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Video Sync 6 - Knowledge Base

Sync Setup - Apple Logic Pro on a separate computer

Introduction

The following explanation and screenshots are related to Logic Pro version 11, but the steps will be similar for other versions.

The easiest way to provide Video Sync with incoming MTC/MMC data from another computer, is to setup a network MIDI connection using Apple's built-in Audio MIDI Setup tool to transmit all the MIDI data between the two computers. It is usually not necessary to buy a separate MIDI interface and cables to connect the MTC sending and receiving computers, although a cabled MIDI connection can be used if preferable. Since MIDI was developed in the 80s, it has a really low data rate. Therefore it should not be a problem to use network MIDI in a Wi-Fi environment.

A cabled ethernet network connection is the preferred method for reliability.

The following instructions assume that you have two Apple Macs: one with Video Sync; the other with Logic Pro.

Although not listed as a separate DAW Sync Setup Option, this Network MIDI setup incidentally also works flawlessly with Video Sync on the same computer.

If the Logic Pro computer is a PC, rtpMIDI is a free PC equivalent to Apple's network MIDI implementation. Download & setup instructions can be found here: http://www.tobias-erichsen.de/software/rtpmidi.html

Our thanks to Tobias Erichsen for this invaluable tool.

rtpMIDI Settings Window{width=80%}

Configuring Audio MIDI Setup on the Logic Pro computer to send MTC & MMC over the Network

On the Logic Pro computer, go to Applications > Utilities & open Audio MIDI Setup. The MIDI Network Setup window should appear:

MIDI Network Setup Overview{width=80%}

If the window is not shown, select Window > Show MIDI Studio & then from the MIDI Studio menu that appears, select Open MIDI Network Setup.

In older versions of Audio MIDI Setup where this option is not present, it can accessed by double-clicking the Network device icon in the default MIDI Studio window.

Audio MIDI Setup - MIDI Studio Window{width=80%}

In the My Sessions field top left, create a new session by clicking +.

Click the checkbox to the left of the name to enable the session.

Rename it (computer 1 name) MTC/MMC Send (or something similar) - e.g. MacProHDX MTC/MMC Send This name will automatically be copied to the Local name field.

The Local name is the name that appears on this local computer.

Copy this name & paste it in the Bonjour name field.

The Bonjour name is the name that is displayed on the other computers in the network.

Although a session can be used in either input or output directions, to avoid confusion it is recommended to stick to one direction by noting this in the session name, e.g. Send or Out.

MTC & MMC do not require separate Network sessions made for each - they can share the same session.

Set the Port: field to 5004.

Select Anyone in the Who may connect to me dropbox on the bottom left.

MIDI Network Setup - Send Session created{width=80%}

Configuration is complete for the Logic Pro computer. This should not need to be set up again in future.

Configuring Audio MIDI Setup on the Video Sync computer to receive Network MTC & MMC

On the Video Sync computer, close Video Sync & open Audio MIDI Setup. Open the MIDI Network Setup window as described above. The Logic Pro computer should be visible in the Directory field - showing (computer 1 name) MTC/MMC Send with a green active circle to the left.

Created session as seen from another system on the network{width=80%}

In the My Sessions field top left, create a new session by clicking +.

Click the checkbox to the left of the name to enable the session.

Rename it (computer 2 name) MTC/MMC Receive (or something very similar)- eg MacbookPro MTC/MMC Receive.

This name will automatically be copied to the Local name field.

Copy this name & paste it in the Bonjour name field.

Set the Port: field to 5006.

Select Anyone in the Who may connect to me: selection field on the bottom left.

Send and receive sessions ready to connect{width=80%}

Connecting the Network MTC/MMC Sessions

Now that the two Sessions have been created, the next step is to connect them.

The steps until this point should not need to be done again in future. The following simple steps to connect only need to be done once every time the computers are restarted.

With the (computer 2 name) MTC/MMC Receive session selected in the My Sessions box, select (computer 1 name) MTC/MMC Send in the Directory field, and hit the Connect button.

(computer 1 name) MTC/MMC Send should now appear in the Participants: field on the right.

Send and receive sessions connected{width=80%}

Regardless of which computer is chosen to Connect, only one of the computers needs to connect to establish the connection.

On the Logic Pro computer, (computer 2 name) MTC/MMC Receive should now also be seen in the Participants: window.

Connected sessions as seen from the other machine{width=80%}

If the (computer 2 name) MTC/MMC Receive session does not show up in the Directory list, try re-launch Audio-MIDI-Setup.

Video Sync MTC / MMC Setup

Launch Video Sync.

If Video Sync was open already, use the "Rescan Available MIDI Ports" button in the SYNC preferences.

To show the MIDI I/O options in Video Sync, first navigate to the SYNC tab of the Preferences window.

Set the Sync Source field to *Other

Next, select Network (computer 2 name) MTC/MMC Receive in both the MTC In & MMC In fields, as per the image below:.

Video Sync's SYNC Preferences{width=70%}

Logic Pro Network MTC (MIDI Timecode) Setup

With a project opened, go to File > Project Settings > Synchronization > MIDI tab

Logic Pro - Synchronization{width=80%}

In the first unused row, select (computer 2 name) MTC/MMC Receive (in our example named Network Macbook MTC/MMC Receive) & enable MTC.

For versions of Logic Pro prior to version 11, this window appears differently - with the same corresponding settings.

Enable the Transmit MTC checkbox and select (computer 2 name) MTC/MMC Receive (in our example named Network Macbook MTC/MMC Receive) from the dropdown menu underneath.

Ensure that the option Listen to MIDI Machine Control (MMC) Input is not enabled.

Logic Pro - Synchronization{width=80%}

Logic Pro Network MMC (MIDI Machine Control) Setup

Still in File > Project Settings > Synchronization > MIDI tab, in the first unused row, select (computer 2 name) MTC/MMC Receive (in our example named Network Macbook MTC/MMC Receive) & enable MMC.

Logic Pro - Synchronization{width=80%}

For network MIDI or ipMIDI, it is possible to use the same port for both MTC and MMC, so check both boxes in the same line.

For versions of Logic Pro prior to version 11, this window appears differently - with the same corresponding Transmit MMC setting enabled as follows:

Logic Pro - Synchronization{width=80%}

Enabling Synchronised playback

When hitting play or scrubbing within Logic Pro, both the incoming timecode field should now be seen incrementing & the timecode rate displayed within the Incoming TC section to the left of the main timecode counter in Video Sync.

Video Sync's SYNC Preference showing incoming timecode{width=70%}

If the Sync button to the left of the transport buttons isn't already blue, click on it to activate it to follow external sync.

Video Sync sync online button{width=40%}

Video Sync MTC/MMC sync is now online & ready to go. Hit play in Logic Pro and Video Sync will play back in sync.

Dealing with MTC sync with high frame rate content

Video Sync allows for synchronised playback of clips running at up to 60 frames per second. Being a standard from the 80s, MIDI timecode (MTC) does not support frame rates higher than 30 frames per second. To be able to play timelines with these high frame rate clips in sync to MTC, Video Sync will try to match the incoming TC at half the frame rate. For example, if the timeline has a 50fps clip, Video Sync will play it in sync if a 25fps MTC source is supplied.

In the timeline list, the timeline frame rate is shown here:

Timeline Frame Rate Display{width=60%}