Apple Logic Pro X - Manual (Page 874)

Chapter 25 Preferences, project settings, and key commands 874
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Frame Rate pop-up menu: Defines the frame rate (in fps, frames per second), which applies to
both transmitted and received timecode.
Note: In drop frame formats, certain frames are left out. (This follows a regular pattern.) To
distinguish between formats, those without dropped frames are sometimes referred to as NDF
or non–drop frame.
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24 fps: Film, high definition video
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25 fps: PAL video/television broadcasts
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30 fps (drop frame): NTSC video/television broadcast; rarely used
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30 fps: High definition video; early black-and-white NTSC video; an older rate that is rarely
used today
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29.97 fps (drop frame): NTSC video/television broadcasts
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29.97 fps: Standard definition NTSC
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23.976 fps: 24 fps running at 99.9%, which facilitates easier transfer of film to NTSC video
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“Auto detect format of MTC” checkbox: When selected (recommended), the incoming timecode
is analyzed and the correct frame rate set automatically.
Note that it’s not possible to automatically distinguish between the 29.97 and 30 fps MTC
frame rates:
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The MTC standard does not allow a distinction.
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A measured rate of 30 fps could also be 29.97 fps timecode running too fast, and vice versa.
Logic Pro automatically interprets frame rates of “approximately 30 fps” as either 29.97 (drop
frame) or 30 fps (non-drop frame), depending on whether or not the drop frame format
is used. This interpretation will usually be correct, because these two formats are used as
a standard.
The “Auto detect format of MTC” option only switches to 29.97 (drop frame) or 30 fps (non-
drop frame) if one of the other conventional formats was previously set. If you want to
synchronize Logic Pro to one of these nonconventional frame rates, you need to define the
format manually. This setting will not be altered by the “Auto detect format of MTC” function.
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Validate MTC pop-up menu: Specifies how often Logic Pro checks for incoming timecode, in
order to ensure synchronization integrity. In general, you should leave this option on the
“always” setting.
There are some devices that generate timecode pulses that may require a specific number of
frames to be set, in order to maintain synchronization. The “never, Jam Sync” setting basically
sets Logic Pro to freewheel if the synchronization signal is lost. In other words, Logic Pro will
run on its own internal clock (at the most recently received tempo) if the synchronization
pulse is lost. This approach ensures that recording will continue, even if the incoming timing
pulse fails.
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Bar Position plays at SMPTE value fields: Defines the SMPTE offset for the project. As songs don’t
always need to start precisely at bar 1, you can select any bar position to be played at the set
SMPTE time.
The default is Bar Position: 1 1 1 1 plays as SMPTE 01:00:00:00.
The SMPTE offset of 01:00:00:00 (one hour) is normally used, because it allows you to pre-roll
an amount of timecode.
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Enable Separate SMPTE View Offset checkbox: Shows the absolute time from the start of the
project in the time display, rather than the actual SMPTE time.