.

Linear TimeLays the performance out in real seconds, as played.

AuditionPasses MIDI through to your instrument while you edit. Blue when on.

- Reference

Manual and support

The manual, common questions, compatibility details, and where to reach us.