Reference Guide

1664
Preferences dialog
Synchronization
SONAR gives you two choices for synchronizing your audio tracks to SMPTE or MIDI Time Code:
• Trigger and Freewheel. With this option audio playback starts (or triggers) at the exact
timecode, but then the audio plays at its own internal rate. The audio can gradually drift away from
SMPTE time due to variations in the timecode signal.
• Full Chase Lock. With this option the speed of audio playback is continuously adjusted to stay
with the timecode.
• Timing Offset (msec). With this option, used for making very fine adjustments to the audio/
MIDI synchronization of your project, you can offset the audio in your project by a number of
milliseconds. A positive value delays audio by that amount. A negative value delays MIDI by
that amount.
• When SMPTE/MTC timecode is detected. This option tells SONAR what to do when it detects
SMPTE/MTC timecode. Choose from the following:
• Ask first, then switch to clock source and start. This option prompts SONAR to alert you
when it detects a SMPTE/MTC signal, asks if you want to sync to the incoming signal, and if
you respond that you do, switches the clock source and starts to receive the signal.
• Always switch the clock source and start. SONAR automatically switches to the clock
source of the incoming signal and begins to receive the signal.
• Do not switch clock source, but start if in SMPTE/MTC mode. This option automatically
syncs to the incoming signal if SONAR is in SMPTE/MTC mode.
• Never switch clock source, never start. SONAR does nothing when incoming SMPTE/
MTC timecode is detected.
• When clock source is set to SMPTE/MTC or MIDI Sync, pressing play in SONAR will. This
option tells SONAR what to do when you press play in SMPTE/MTC or MIDI Sync mode:
• Switch current clock source and start playback. Switch the clock to Audio (from SMPTE
or Sync), and start playback. This cancels SMPTE (or Sync) mode.
• Maintain current clock source and wait for timecode. Do not switch the clock (Stay in
SMPTE or Sync mode), but wait for SMPTE or Sync. The playback button remains
depressed.
Note: The final option, Never switch clock source, never start, should never be used if you
are attempting to sync to an external clock source.