Cakewalk // Documentation // CakewalkSonar // SMPTE/MIDI time code synchronization
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Synchronizing your gear ► SMPTE/MIDI time code synchronization

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 might start at 00:00:00:00, 01:00:00:00, or any other time. The material recorded on the tape usually starts anywhere from 10 seconds to several minutes after the start of the time code. Sometimes, the tape stripe starts at a time like 00:59:50:00, and the material starts 10 seconds later, at 01:00:00:00.
1.
Go to Edit > Preferences > Project - Clock.
2.
Specify the desired offset in the SMPTE/MTC Offset field. To enter an offset of 15 seconds, type 0,0,15 and hit ENTER. The SMPTE/MTC Offset value should now be 00:00:15:00 or 15 seconds.
2.
In the Control Bar’s Sync module, click the Sync Type button and choose Internal Sync or Audio Sync on the pop-up menu.
3.
Go to Edit > Preferences > Project - MIDI.
4.
Select the Transmit MTC check box (you can also click the Transmit MTC Sync button in the Sync module).
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, 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.
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 Edit > Preferences > MIDI - Devices. If you change the order of devices in this dialog box, 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 Edit > Preferences > MIDI - Devices, and the MTC ports you chose have higher numbers than what are currently highlighted in Edit > Preferences > MIDI - Devices, Sonar does not substitute new port numbers.
1.
In the Control Bar’s Sync module, click the Sync Type button and choose SMPTE Sync on the pop-up menu.
2.
Go to Edit > Preferences > Audio - Sync and Caching.
*
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.
4.
Click the Project - Clock page (Edit > Preferences > Project - Clock).
6.
Click the MIDI - Devices page (Edit > Preferences > MIDI - Devices).
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.
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