Sync Setup - MOTU Digital Performer on the same computer
About DAW Sync
To play video in sync with Digital Performer, Video Sync needs a way to follow the Digital Performer transport - knowing when it plays, stops, and where the playhead is located at any moment. This connection between Video Sync and Digital Performer is called DAW sync.
About This Configuration
This chapter covers setting up MOTU Digital Performer on the same computer as Video Sync using virtual MIDI ports for MTC (MIDI Timecode) synchronization.
Note: The following explanation and screenshots are related to Digital Performer version 10.13, but the steps will be similar for other versions.
Understanding MTC and MMC
In a standard configuration, two MIDI-based protocols 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 the DAW (such as clicking in the timeline or using markers), MMC sends locate commands to update Video Sync's position without requiring playback.
Digital Performer uses a bespoke MTC implementation that combines both functions on a single port - transmitting continuous timecode during playback and positional updates when navigating. This means both playback sync and scrubbing work through the MTC port alone, without requiring a separate MMC port.
Setup
Video Sync features virtual MIDI ports, which mostly removes the need to create network MIDI sessions in Audio MIDI Setup in order to connect to Digital Performer 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 Digital Performer.
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For this reason, it is advised to always launch Video Sync before launching Digital Performer. Failure to do so, may cause some of these settings to be reset to default - such that they need to be re-configured in MOTU Digital Performer® again.
Note: If Digital Performer does not reconnect to the virtual ports automatically when Video Sync is opened after Digital Performer, it may be better to consider setting up ports via Audio MIDI Setup on the same computer.
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 all the ports are set to their default values Video Sync MTC In (virtual) & Video Sync MMC In (virtual) as per the image below:
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Digital Performer MTC (MIDI Timecode) Setup
Open the Preferences and in the Play And Record secion of the list on the left, click on the Transmit Sync menu.
Set the Transmit MTC to option to Video Sync MTC In (virtual).
Click the Done button at the bottom of the window.
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To change the timecode frame rate, either use the dropdown Frame Rate menu in the main control bar; or go to Setup → Frame Rate.
To change the start timecode of the Sequence, go to Project → Sequences → Set Chunk Start Time.
Digital Performer MMC (MIDI Machine Control) Setup
There is no need to set up MMC separately with Digital Performer, as it sends MMC style positioning information using a bespoke implementation of MIDI Timecode (MTC).
Note: However, positional information is only sent from Digital Performer when scrub mode is not engaged.
Matching Frame Rates
For MTC sync to work correctly, the Digital Performer 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 Digital Performer project is set to the same frame rate as the Video Sync timeline.
Enabling Synchronised playback
When hitting play or scrubbing within Digital Performer, 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 Digital Performer® 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 Digital Performer project frame rate to half the timeline frame rate. For example:
- 48fps timeline → set Digital Performer to 24fps
- 50fps timeline → set Digital Performer to 25fps
- 60fps timeline → set Digital Performer 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 Digital Performer
- Check that the correct MTC port is selected in Digital Performer's synchronization/MIDI settings
- Ensure Video Sync was launched before Digital Performer 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 Digital Performer session starts at 01:00:00:00 but the Video Sync timeline starts at 10:00:00:00, playback will not begin until Digital Performer reaches 10:00:00:00
If playback is jumpy or frames are being skipped:
- This is often caused by mismatched frame rates between Digital Performer 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.