Today’s inSync question comes from Boris in Venezuela.
“I‘m running Pro Tools 24 MIX plus ver 4.3.1. My sync device is a MOTU MTP-AV, which works fine for my use. My question is, how can I generate SMPTE and MIDI (MTC) code from a Pro Tools session using the MTP-AV to be the master so I can slave other external devices (via SMPTE) like a code DAT (SMPTE) or a Roland VS880 (MTC) so they run alongside the session at play time?”
There is no way to directly make the MTP-AV generate SMPTE in real time from a Pro Tools session playing. Digidesign’s SSD and USD are the only two devices I know of that can do that. In order for the MTP-AV to work in this scenario it would have to become the master locate and timing reference for everything. What you will need to do is configure your Pro Tools to send MMC commands to the MTP and then configure it to control all of the other devices, including Pro Tools. This isn’t quite as “clean” as just playing PT and having SMPTE come out somewhere, but it will get the job done.