Reference Guide

1165
SMPTE/MIDI time code synchronization
Synchronizing your gear
6. Click the MIDI - Devices page (Edit > Preferences > MIDI - Devices).
7. Make sure that your MIDI interface is highlighted in the Inputs list. If your interface also has a
Sync driver, highlight that as well, then click OK.
When SONAR is the slave, here’s how things work:
• SONAR monitors for a SMPTE/MTC signal. You are able to perform other action in SONAR while
waiting for the signal.
• Start playback on the external device. It takes about two seconds for SONAR to lock from the time
it receives time code input.
• If the time code is earlier than the start of the project (based on the time code offset), another
message (Chasing…) is displayed in the status bar. When the time code reaches the start of the
project, SONAR starts to play in sync.
• If the time code is at or after the start of the project, SONAR starts playback as soon as it locks to
the time code.
• When the external device stops (or when the time code ends), SONAR will stop.
See:
“Playing digital audio under SMPTE/MTC sync” on page 1165
“SMPTE/MTC sync and full chase lock” on page 1166
“Troubleshooting SMPTE/MTC sync” on page 1167
Playing digital audio under SMPTE/MTC sync
SONAR gives you two choices for controlling audio playback when using time SMPTE/MTC Sync:
Note: If you want SONAR to switch its clock source to SMPTE/MTC automatically when SONAR
receives a SMPTE/MTC signal, go to Edit > Preferences > Audio - Sync and Caching and
select the Always switch clock source to start option.
Option How it works
Trigger and freewheel Audio event playback is started (or triggered) at the exact time code, but then
the audio plays at its own internal rate (or freewheels). When audio freewheels,
it can gradually drift from the time code due to variations in the time code signal.
Full chase lock The speed of audio event playback is continually adjusted to stay in sync with
the time code. If the external clock drifts or changes rate, SONAR adjusts the
audio playback speed to stay in sync. This adjustment may introduce slight
pitch changes, but those changes will be negligible if the external clock is
reasonably steady.
Table 209.