External Synchronization

To activate external synchronization, do one of the following:

  • Select Transport > Activate External Sync.

  • Select Transport > Project Synchronization Setup, and on the Sources page, activate Activate External Sync.

  • Transport commands are routed to the machine control destination output as specified in the Project Synchronization Setup dialog.

    Locate, play, stop, and record commands will now be sent to an external device.

  • Cubase awaits incoming timecode from the chosen timecode source defined in the Project Synchronization Setup dialog in order to play.

    Cubase will detect incoming timecode, locate to its current position, and start playback in sync with the incoming timecode.

In a typical scenario, an external tape machine, such as a VTR, has its timecode output connected to Cubase. Cubase is sending machine control commands to the deck. When Activate External Sync is activated and you click Start on the Transport panel, a play command is sent to the VTR. The VTR in turn starts playback, sending timecode back to Cubase. Cubase then synchronizes to that incoming timecode.