---
layout: default
title: Overview of all Timecode related settings
menu_title: Overview of Timecode settings
---

<p>
  Timecode settings are accessed from the menu in three places:
</p>

<ul>
  <li><kbd class="menu">Session &gt; Properties &gt; Timecode</kbd></li>
  <li><kbd class="menu">Edit &gt; Preferences &gt; Transport</kbd></li>
  <li><kbd class="menu">Edit &gt; Preferences &gt; MIDI</kbd></li>
</ul>

<h2>Timecode Settings</h2>
<dl>
  <dt><kbd class="menu">Timecode frames-per-second</kbd></dt>
  <dd>
    Configure timecode frames-per-second (23.976, 24, 24.975, 25, 29.97, 
    29.97 drop, 30, 30 drop, 59.94, 60). Note that all fractional 
    framerates are actually fps*(1000.0/1001.0).
  </dd>
  <dt><kbd class="menu">Pull up/down</kbd></dt>
  <dd>
    Video pull-up modes change the effective samplerate of Ardour to 
    allow for changing a film soundtrack from one frame rate to another. 
    See <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telecine">Telecine</a>
  </dd>
  <dt><kbd class="menu">Slave Timecode offset</kbd></dt>
  <dd>
    The specified offset is added to the received timecode (MTC or
    LTC).
  </dd>
  <dt><kbd class="menu">Timecode Generator offset</kbd></dt>
  <dd>
    Specify an offset which is added to the generated timecode (so far only LTC).
  </dd>
  <dt><kbd class="option">JACK Time Master</kbd></dt>
  <dd>
    Provide Bar|Beat|Tick and other information to JACK.
  </dd>
</dl>
<p>These settings are session specific.</p>


<h2>Transport Preferences</h2>
<dl>
  <dt><kbd class="menu">External timecode source</kbd></dt>
  <dd>
    Select timecode source: JACK, LTC, MTC, MIDI Clock
  </dd>
  <dt><kbd class="option">Match session video frame rate to external timecode</kbd></dt>
  <dd>
    This option controls the value of the video frame rate <em>while 
    chasing</em> an external timecode source. When enabled, the 
    session video frame rate will be changed to match that of the selected 
    external timecode source. When disabled, the session video frame rate 
    will not be changed to match that of the selected external timecode 
    source. Instead the frame rate indication in the main clock will flash 
    red and Ardour will convert between the external timecode standard and 
    the session standard.
  </dd>
  <dt><kbd class="option">External timecode is sync locked</kbd></dt>
  <dd>
    Indicates that the selected external timecode source shares sync (Black 
    &amp; Burst, Wordclock, etc) with the audio interface.
  </dd>
  <dt><kbd class="option">Lock to 29.9700 fps instead of 30000/1001</kbd></dt>
  <dd>
    The external timecode source is assumed to use 29.97 fps instead of 
    30000/1001. SMPTE 12M-1999 specifies 29.97df as 30000/1001. The spec 
    further mentions that drop-frame timecode has an accumulated error of -86ms 
    over a 24-hour period. Drop-frame timecode would compensate exactly for a 
    NTSC color frame rate of 30 * 0.9990 (ie 29.970000). That is not the actual 
    rate. However, some vendors use that rate &mdash; despite it being against 
    the specs &mdash; because the variant of using exactly 29.97 fps has zero 
    timecode drift.
  </dd>
  <dt><kbd class="menu">LTC incoming port</kbd></dt>
  <dd>
    Offers a session agnostic way to retain the LTC port connection.
  </dd>
  <dt><kbd class="option">Enable LTC generator</kbd></dt>
  <dd>Does just what it says.</dd>
  <dt><kbd class="option">Send LTC while stopped</kbd></dt>
  <dd>
    Enable to continue to send LTC information even when the transport 
    (playhead) is not moving. This mode is intended to drive analog tape 
    machines which unspool the tape if no LTC timecode is received.
  </dd>
  <dt><kbd class="menu">LTC generator level</kbd></dt>
  <dd>
    Specify the Peak Volume of the generated LTC signal in dbFS. A good value 
    is 0&nbsp;dBu (which is -18&nbsp;dbFS in an EBU calibrated system).
  </dd>
</dl>
<p>These settings are common to all sessions.</p>


<h2>MIDI Preferences</h2>
<dl>
  <dt><kbd class="option">Send MIDI Timecode</kbd></dt><dd>Enable MTC generator</dd>
  <dt><kbd class="option">Send MIDI Clock</kbd></dt><dd>Enable MIDI Clock generator</dd>
</dl>
<p>These settings are also common to all sessions.</p>