Displaying Time in SMPTE Frames

In Pro Tools, you can set the Main Time Scale to Timecode (SMPTE) and this will be displayed in the Main Counter. Though Pro Tools will still synchronize to incoming SMPTE timecode if the Time Scale is displayed in Bars|Beats, Minutes:Seconds, or Feet.Frames, it is usually more useful to use SMPTE timecode as your reference.

To set the Main Time Scale to SMPTE Timecode, do one of the following:

Choose View > Rulers > Timecode.

– or – 

Click the Main Counter selector in the Edit window and select Timecode.

Pro Tools displays timecode values in the currently selected SMPTE frame rate.

Sub Counter and Sub Time Scale Display

You can display a Sub Time Scale in the Sub Counter. For example, if the Main Time Scale is set to Timecode, and you want to compare SMPTE time to “wall clock,” when you are using 29.97 Non-Drop frame rate, click the Sub Counter selector and select Min:Secs as the Sub Time Scale.