Reference Guide

1081
Synchronization overview
Synchronizing your gear
The Sync module contains the following controls:
• SMPTE/MTC format. Select the time code format. The following frame rates are supported:
• 24 frames per second (FPS). Used for theatrical film worldwide. Any film in North America
or Japan uses this setting.
• 25 FPS. Used for PAL/SECAM video and some film in countries that use 50 Hz wall
electricity. This is the setting to use when synchronizing to any European video format.
• 29.97 FPS Drop. NTSC broadcast and long format video in North America and Japan. This
setting synchronizes the video perfectly with SONAR, but the sequencer position displayed in
the Now Time and Big Time displays will gradually drift and become incorrect over long periods
of time. The audio and MIDI synchronization to the external device will not be affected by this
discrepancy.
• 29.97 FPS Non Drop. NTSC non-broadcast and short length video in North America and
Japan. Used for some music projects. This setting synchronizes the video perfectly with
SONAR, but the sequencer position displayed in the Now Time and Big Time displays will
gradually drift and become incorrect over long periods of time. The audio and MIDI
synchronization to the external device will not be affected by this discrepancy.
• 30 FPS Drop. Not a standard type of timecode, used rarely for speed correction and transfer
problems in tape based systems.
• 30 FPS Non Drop. 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.
• Incoming timecode. Shows the current time of incoming time code when synchronizing to an
external device.
• Sync type. Select the sync type; right-click to show synchronization settings. The following sync
types are supported:
• Internal Sync. Timing is determined by the clock on the computer motherboard.
• MIDI Sync. Timing is determined by the clock on an external MIDI device.
• SMPTE/MTC Sync. Timing is determined by a time code signal (in SMPTE or some other
format) recorded on some external medium or generated and sent by SONAR.
• Audio Sync. Timing is determined by the clock on the computer’s audio interface.
• Transmit MIDI Sync . Transmit MIDI Sync to external MIDI devices, such as drum
machines, stand-alone MIDI hardware sequencers, and sequencers built into MIDI keyboards
(only available when using the Internal or Audio clock). SONAR sends messages to all other
devices to start and stop playback and to keep all the devices in sync. SONAR can send MIDI
Sync on multiple MIDI output ports. For details, see “MIDI synchronization” on page 1083.
• Transmit MTC Sync . Transmit MIDI Time Code (MTC) to external devices that can receive
MTC. SMPTE/MTC is a position and timing reference that indicates the current location in the
project and how quickly the project should be playing. SMPTE/MTC time code labels the position
in a project in hours, minutes, seconds, and frames. The speed of playback is indicated by a
frame rate. SONAR can send MTC on multiple output ports simultaneously. For details, see
“SMPTE/MIDI time code synchronization” on page 1086.