Reference Guide

824
Synchronizing Your Gear
SMPTE/MIDI Time Code Synchronization
7. In the MIDI Sync Output Ports field, check off the output ports that you want to send the sync
signal out of.
8. Click OK.
From now on, the transport controls in SONAR control playback on the external MIDI devices.
Using MIDI Sync with Drum Machines
The most flexible way to use a MIDI drum machine is to record the notes it generates into SONAR,
then use that machine as a MIDI playback device. This lets you edit, cut, paste, and copy your drum
parts like any other clip. You can use MIDI Sync to record the notes from the drum machine into
SONAR as follows:
1. Use the drum machine’s pattern-composing facilities to compose your drum part.
2. Configure the drum machine to be a slave device that receives MIDI Sync messages.
3. Configure SONAR to send MIDI Stop/Start/Continue/SPP messages.
4. Record the drum part from SONAR. The drum machine starts automatically when recording
begins and stops automatically when you press Stop.
5. Switch the drum machine out of MIDI Sync mode so that it acts simply as a sound-producing
module.
Troubleshooting MIDI Sync
If you experience problems with MIDI Sync when SONAR is the master device, verify that your
external devices are configured correctly to respond to MIDI Sync. Most devices have a Clock
option that should be set to External or MIDI.
If SONAR does not respond to MIDI Sync as a slave device, verify that your external devices are
configured correctly to transmit MIDI Sync. Remember that only one external device can be used as
the master clock source.
SMPTE/MIDI Time Code Synchronization
SMPTE/MIDI Time Code Sync (SMPTE/MTC) is another method of synchronization that lets
SONAR act as a master or slave to external devices. SONAR can send or receive SMPTE/MTC
messages to or from external devices that can generate or receive MTC. SONAR can send MTC on
multiple output ports simultaneously.
SMPTE/MTC is a position and timing reference that indicates the current location in the project and
how quickly the project should be playing. Time code labels the position in a project in hours,
minutes, seconds, and frames. The speed of playback is indicated by a frame rate.
Time code is recorded onto tape using a device called a time code generator. The process of
recording a time code signal onto a track is called striping. Normally, the start of a tape stripe has a
particular time, expressed in hours, minutes, seconds, and frames. For example, the tape stripe