Avid Technology SYNC HD User manual

SYNC™HD Guide
Version 9.0

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Contents iii
contents
Chapter 1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
SYNC Peripheral Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
System Requirements and Compatibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
About This Guide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
About www.avid.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Chapter 2. Installation and Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Hardware Connections. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
MachineControl. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Synchronization and Time Code Connections to Machines, Decks, and Other Devices . . . . . . . . 9
Software Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Emulating a SYNC I/O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Configuring a SYNC Peripheral from Pro Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
MachineControl Configuration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Software Configuration for the SYNC Setup Software Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Chapter 3. SYNC Peripheral Hardware and Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
SYNC Peripheral Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
SYNC Peripheral Back Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
SYNC Setup Software Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Chapter 4. Using SYNC Peripherals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
SYNC Peripheral Controls in Pro Tools, SYNC Setup Software Utility, and the Front Panel . . . . . 34
Front Panel Generator/Parameter Switches. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Clock References and Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Positional Reference and Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Compensating for Time Code Offsets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

SYNC HD Guideiv
Generating & Regenerating Time Code. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Generating a Window Dub. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Chapter 5. Additional Operational Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Front Panel Generator/Parameter Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Using Fader Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Calibrating the SYNC Peripheral Oscillator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Restoring Factory Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Managing and Selecting Video Inputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Appendix A. Additional Synchronization Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Video and VITC Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
LTC Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Auto-Switch LTC/VITC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Digital Clock Signal Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Bi-Phase/Tach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Pilot Tone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Appendix B. Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Appendix C. Wiring Diagrams and Pin Assignments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
LTC Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Bi-Phase/GPI/Pilot Pin Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Bi-phase/Tach OptoCoupler Input. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
GPI Relay Outputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
GPI (TTL)/MTC Outputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
GPI (opto) Inputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Connector Pin Assignments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
SYNC Peripheral Cable Pin Assignments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Bi-phase/Tach/GPI/Pilot Port Interfacing Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Appendix D. Compliance Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

Chapter 1: Introduction 1
chapter 1
Introduction
This guide covers operation of the SYNC HD
and SYNC I/O, Avid’s multipurpose synchroni-
zation peripherals for Pro Tools HD systems.
SYNC peripherals support all Pro Tools sample
rates, and synchronize to most major time code
and clock reference standards used in audio,
video, film, and multimedia production.
SYNC peripherals can also be used as standalone
synchronization devices.
SYNC Peripherals with Pro Tools
Systems with Pro Tools HD Hardware
With a Pro Tools system running Pro Tools HD
hardware, SYNC peripherals provide highly ac-
curate lock to time code. Most SYNC peripheral
settings are available directly from within
Pro Tools.
SYNC Peripherals in Standalone Mode
SYNC peripherals can be used as standalone syn-
chronization converters, time code generators,
clock generators and time code character gener-
ators. Throughout this guide, the term standal-
one refers to systems using the SYNC HD or
SYNC I/O but not using Pro Tools. When used as
a standalone device (or in “Standalone mode”),
a SYNC peripheral is connected to time code or
clock signals, and is configured from the front
panel.
Optionally, while in Standalone mode, a SYNC
peripheral can be controlled remotely from a
Windows computer using the SYNC Setup
software utility.
SYNC Setup Software Utility
(Windows Only)
The SYNC Setup software utility can be used
with or without Pro Tools to control SYNC
peripheral features from any supported Win-
dows computer.

SYNC HD Guide2
SYNC Peripheral Features
SYNC peripherals support all Pro Tools sample
rates (44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, and 192 kHz).
The SYNC HD supports both industry standard
SD (standard definition) and HD (high-defini-
tion) video reference rates, while the SYNC I/O
supports SD video reference rates only.
SYNC peripherals provide the following features
with Pro Tools:
Supported Positional Reference Sources
•LTC
•VITC
• Serial Time Code
•Bi-phase/Tach
Supported Clock Reference Sources
• Loop Sync
•VideoReference
• SD reference rates
• HD reference rates (SYNC HD only)
• Composite Video Input
• Word Clock
• AES/EBU (DARS per AES-11 standard)
• Pilot Tone
• Internal Crystal
•Bi-phase/Tach
•LTC
Output and Generation
• Loop Sync
• Digidesign Super Clock (256x sample clock)
• Word Clock (1x sample clock)
• AES/EBU null clock (AES “digital black”)
• VITC (if a video input is present)
•LTC
• MIDI Time Code (MTC)
• Dual 9-pin Sony P-2 protocol ports (only one
can be active at a time), for limited serial deck
control with MachineControl software option
for Pro Tools.
Other Features
• Front panel controls and a large LED display
of time code and parameters
• Integrated control from Pro Tools
• Time Code Character Generator
• Fader start, provided through GPI output, for
remote transport control from select Pro Tools
fader movement
• Standalone remote control through SYNC
Setup software utility (Windows only)
• Field-updatable firmware
• SYNC I/O Emulation for legacy software sup-
port (SYNC HD only)

Chapter 1: Introduction 3
Controlling SYNC Peripherals in
Standalone Mode
If you are using a SYNC peripheral in Standalone
mode, you can control it with the SYNC Setup
software utility (Windows only), or with the
switches on the front panel of the SYNC periph-
eral.
The SYNC Setup software utility (Windows
only) gives you access to all SYNC peripheral
controls. The following SYNC peripheral param-
eters are accessible only through Pro Tools or
the SYNC Setup software utility:
• Variable Speed Override (VSO)
• Window dub parameters: While you can
turn the Window dub on or off from the
front panel, you cannot configure its dis-
play parameters without Pro Tools or the
SYNC Setup software utility.
System Requirements and
Compatibility
SYNC Peripherals with Pro Tools
To use a SYNC peripheral with Pro Tools, the
following is required:
• A qualified Pro Tools system with Pro Tools
HD hardware
• An available DigiSerial port on the system’s
HD Core card
• An 8-pin to 8-pin serial cable (included) to
connect the SYNC peripheral to the DigiSerial
port on a Pro Tools PCI or PCIe card
SYNC Setup Software Utility
(Windows Only)
The optional SYNC Setup software utility re-
quires the following:
A qualified Windows computer.
An available COM port or serial port on the
computer to connect to the SYNC peripheral.
(You cannot run the SYNC Setup software utility
through the DigiSerial port on Pro Tools cards.)
A non-standard 9-pin to 8-pin cable is re-
quired to connect the SYNC peripheral to a
COM port or serial port on a Windows com-
puter. Wiring instructions for making the re-
quired cable are in Appendix C, “Wiring
Diagrams and Pin Assignments.”
Compatibility Information
Avid can only assure compatibility and provide
support for hardware and software it has tested
and approved.
For complete system requirements and a list of
qualified computers, operating systems, hard
drives, and third-party devices, visit:
www.avid.com/compatibility
See “SYNC Peripheral Controls in
Pro Tools, SYNC Setup Software Utility,
and the Front Panel” on page 34.
If you use a custom serial cable between
Pro Tools and the SYNC peripheral, be sure
the cable supports hardware handshaking.
The maximum supported length for this
cable is 100 ft.
For more information, see Appendix C,
“Wiring Diagrams and Pin Assignments.”
The computer requirements for the SYNC
Setup software utility are different from the
computer requirements for Pro Tools. You
can run the SYNC Setup software utility
from slower Windows computers.

SYNC HD Guide4
Registration
Review the enclosed Registration Information
Card and follow the instructions on it to quickly
register your purchase online. By registering,
you become eligible to receive the following:
• Technical support information
• Software update and upgrade notices
• Hardware warranty information
About This Guide
This guide assumes:
• You understand the basics of synchroniza-
tion and time code
• You know how to operate devices that send
or receive time code, such as a video deck
• You have an understanding of the time
code requirements for your projects
This Guide covers use of the SYNC HD and the
SYNC I/O with Pro Tools version 9.0 and
higher.
Conventions Used in This Guide
All of our guides use the following conventions
to indicate menu choices and key commands:
:
The names of Commands, Options, and Settings
that appear on-screen are in a different font.
The following symbols are used to highlight
important information:
For versions of Pro Tools lower than 7.3,
the SYNC HD can be set to emulate a
SYNC I/O. See our website (www.avid.com)
for a version of the SYNC I/O Guide that
applies to your system.
Convention Action
File > Save Choose Save from the
File menu
Control+N Hold down the Control key
and press the N key
Control-click Hold down the Control key
and click the mouse button
Right-click Click with the right
mouse button
User Tips are helpful hints for getting the
most from your system.
Important Notices include information that
could affect your data or the performance of
your system.
Shortcuts show you useful keyboard or
mouse shortcuts.
Cross References point to related sections in
this guide and other Pro Tools guides.

Chapter 1: Introduction 5
About www.avid.com
The Avid website (www.avid.com) is your best
online source for information to help you get
the most out of your Pro Tools system. The fol-
lowing are just a few of the services and features
available.
Product Registration Register your purchase
online.
Support and Downloads Contact Avid Customer
Success (technical support); download software
updates and the latest online manuals; browse
the Compatibility documents for system re-
quirements; search the online Knowledge Base
or join the worldwide Pro Tools community on
the User Conference.
Training and Education Study on your own using
courses available online or find out how you can
learn in a classroom setting at a certified
Pro Tools training center.
Products and Developers Learn about Avid
products; download demo software or learn
about our Development Partners and their plug-
ins, applications, and hardware.
News and Events Get the latest news from Avid
or sign up for a Pro Tools demo.

SYNC HD Guide6