Sync Setup - Apple Logic Pro on the same computer

About DAW Sync

To play video in sync with Logic Pro, Video Sync needs a way to follow the Logic Pro transport - knowing when it plays, stops, and where the playhead is located at any moment. This connection between Video Sync and Logic Pro is called DAW sync.

About This Configuration

This chapter covers setting up DAW sync with Apple Logic Pro running on the same computer as Video Sync. The setup uses virtual MIDI ports to establish MTC (MIDI Timecode) and MMC (MIDI Machine Control) connections between the two applications.

Note: The following explanation and screenshots are related to Logic Pro version 10.4.5, but the steps will be similar for other versions.

Understanding MTC and MMC

This chapter covers setting up two MIDI-based protocols that work together to provide synchronised playback:

MTC (MIDI Timecode) transmits a continuous stream of timecode on a dedicated MIDI port during playback, allowing Video Sync to track the current position and play at the correct speed.

MMC (MIDI Machine Control) sends transport commands and locate messages on a separate dedicated MIDI port. When navigating to a specific timecode position in Logic Pro (such as clicking in the timeline or using markers), MMC sends locate commands to update Video Sync's position without requiring playback.

Setup

Video Sync features virtual MIDI ports, which can be used to connect to Logic Pro on the same computer. When Video Sync is launched, it will create virtual MIDI ports named Video Sync MTC In, Video Sync MMC In & Video Sync Trigger In - which will automatically be pre-selected in Video Sync, & visible in Logic Pro. These ports are deleted again when Video Sync is closed.

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The port connections are saved with each Logic Pro project, & restored when a project is loaded again. However, they will need to be set up again each time a new Logic Pro project is created.

Video Sync MTC / MMC Setup

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

Set the Sync Source field to Other.

Next, make sure that the MTC In field is set to Video Sync MTC In (virtual), and the MMC In field is set to Video Sync MMC In (virtual). Unless they have previously been changed, these fields should already be set to these values by default.

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Logic Pro MTC (MIDI Timecode) Setup

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

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In the first unused row, select Video Sync MTC In (virtual) & 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 Video Sync MTC In (virtual) from the dropdown menu underneath.

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Logic Pro MMC (MIDI Machine Control) Setup

Still in File → Project Settings → Synchronization → MIDI tab, in the first unused row, select Video Sync MTC In (virtual) & enable MMC.

Enable to option Transmit MIDI Machine Control (MMC).

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

Note: Logic Pro has a limitation in its MIDI Machine Control implementation where it does not transmit timecode position updates when dragging regions in the timeline. As a result, Video Sync will not receive positional information during region dragging operations, and the video position will not update until playback begins or another MMC locate command is sent.

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For versions of Logic Pro prior to version 10.4.5, this window appears differently - with the same corresponding Transmit MMC setting enabled as follows:

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Matching Frame Rates

For MTC sync to work correctly, the Logic Pro project frame rate must match the timeline frame rate in Video Sync.

In the TIMELINES tab, locate the active timeline and check its frame rate in the summary section. If video is present on the timeline, the frame rate is derived from the video file. If no video is present, the frame rate can be set manually by clicking the pencil icon next to the timeline name and selecting the required frame rate from the TC Frame Rate menu.

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Ensure your Logic Pro project is set to the same frame rate as the Video Sync timeline.

Enabling Synchronised playback

When hitting play or scrubbing within Logic, 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.

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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.

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

High Frame Rate Content

Video Sync supports timelines running at up to 60 frames per second. However, MTC was designed around SMPTE broadcast standards and only supports frame rates up to 30fps (24, 25, 29.97, and 30). The specification has never been updated to include higher frame rates.

To sync high frame rate timelines via MTC, set the Logic Pro project frame rate to half the timeline frame rate. For example:

• 48fps timeline → set Logic Pro to 24fps
• 50fps timeline → set Logic Pro to 25fps
• 60fps timeline → set Logic Pro to 30fps

Video Sync will automatically match the incoming timecode at half its frame rate.

Troubleshooting

If incoming timecode is not showing in Video Sync:

• Check that MTC generation is enabled in Logic Pro
• Check that the correct MTC port is selected in Logic Pro's synchronization/MIDI settings
• Ensure Video Sync was launched before Logic Pro so the virtual ports are available (if using virtual ports)

If incoming timecode is showing but playback is not syncing:

• Ensure the Sync button is enabled (blue) in Video Sync
• Check that frame rates match (see Matching Frame Rates above)
• Check that timecode ranges match - if the Logic Pro session starts at 01:00:00:00 but the Video Sync timeline starts at 10:00:00:00, playback will not begin until Logic Pro reaches 10:00:00:00

If Video Sync's position only updates during playback but not when navigating in Logic Pro:

• This indicates an issue with MMC (MIDI Machine Control) setup
• Check that the correct MMC port is selected in Video Sync
• Check that MMC is enabled and configured correctly in Logic Pro

If playback is jumpy or frames are being skipped:

• This is often caused by mismatched frame rates between Logic Pro and Video Sync - ensure both are set to the same frame rate (see Matching Frame Rates above)
• Try increasing the TC Freewheel value in Preferences → MISC. This defines a number of freewheel frames to keep playback running through unexpected timecode values. Note that higher values will make Video Sync less responsive to external timecode changes.

If synchronised playback still does not work after following these steps, please contact support@non-lethal-applications.com.