Troubleshooting SMPTE/MTC sync

The most common problems with SMPTE/MTC Sync, and ways to correct or avoid them, are shown in the following table.

 

Problem	What to do
The tape is striped incorrectly	Check the tape stripe using your time code generator and, if necessary, restripe the tape.
The MIDI interface isn’t producing MIDI Time Code	Use utility programs that come with your MIDI interface to make sure that the time code stripe is being received (sometimes you must enable a Time Code Sync option). Check the MIDI interface settings to make sure that MIDI Time Code is being generated.
The frame rate is set incorrectly	The frame rate on the stripe must match the frame rate you set in SONAR.
The offset is set incorrectly	The offset you enter in SONAR must match the start time of recorded material on the tape.
SONAR is not configured correctly	Verify and/or repeat the steps in To configure SONAR to sync to SMPTE/MTC.
Audio playback drifts out of sync with the tape	Enable the Full Chase Lock option, which keeps audio from freewheeling.
SONAR continues playing for up to one full second after the time code stops	Some time code readers tolerate dropouts of up to one second, without affecting playback. When you stop the tape deck, it takes a full second for the reader to realize that this isn’t merely a dropout and to signal the end of the time code to SONAR. This does not indicate any problem with time code sync.

No MTC sync within 1 minute of midnight roll-over

SONAR will not sync to MTC within one minute of roll-over (1 minute before midnight; 23:59:00:00 - 23:59:59:xx). To address this, use a SMPTE offset that doesn't require you to trigger the midnight roll-over.