11.0

Synchronization
Synchronization is the process of getting 2 or more devices to play back together at the same
speed, position, and phase. These devices can range from audio and video tape machines to
digital audio workstations, MIDI sequencers, synchronization controllers, and digital video
devices.
If you know the position and speed for the master device, you can resolve the speed and position
of the slave device to it, so that the 2 devices play in perfect sync with one another.
Position (Time)
The following clock signals are used to specify time positions:
●
Audio word clock
Species time positions in samples.
●
Timecode
Species time positions in video frames.
● MIDI clock
Species time positions in musical bars and beats.
Speed (Clock)
The following clock signals measure the speed of a device:
● Audio word clock
Measures the sample rate.
● Timecode
Measures the frame rate.
● MIDI clock
Measures the tempo.
Phase
Phase is the alignment of the position and speed components to each other. Each pulse of the
speed component should be aligned with each measurement of the position for the most
accuracy. Each frame of timecode should be perfectly lined up with the correct sample of audio.
Put simply, phase is the very precise position of a synchronized device relative to the master
(sample accuracy).
Master and Slave
Calling one device the master and another one the slave can lead to confusion. Therefore, the
timecode relationship and the machine control relationship must be differentiated in this regard.
●
Timecode Master
The device generating position information or timecode.
●
Timecode Slave
Any device receiving the timecode and synchronizing or locking to it.
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Cubase AI 11.0.0