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In brief: Bento can receive MIDI Clock and transport from another device, or send its own clock and Start/Stop messages to external gear. An External track can play an outside instrument and mix its audio return through Bento. Bento also accepts MIDI CC to control Bento parameters and can record some parameter changes as sequence automation. The v1.3.17b manual does not document arbitrary MIDI CC automation output to an external synthesizer or native sidechain compression, so those jobs require a separately routed DAW or hardware setup.
What Bento can and cannot synchronize
The 1010music Bento v1.3.17b User Manual, dated December 19, 2025, describes two-way synchronization over MIDI System Real-Time messages. In the manual’s words: “Bento can synchronize with other instruments over MIDI by receiving and sending MIDI System Real-Time messages.” That covers MIDI Clock, Start, Stop and transport-following behavior; it is not the same as audio sidechain processing or unrestricted synth automation.
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| Task | Documented Bento behavior | Important boundary |
|---|---|---|
| Follow another device’s tempo | Receive MIDI Clock and transport at Bento’s MIDI input | The external source must send the required Start and Clock messages. |
| Drive another device | Send MIDI Clock from both Bento MIDI outputs, with Start/Stop during transport operation | The manual says there is no setting to disable clock output. |
| Play an external instrument | Use an External track to send MIDI notes on a selected output port and channel | Set the destination instrument to the matching MIDI channel and connect compatible cables. |
| Mix the instrument’s sound | Route the instrument’s audio output into Bento and process it in Bento’s mixer and effects | Audio input routing and connector formats must match your hardware. |
| Control Bento with MIDI CC | Incoming CC messages control documented Bento track parameters | This does not establish arbitrary CC output to an external synthesizer. |
| Native sidechain compression | Not documented in the current v1.3.17b manual | Use an external compressor or DAW routing if your equipment supports a sidechain input. |
Choose the clock master before connecting anything
Decide which device owns tempo and transport. A single clear master prevents two devices from sending competing clocks. The right choice depends on whether you want a DAW, Bento or another hardware sequencer to start the entire performance.
Use an external sequencer or drum machine as master
Choose this when the other device contains the arrangement or must determine tempo. Connect its MIDI output to Bento’s MIDI input. Bento follows the incoming tempo after it receives MIDI Start followed by MIDI Clock. Starting the external transport starts Bento; stopping it stops Bento. Bento also forwards received clock messages to both of its MIDI output ports, allowing downstream devices to follow the same source.
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Use Bento as master
Choose this when Bento is the performance hub. Connect one Bento MIDI output to the target instrument, sequencer or effects device’s MIDI input. Bento sends MIDI Clock from both MIDI output ports and sends Start/Stop messages as you operate its transport. Because the manual documents no option to turn clock transmission off, every device connected to those outputs must either tolerate Bento’s clock or be isolated with suitable MIDI routing hardware.
Use a DAW as master
Set the DAW to send MIDI Clock to Bento, select Bento as the destination, and configure the MIDI input channels used by Bento tracks. Start playback in the DAW. Bento synchronizes automatically and can record or play its sequences while synchronized. The DAW remains the tempo and transport authority; Bento supplies sounds, tracks or external-instrument routing inside that synchronized performance.
| Clock-master choice | Best fit | Check before the session |
|---|---|---|
| External hardware | A hardware-centered arrangement in which another sequencer owns tempo | Confirm it sends MIDI Start and Clock, not just note data. |
| Bento | Pad-based performance and Bento-led transport | Remember that both MIDI outputs transmit clock and that output cannot be disabled in the documented settings. |
| DAW | Song timelines, recording and software instruments | Enable MIDI Clock output to Bento and select the correct input channels. |
Make Bento follow external MIDI Clock
- Identify the source output. Use the MIDI output on the device that will own tempo. Check whether it uses 5-pin DIN, TRS MIDI, USB MIDI or another connector, and use the cable or interface specified for both devices. Connector shape alone does not prove electrical compatibility.
- Connect source output to Bento MIDI input. Keep the direction correct: output from the clock master goes to Bento’s input. If an interface or patch bay is involved, verify that it passes System Real-Time messages.
- Prepare Bento tracks. Set the MIDI input channels required by your tracks if you will also play notes or controllers from the source. Clock itself is global; note and controller routing still depends on the track channel configuration.
- Start the source transport. Bento starts when it receives MIDI Start followed by MIDI Clock. If the source is already running before the cable is connected, stop it and start again so Bento receives the complete transport sequence.
- Verify timing. Confirm that Bento’s sequences start with the external transport and that the tempo changes when the source tempo changes. Bento forwards the received clock to both MIDI outputs, so connected downstream devices should receive the same timing.
If Bento does not start
- Confirm the source is sending MIDI Clock and transport, not only MIDI notes.
- Stop and restart the source after making the connection; a running source may not resend MIDI Start.
- Check MIDI direction and channel/interface configuration.
- Temporarily disconnect downstream devices to determine whether a routing device is filtering System Real-Time messages.
- Check for a second clock master. Two active clock sources can produce unstable or confusing behavior.
Send Bento’s clock and transport to other gear
- Connect a Bento MIDI output to the destination MIDI input. Choose the output port that physically reaches the target. If several devices must follow Bento, use the second output or a proper MIDI thru/routing device rather than assuming an ordinary splitter will preserve signal integrity.
- Set the destination to external MIDI synchronization. The exact menu differs by instrument or sequencer. Disable its internal clock only if its manual requires that for external sync; otherwise it may ignore Bento or fight the incoming tempo.
- Set Bento’s tempo and pattern. Bento transmits MIDI Clock from both outputs while its transport operates.
- Press Play or Stop on Bento. Bento sends the corresponding Start or Stop message with transport operation. The receiving device should begin and halt in step with Bento.
- Test every destination independently. Some devices follow clock but do not respond to transport, while others require a particular synchronization mode. Confirm the behavior with the device’s own documentation.
The non-disableable clock limitation
The v1.3.17b manual states that Bento has no setting to disable MIDI Clock output. This matters when one output feeds a device that must run independently, use its own tempo or receive only notes. Use separate MIDI routing, a filter that removes System Real-Time messages, or a different physical path where appropriate. Do not expect a Bento preference to suppress clock while retaining transport.
Use an External track to play and mix an instrument
An External track combines MIDI note output with an audio return. Bento sends the notes; the outside instrument generates the sound; Bento receives and mixes that sound. This is the documented route for integrating a synthesizer, sampler or other MIDI sound module.
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- Create an External track. Add the track type intended for an outside instrument rather than an internal Bento sound source.
- Select the MIDI output port and channel. Match the track’s output port to the cable-connected Bento MIDI output and set the channel to the receiving instrument’s channel. If the instrument is in omni mode, a deliberate channel assignment is still preferable for a multi-device rig.
- Connect MIDI. Run the selected Bento output to the instrument’s MIDI input. Check the connector standard and direction for the particular gear.
- Connect audio back to Bento. Run the instrument’s audio output to a compatible Bento audio input. Stereo instruments need two appropriate inputs if you want stereo; a mono connection will not preserve a stereo return.
- Configure the External track’s audio input routing. Select the input or input pair carrying the instrument. Without this step Bento can send notes successfully while the mixer receives silence.
- Play the track. Trigger pads, send notes into Bento from a controller or external sequencer, or run a sequence. The External track passes those notes to the selected instrument.
- Monitor the return. Watch Bento’s MIDI Signal indicator while playing, listen for the instrument and check the audio level meter. Once the return is present, Bento’s mixer and effects can process it like the routed audio source.
Using a controller or another sequencer
The manual also describes MIDI controllers and external sequencers sending notes into Bento tracks. Those tracks can then pass the notes through an External track to the outside instrument. This lets a controller play the instrument through Bento’s routing, while Bento remains the place where the audio return is mixed.
When MIDI works but audio does not
- A flashing MIDI Signal indicator confirms note activity, not an audio connection.
- Check that the instrument is producing sound at the selected program and volume.
- Verify that the instrument’s audio output, not a headphone-only or digital-only socket, is connected to the input format Bento expects.
- Recheck the External track’s audio input assignment and Bento mixer level.
- Test with a simple sustained note before troubleshooting effects or automation.
Understand Bento automation and MIDI CC correctly
“Automation” covers several different operations in this setup. Separating them prevents a working control path from being mistaken for a feature Bento does not document.
| Control type | Direction | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| MIDI notes | Bento to external instrument | Plays the instrument through an External track on its selected port and channel. |
| Incoming MIDI CC | Controller or sequencer to Bento | Controls documented Bento track parameters. |
| Sequence automation | Recorded inside Bento sequences | Some Bento parameter changes can be captured and replayed as part of a sequence. |
| External-track CC mapping | Incoming CC to Bento’s External track | Controls the Bento track’s mute, level, pan and send parameters; it is not proof of synth CC output. |
| Arbitrary synth CC automation | Bento to external synthesizer | Not established by the v1.3.17b manual’s documented MIDI output workflow. |
Documented CC mappings for an External track
The manual lists a narrow set of CC numbers for controlling Bento’s External track:
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- CC 7: level
- CC 10: pan
- CC 91: reverb send
- CC 92: delay send
These messages adjust Bento’s track and mixer behavior when received. They should not be described as a general-purpose lane that writes any MIDI CC to the synthesizer connected after Bento. If you need to sweep a filter cutoff, resonance or another synth-specific controller, use a controller, sequencer or DAW path that is explicitly capable of sending that CC to the synth, or route around Bento as required by your hardware.
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Sequence automation versus continuous DAW lanes
Bento can record some parameter changes as sequence automation. That is useful for repeating Bento’s own level, pan, mute or effect-send moves with a pattern. It is different from a DAW automation lane that targets arbitrary external MIDI destinations. Keep the destination in mind: a recorded Bento parameter belongs to Bento’s sequence; it does not automatically become an outbound controller stream for every instrument connected to an External track.
Loop-track control
Loop tracks can be triggered and stopped with MIDI notes, and MIDI velocity or controller data can affect documented loop parameters. This is valuable for arrangement changes and performance gestures. It remains arrangement control inside Bento, not evidence of unrestricted continuous CC automation to an external synth.
Sidechain compression: what the manual actually establishes
The official v1.3.17b manual contains no match for “sidechain.” It documents mixer controls and reverb/delay sends, but it does not document a native sidechain-compressor input, detector source or ducking mode. Therefore Bento should not be presented as having built-in kick-triggered sidechain compression.
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Workaround with a DAW
- Send the kick or trigger signal to a DAW track used solely as the compressor’s sidechain key.
- Route the Bento return audio to another DAW track or bus.
- Insert a compressor that supports an external sidechain input on the Bento-audio track.
- Select the kick/key track as the detector source and adjust threshold, ratio, attack, release and makeup gain.
- Keep the Bento audio return and key signal on separate, compatible routes so the key does not accidentally become part of the audible mix.
The exact menus, latency and routing depend on the DAW and audio interface. Bento remains the source or mixer for the external instrument; the DAW performs the ducking.
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Workaround with an external compressor
An external compressor can perform the same job if it has a suitable sidechain input and your interface or mixer can provide a separate key signal. Route the external instrument’s audio through the compressor’s main path and send the kick or trigger to its sidechain input. Hardware requirements vary: some compressors expect a dedicated sidechain connector, while others need an insert or mixer send. Verify those requirements for the specific unit before buying cables or rewiring a live rig.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Wiring and compatibility checklist
Do not infer a cable specification from the word “MIDI” or from the Bento product name. Before connecting, check each device’s actual connector and signal direction.
- MIDI direction: source MIDI Out goes to destination MIDI In. A MIDI In-to-In or Out-to-Out connection cannot carry the intended data.
- Connector standard: verify 5-pin DIN, TRS MIDI type, USB MIDI or another format on both ends, including any required adapter or interface.
- Audio direction: instrument audio Out goes to a Bento audio In or to the DAW/interface input that will carry the return.
- Channel count: use two compatible inputs for stereo returns; use one for a deliberate mono return.
- Clock path: ensure the routing device passes MIDI System Real-Time messages, including Start, Stop and Clock.
- Independent devices: isolate gear that must not receive Bento’s always-on clock stream with appropriate filtering or routing.
- Monitoring: avoid monitoring the same return through multiple paths, which can create an audible delay or comb filtering.
Troubleshoot a complete Bento rig
Bento follows tempo but starts late or not at all
Restart the clock master so Bento receives MIDI Start before Clock. Confirm the source is not configured to send clock only while ignoring transport. Check that no second master is connected and that any MIDI router forwards System Real-Time messages.
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The destination receives notes but not synchronization
Notes and clock are separate message types. Confirm the destination is set to external MIDI sync and that the cable is connected to the Bento output that is transmitting. If the destination requires a dedicated sync mode, select it according to that device’s documentation.
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The instrument responds to clock but plays the wrong sound
Check the External track’s MIDI channel, the instrument’s receive channel and its selected program. A correct clock connection does not select the desired patch or guarantee that note data is routed to the intended part.
MIDI Signal appears, but the return is silent
Follow the signal chain in order: instrument sound and volume, audio cable from output to input, Bento audio-input assignment, External track level and master monitoring. A MIDI indicator proves that notes are moving; it does not prove that audio is returning.
External synth parameters do not move with Bento automation
Check whether the message is an incoming CC mapped to Bento or an intended outbound CC for the synth. Bento’s documented External-track mappings control Bento’s mute, level, pan, reverb send and delay send. For synth-specific CC output, insert a controller, sequencer or DAW that explicitly sends that controller data to the synth.
Clock reaches a device that should run independently
Bento has no documented clock-output disable setting. Disconnect that destination from the clock path, use a MIDI filter or router that blocks System Real-Time messages, or give the independent device its own isolated MIDI connection.
A practical setup order
For a first session, build the system in small, testable stages rather than connecting every cable at once.
- Choose one clock master and connect only its MIDI clock path to Bento.
- Start and stop transport to verify synchronization.
- Add the External track and test MIDI notes with the instrument’s own audio output.
- Connect the audio return and confirm Bento’s MIDI indicator, input meter and audible signal.
- Add downstream MIDI destinations and verify that they follow the selected clock.
- Use documented incoming CC mappings for Bento track control.
- Only then add DAW or hardware sidechain routing, keeping the detector signal separate from the audible return.
This order makes it clear whether a fault is caused by transport, note routing, audio routing, controller mapping or compression hardware instead of treating the entire rig as one unexplained failure.
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