Reference Guide

826
Synchronizing Your Gear
SMPTE/MIDI Time Code Synchronization
For more information about frame rate time formats, see the documentation for your time code
hardware.
Refer to the documentation for your MIDI interface or external MIDI device for additional information
about SMPTE/MTC.
To Use SONAR as the Master MTC Generator
1. Configure the clocks on each external device that you want to synchronize to receive SMPTE/
MTC. Make sure they’re connected to MIDI outputs from your computer or MIDI interface.
2. Click or on SONAR’s Sync toolbar to use the Internal or Audio clock source (to display
the Sync toolbar, use the Views > Toolbars > Sync command).
3. Use the Options > Project command to open the Project Options dialog.
4. On the Sync tab, check the Transmit MTC check box (you can also click the Transmit MTC
button on the Sync toolbar).
5. In the Frame Rate field (it’s just below the Transmit MTC check box), choose the frame rate that
your project uses (see “Frame Rates” on page 825, if necessary).
6. In the MTC Output Ports field, check off the outputs that you want to send MTC on (the outputs
your external devices are connected to).
7. Click OK.
SONAR saves your sync and MTC output port settings with your project. However, output ports are
saved by their number only, not their name. Their number is determined by the order in which they
appear in the MIDI Devices dialog under Outputs (Options > MIDI Devices command). If you
change the order of devices in this dialog, the MTC output ports in your project will retain the same
numbers, but those numbers will now refer to different outputs. Also, if you reduce the number of
highlighted outputs in the MIDI Devices dialog, and the MTC ports you chose have higher numbers
than what are currently highlighted in the MIDI Devices dialog, SONAR does not substitute new port
numbers. Also, SONAR does not send MTC if SONAR’s Tempo Ratio buttons are set to any value
other than 1.
To Configure SONAR to Sync to SMPTE/MTC
1. Click the SMPTE/MTC mode button in the Sync toolbar.
2. Select Options > Global and click on the Timecode tab.
30 frames per second non
drop-frame
30 FPS NDF Most music projects and some film in North America. This
is the best choice for any music project and should be
used unless the situation dictates otherwise.
30 frames per second drop-
frame
30 FPS DF Not a standard type of timecode, used rarely for speed
correction and transfer problems in tape based systems.
External Timecodes
Cakewalk
Setting
Description
Table 171.