Specifications

Pro Tools Reference Guide556
Time Code Reader Offset (Sync Offset)
This field lets you set a trigger offset for incoming
MIDI Time Code (anywhere from –100000 to
+100000 samples). This allows you to create a
permanent offset to fine-tune the point at
which Pro Tools synchronizes relative to incom-
ing time code. For example, a value of –50
makes an event in Pro Tools occur 50 samples
before the same event in the incoming MIDI
Time Code. Use this to compensate for timing
differences between various SMPTE-to-MIDI
Time Code converters or analog-to-digital/digi-
tal-to-analog converters.
Preparing to Work with SMPTE
The first step when preparing to work with
SMPTE is to choose an appropriate SMPTE frame
rate. Pro Tools supports all standard SMPTE
frame rates. For a full explanation of these
SMPTE frame rates, see “SMPTE Frame Formats”
on page 543.
Determining SMPTE Frame Rate
It’s always best to determine the SMPTE frame
rate through labeling procedures or communi-
cation, but this is not always possible.
If you do not know the frame rate of a tape, the
SYNC I/O shows the incoming frame rate on its
front panel LED indicators. The SYNC I/O can-
not distinguish between 23.976 fps and 24 fps,
or between 29.97 fps and 30 fps, but they can
determine whether the incoming frame rate is
drop frame or non-drop frame. With NTSC
video, the frame rate is most likely 29.97 fps
Drop or 29.97 fps Non-Drop.
Configuring Pro Tools for
SMPTE
Synchronization and MachineControl™ system
settings are enabled in the Pro Tools Peripherals
dialog. These settings are system settings, and re-
main constant regardless of the particular ses-
sion you are working on. Configure these set-
tings before opening a session.
Other settings are configured in the Session
Setup window, such as the session timecode
rate, the Feet+Frames rate, the session start
frame, and time display format. These settings
are session-specific settings. These settings can
only be configured when a session is open.
Selecting a SMPTE Format
To choose a SMPTE format:
1 From a Pro Tools session, choose Windows >
Show Session Setup.
2 Choose a frame rate (SMPTE format) from the
Timecode Rate selector. (In Pro Tools 6.4, this
field is labeled Timecode Rate. In Pro Tools 6.2
and below, this field is labeled Frame Rate.)
3 Enter the Time Code Freewheel frames (if any)
in the designated box. See “Freewheel” on
page 555 for more information.
MachineControl is supported on TDM sys-
tems only.