Synchronizing your MPC with Sonar

MPC5000 / MPC2500 as Master, Sonar as Slave

Use a MIDI cable to connect an available MIDI OUT of your MPC (such as MIDI OUT A) to an available MIDI IN of your MIDI interface.

Using MIDI Time Code (MTC) & MIDI Machine Control (MMC):

In Sonar:

First, choose your MIDI interface as an enabled MIDI device:

Go to Options > MIDI Devices…
Enable your Input & Output ports for your MIDI interface.
Press "OK."

Next, set up Sonar’s Global Timecode operation:

Go to Options > Global…
Click the Timecode tab.
Under "When SMPTE/MTC Timecode IS Detected," choose "Do not switch clock source, but start if in SMPTE/MTC mode."
Under "When clock source is set to SMPTE/MYC or MIDI sync, pressing play in SONAR will," choose "Maintain current clock source and wait for Timecode."

Note:

If you are working with external clock sources, you may have to decide what the best behavior for your scenario is. The above settings offer typical usability.

Set Sonar to SLAVE to MTC:

With a project started in Sonar, go to the Options Menu -> Project…
Press the Clock tab.
Under "Source," enable "SMPTE/MTC."
Under "Timecode Format," enable "30 FPS ndf."
Press "OK."

On the MPC5000 / MPC2500:

Go to the MIDI/Sync menu.
Set "Sync Out" to the MIDI output port on the MPC into which you have plugged your MIDI cable (e.g., "SyncOut: A (Master)").
Set "Mode" to "MIDI Time Code." Set "Frame Rate" to "30." (Note: Do not use "30D" which is a drop-sync and is intended for video equipment.)
Set "Send MMC" to "ON."
Press play or Play Start on the MPC and Sonar should now be playing in sync to the MPC.

Note:

By default Sonar will auto-chase for roughly two seconds to the incoming Timecode. This allows Sonar to lock effectively onto the Timecode source. This also means that your MPC will start playing before Sonar does. However, Sonar automatically chases to the correct Timecode position as it relates to the bars and beats of the MPC sequence, so things should be synced once Sonar starts playing. If you require Sonar and MPC to immediately play simultaneously, you may want to use another method of sync.

Sonar as Master, MPC5000 / MPC2500 / MPC1000 / MPC500 as Slave

Using MIDI Time Code (MTC) & MIDI Machine Control (MMC):

On MPC5000 / 2500:

Go to the MIDI/Sync menu.
Set "Sync In" to the corresponding MIDI input port on the MPC.
Set "Mode" to "MIDI Time Code."
Set "Receive MMC" to "ON."
Set the Tempo of the MPC sequence to match that of your Sonar session exactly.

In Sonar:

With a project started in Sonar, go to the Options Menu > Project…
Press the Clock tab.
Under "Source," enable "Internal."
Click the Sync tab.
Under "Send MIDI Time Code," enable "Transmit MTC."
Set the Frame Rate to "30 FPS NDF"
Enable the MTC Output Ports and choose your MIDI interface device ports.
Press "OK."
Press Play on Sonar. The MPC will now play in sync with Sonar.

Using MIDI Beat Clock & MIDI Machine Control (MMC):

On MPC5000 / 2500:

Go to the MIDI/Sync menu.
Set "Sync In" to the corresponding MIDI input port on the MPC.
Set "Mode" to "MIDI Clock."
Set "Receive MMC," to "ON."

On the MPC500:

Go to the MIDI/Sync menu.
Press Mode + PAD 7.
Turn the data wheel to display "Sync."
Press the DOWN cursor.
Use the data wheel to change the sync mode to "Slave."

On the MPC1000:

Go to the MIDI/Sync Menu:
Press Mode + PAD 9.
Sync [F2].
Sync In: 1 or 2 (whichever MIDI input you plugged your MIDI cable into).
Sync Out: Off.

In Sonar:

With a project started in Sonar, go to the Options Menu > Project…
Press the Clock tab.
Under "Source," enable "Internal."
Click the Sync tab.
Under "Send MIDI Sync," enable "Transmit MIDI Start/Continue/Stop/Clock."
Enable the MIDI Sync Output Ports and choose your MIDI interface's device ports.
Press "OK."
Press Play on Sonar. The MPC will now play in sync with Sonar.

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