Steinberg Time Base User Manual
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TIME BASE Typical Setup Examples 4 – 21 Parameter Options Effect Time Base Device ID0 - 126 ID 2 is presetDevice identification number. Must be set correctly to make sure the data arrives in the device. Activate USB Timecode SyncTicked = On No tick= OffIf this option is activated, the Time Code synchronization with the computer takes place via the USB port. If the option is set to Off, synchro- nization with the computer takes place via the VST System Link connections between Time Base and computer. The parameters Sample Rate and Frame Rate are read only. Timecode Source LTC, VITC, MTC, M.V (MIDI), M.A (9-Pin)Depending on which Time Code source you select, different options are available in the Clock Source pop-up menu. Clock Source Internal, V-SYNC, LTC-Norm, LTC-HoldThe available Clock source options. Timecode Inserter Ticked = On No tick= OffWhen this option is activated, Time Base will insert the Time Code into the video frames (“Burn-in window). Display Type White on Black, Black on White, White Contour, Black ContourDisplay options for the inserted Time Code. Type +In, +TC9 Lets you select the Time Code type displayed by the inserter (see page 35). Size Small, Large Display options for the inserted Time Code. Vertical Position, Horizontal Position0 - 127 Lets you numerically position the inserted Time Code. Timecode Positioning fieldManually by dragging Here you can define the position of the inserted Time Code within the video frame by manually dragging it with the mouse. Note: The real size of the displayed Time Code is not shown in this positioning field!
TIME BASE 4 – 22 Typical Setup Examples Setting up the Time Base 9-Pin Device Control Panel Here you make the settings for 9-pin device control (see below). Make sure, that the corresponding function is available in the 9-pin device that you use. Parameter Options Effect Timebase 9-Pin- Device ID0 - 126 Lets you set the 9-pin device ID. The Nuendo/Time Base standard value is 4 The following parameters are used to set up track remote control for the connected machine. Number of Audio Tracks2 - 64 Lets you define the number of digital audio tracks available in the connected 9-pin device, which thereby become visible and can be controlled from the 9-pin device control panel. Aux 1, Aux 2 Activate (tick) / Deactivate (no tick)When you activate these parameters, the (analog) audio tracks appears in the 9-pin device control panel. Timecode Activate (tick) / Deactivate (no tick)Most 9-pin devices provide special time code tracks. If you activate this parameter, the time code track of your 9-pin device appears in the 9-pin device control panel. Video Activate (tick) / Deactivate (no tick)If the connected 9-pin device processes video, you can use this parameter to make the corresponding Arm Track control visible in the 9-pin device control panel. All tracks available in your 9-pin device should be included in the 9-pin device control panel. This will give you a better overview and you are always informed about the current track status.
TIME BASE Typical Setup Examples 4 – 23 Time Base 9-Pin Device Control Panel Open this control panel by selecting “Time Base 9-Pin” on the Devices menu. It can be used to remote control a 9-pin device that you have con- nected to the Time Base from Nuendo and to arm its tracks. ❐ Which functions are available on this control panel depends on which func- tions are available in the connected 9-pin device and also on the settings that you have made in the Time Base 9-pin view of the Device Setup dialog, see previous page. Depending on your settings, the following elements (from left to right) may be visible in the control panel: • The set up number of audio tracks. These can be armed with a mouse click. • The Aux 1 and 2 tracks, which some devices make available separately or which may also be “hidden”, as well as the time code and video tracks. These can be armed here, too. • The transport controls control playback and recording functions of the 9-pin device. • The Online switch must be activated. If it isn’t, remote control is disabled. • In the upper section of the control panel, the current time code position, the Time Base status as well as the connected 9-Pin device are displayed. • To the left of the 9-pin device indicator, the following error messages may become visible: Remote control is deactivated in the external 9-pin device. This “error” message is shown when there’s no tape on the con- nected 9-pin tape recorder.
TIME BASE 4 – 24 Typical Setup Examples Time Base Slave Here you can activate remote control of Nuendo by using the combination of Nuendo and Time Base as a virtual machine. Which functions are actu- ally available for the virtual 9-pin machine depends mainly on the options available in the external controller unit. Time Base Slave dialog view in the Device Setup dialog. The only parameter that you can set here is the Time Base Device ID. It is preset to its (Nuendo) standard value 2.
TIME BASE Typical Setup Examples 4 – 25 Setup Examples LTC as the Master This procedure is particularly favoured in music productions. The hard disk recorder (i.e. Nuendo) is “slaved” to the analog machine (e.g. a 24 track recorder). Time Base settings: TCIN=LTC , CL: LTC-HOLD Connections: MTC as the Master Normally in professional situations, this should only be seen as a last re- sort emergency procedure, i.e. to save a production which otherwise would be lost. The reason for this lies in the often technically inadequate implementation of MIDI Time Code, causing MTC to be saddled with high jitter from external sources. It is impossible to pass on a stable, jitter-free Word Clock from such an MTC-signal. However, as it is sometimes necessary to perform this conversion (to continue with a production begun in semi-professional circumstances), Time Base generates the clean Word Clock necessary for sonic quality by taking an average value from the incoming MTC. If the jitter in the in- coming MTC were allowed to affect the Word Clock, the connected dig- ital devices would all have their audio quality compromised by locking to such a reference clock, provided that would be possible at all. Time Base expects MTC input via its 15-pin MIDI|GPI/O socket on its rear panel. The socket wiring is described on page 80. Examples for 15-pin connector wiring can be found on page 80. LTCUSB port VST System Link
TIME BASE 4 – 26 Typical Setup Examples Time Base settings: TCIN=MTC , CL: MTC-HOLD Connections: If you should find yourself in such a situation, you can sometimes chose the following: If your MTC source is a stand-alone Hard Disk Recorder with a digital in- put which can be externally synchronized, you should switch the Word Clock source of the recorder to “digital in”, having connected it to a Word Clock output on the Time Base. If you now use the MTC produced by the recorder as a positional reference, your entire system will follow the exter- nal device. Time Base setting: CL:INTERNAL (V-SYNC)/ TCIN=MTC Connections: stand-alone« HD-Recorder and Nuendo As an alternative, the MTC produced by Time Base can be used as a po- sition reference by the external device. In this case the external device fol- lows the system. ext. MTC-InUSB port VST System Link Stand-alone HD RecorderAudiosignale USB port MTC Word Clock VST System Link
TIME BASE Typical Setup Examples 4 – 27 Internal Clock as the Master A technically perfect procedure: Time Base generates the Word Clock and VST System Link signals for all the digital devices running in the en- tire studio. As all devices run in sync, data transfer without interruptions is also possible. Increased jitter (and associated loss of quality in synchro- nized audio signals) is thereby prevented. ❐ To prevent misunderstandings, Time Base is always the Timing Master, but not necessarily the Positional Master. A hard disk recorder, that is synchro- nized to Word Clock and has a MIDI Time Code output (which must of course be synchronized to Word Clock) can e.g. control a digital mixer that is also locked to Word Clock. The user has the impression that the hard disk re- corder is the Master while it is in fact only the Positional Master, but not the Word Clock Master. Settings: CL:INTERNAL If required, the Time Code functions of Time Base can be used to convert the Time Code format. The technically best solution is to use the Virtual MIDI Machine the generate a clock synchronized Time Code. Connections: USB port LTC (e.g. to control a Mix Automation)VST System Link
TIME BASE 4 – 28 Typical Setup Examples House Sync (Blackburst) as the Master A second technically perfect procedure: Time Base is connected to a house sync generator (Blackburst) via the Video Sync In. All the advan- tages listed in the section "Internal Clock as the Master" on page 27 are retained. In addition, the Time Code generator is synchronized to video. This procedure should be used, whenever audio is being edited in sync with video picture. If several studios are housed in the same building, they can be linked to- gether via the house clock, and can work in sync, without having to live with the restrictions of Word Clock connection. ❐ With Word Clock connection, the entire studio would have to work at the same sample rate. Settings: CL:VIDEO/TCIN=LTC, VITC or 9-Pin Connections: Blackburst as the Master in a system with a VTR. Blackburst GeneratorVideo Sync LTC Sync InUSB port 9-Pin VideoIn- serter Video with inserted Time Code00:00:00:00 VST System Link
TIME BASE Typical Setup Examples 4 – 29 Connections: Blackburst as the Master with an analog tape machine The analog tape machine is synchronized to the house clock using a tape machine synchronizes with video-resolve capability (e. g. Adams-Smith ZETA, see illustration). Both the analogue tape machine and the hard disk recorder get their tim- ing information from the (quartz stable) controlling blackburst generator. This prevents that jitter is passed on and increased. Another technically perfect solution. Connections: Blackburst as the Master with both video and analog tape machine Everything as in the above example, but now with video as well. CapstanLTC SynchronizerUSB port 9-Pin Video Sync Blackburst GeneratorSync InVST System Link Blackburst GeneratorVideo Sync LTC Sync InUSB port VideoIn- serter Video with inserted Time Code00:00:00:00 9-Pin Capstan LTC Synchronizer VST System Link
TIME BASE 4 – 30 Typical Setup Examples Machine Control Time Base will convert MMC (MIDI Machine Control) commands into 9-pin (RS422/P2) commands. A machine linked via a 9-pin Remote connector (e.g. Sony Betacam) can thus also be directly controlled from a sequencer. Time Base can also read the Time Code that comes in via the 9-pin con- nection. Settings: TCIN=M.A If the display shows NO CODE , the machine is either not active or doesn’t send 9-pin Time Code. • Some machines do not send 9-pin Time Code. ❐If the sequencer plays a Loop (Cycle), it is useful to set a Preroll time for the VTR, so that a sufficient run up time is available for proper sequencer syn- chronization. There are three different ways of handling Preroll (see page 54). Settings e.g.: Pre-Loc= - 06:00 (6 seconds - 00 frames, see page 54). It is better to enter this setting on Time Base than in the sequencer, so that the sequencer will cycle normally when the tape machine is not hooked up. • If 9-pin control and 9-pin Time Code are both used, the 9-pin machine and Time Base must both use the same video sync signal. On its machine page M.A (see page 68), Time Base offers the option to fully or partly block the 9-pin machine record remote control. • It is possible for instance that you block arming the picture and Time Code tracks (which thus remain protected), whilst audio tracks can be armed. You can also arm tracks from Nuendo. STOP, FF and REWIND commands can be converted into STILL (pause) or shuttle commands respectively. The 9-pin control settings can be checked on the M.A. page (see page 68).