Reference Guide

822
Synchronizing Your Gear
MIDI Synchronization
When you start playback on the master MIDI device, for example, it sends a Start message to all
slave devices, announcing that playback has started. If the slave devices are set up correctly, they
receive the message and start playing back with the master device. When SONAR is set up as the
master device, you can enable or disable these messages.
See:
SONAR as the Slave
SONAR as the Master
Using MIDI Sync with Drum Machines
Troubleshooting MIDI Sync
SONAR as the Slave
When SONAR is slaved to an external MIDI device, the following changes occur:
• When you click the Play or Record button, a message (Waiting for MIDI Sync) is displayed in the
status bar. When you start your external device, SONAR will follow.
• If you change the tempo using an external device, the SMPTE time code display in SONAR will
be incorrect.
• SONAR will not transmit MIDI Start, Continue, Stop, and Clock messages.
• Digital audio will play back, but not necessarily in sync.
To Use MIDI Sync with SONAR as the Slave
1. Configure the external MIDI device you want to use as the master device to transmit MIDI Sync.
2. Configure external slave devices to receive MIDI Sync.
3. Choose Options > MIDI Devices to display the MIDI Devices dialog box.
4. Make sure that your MIDI interface is highlighted in the Inputs list, and click OK.
5. Click on the Sync toolbar to use the MIDI Sync clock source.
Continue This message tells slave devices to continue playing from the current
location in the currently loaded sequence.
Song Position Pointer (SPP) This message tells slave devices to change the current location to the
designated point in the project. SONAR normally issues an SPP message
immediately prior to any Start or Continue message.
Clock The master sends clock messages to each slave device at the rate of 24 per
quarter note. The slave devices use these messages to establish the tempo
and stay in sync.
Message How it is used
Table 169.