There's nothing worse than sitting down for a music making session only to have it turn into a tech debugging session. Even if it's a successful one and the bugs get fixed, any time taken away from actual creative pursuits due to tech reasons makes me batty. Whether it's tracking down the source of a loud buzz, hunting down a missing manual, or spending time trying to figure out how to make machines play well together, there are many, many times I feel like my music making hobby is actually more of a tech troubleshooting hobby, the main product being utter frustration. Synchronization of electronic instruments is perhaps the most hair tearing of them all. Try as I might to minimize these aspects of electronic music making, they still find a way in, which is why any time an easy solution to any of these types of problems presents itself, I grab on and never let go.
We positively reviewed Circuit Happy's Missing Link Jr. (Waveform, Issue 11), their tabletop device that connects your DAW to devices via Ableton Link and were very pleased with its plug and play with ease along with its web editing capabilities. Still, with my workflow being more modular than tabletop device based, I knew even then that a module version would work better for me and was excited to review their new Eurorack module, ML:2m. The updated version of the ML:2, at only 2HP, ML:2m is still small, retains the ease of use as its predecessor, and has some very cool additions/updates. Since it's a module and always in my case, it's one less thing I need to think about if I'm traveling with my setup. And with the addition of the MIDI out on this version, ML:2m is a small, all-in-one sync situation solution that works as easily and as well as you could want.
There are, of course, various modules that can support Ableton/module/device clocking/integration, but I'm not sure there are any that safely perform the process the way that ML:2m does. If you are recording, performing, or just experimenting for your own hoo-ha, you want to make sure the connection between DAW and modular is stable, secure, easy, and can continue uninterrupted. ML:2m does this by providing the ability to create your own Wi-Fi access point to hook up to so that you are never at the mercy of a bad, intermittent, or downright cheap internet connection. Create your own network with ML:2m (via a 2.54 Wi-Fi GHz connection), connect to it, and you're good. I don't even bother with an external Wi-Fi connection (even though ML:2m lets you connect this way as well), and as long as my DAW and rig aren't too far—away like three houses down—I've never had a problem.
There are minimal controls on ML:2m, all of which light up for easy visibility, even in a dark space. There's a Wi-Fi indicator that signals your connectivity status, a Play/Pause button, +/- buttons (for adjusting tempo), and a Tap Tempo button. Long pressing the Tap button gains entrance to the secondary function of the +/- buttons, which adjust a Shuffle level. Since there's no screen on ML:2m, most of the inner tweaking takes place in Circuit Happy's web-based Control Panel app. Since you're probably using a computer anyway, this works great. As for outputs, there are two configurable ones, A&B, which, like with the initial ML:2 module, you can use to clock other devices/modules. With configurable PPQN settings, Trigger Reset for each loop, using at Loop Start or Stop, and also settings for DIN-Sync style Run/Stop Gate functionality, L:2m is versatile. ML:2m also has the ability to sync to MIDI devices by changing into MIDI Mode, and using a stereo to dual mono cable for Output A to split the signal into CV clock and reset. This is a great new feature that allows even more platforms to the party, and if you're just taking a basic clock from ML:2m to go into your sequencer or Pam's or something like that, then you're able to sync up your MIDI devices, your Elektron workforce, an external sequencer, 808 clone, or whatever, as well. It's a pretty seamless workflow, and effective as well, with minimal cabling and setup.
Part of testing something like this is to create problems, in this case to see how far the connection will stretch while still being musically useful, and so I planted ML:2m in my basement rig (sitting conveniently next to my Pamela's New Workout) and ran Ableton on my laptop, moving it around. First, I moved my computer to the far end of the room about 20 feet away, an easy first test. Then I moved my laptop upstairs, and finally outside in the backyard. I had to employ a helper and use a walkie-talkie system to make sure start/stop were still happening—it was a little too hard to tell if there were any latency issues, even though we cranked everything and strained to hear each—and I was impressed by the connection.
How tight was the synchronization? That is the main issue/question, and testing this by layering a MIDI snare hit in Ableton with a kick on Modbap's Trinity, and listening for any lag (adjusting the snare length in Ableton to match the kick length), for any over or underlap, and there was a little bit, signaling that the syncing needed adjustment. ML:2m has safeguards if there is any sort of timing issue when clocking, using delay compensation, and adding (or subtracting, really) a value of -22 in the latency box (via the browser app) and the syncing was perfect. Changing tempo on either Ableton or by tapping the tempo on ML:2m was instant, and the syncing remained solid as well. Actually, all changes; PPQN settings, trigger length settings, etc., all happened nearly instantaneously and remained solid quickly and eternally, with settings saved in the web browser system.
Even if you don't use Ableton or another Link-enabled DAW or device (there are over 200 such products that can use Link), ML:2m can be used as a clock generator module and can still connect wirelessly with other Missing Link connected devices. When we reviewed the Junior, we had two sent to us and it made wireless jamming a breeze, using three small Eurorack rigs, a drum machine, a Korg sequencer, a Sequential Pro 3 running an arpeggio and two laptops. I actually think this is where the whole line of Missing Link's strong core resides: in the ability to make interdisciplinary jamming without long cable runs easy and enjoyable.
There's a recently released "Rhythm Explorer" firmware, which has more options for the output, and by selecting either Free or Euclidean, both A and B outputs can be stylized for your enjoyment with the number of Steps, Pulses, Rotation, Chance, and Jitter as options for both outs. Along with the Loop Size/Beat setting in the app, you now have a configurable rhythm generator that's fun to play with. Paired with the Winter Plankton's ZAPS (Waveform, Issue 12), the rhythms could go from standard to, indeed, exploratory. Most of the time I use ML:2m as more of a gateway from my DAW to my modular and don't necessarily need this kind of functionality from it, but maybe it hints at some of the future plans for the Missing Link family, and for sure you can see the ways it can evolve. Either way, the new mode is a nice addition and fun to mess around with.
Price: $249

circuithappy.com