The Bar ruler of each linear editing window can independently display a SMPTE time ruler or bar/beat ruler. For further information, see Adjusting the Bar Ruler Display.
Choosing View > Event Position and Length in SMPTE Units in the Event List switches the display of all positions and lengths to SMPTE times, rather than bar/beat values.
You can use the Pickup Clock (Move Event to Playhead Position) key command to move selected objects (an individual event, tempo event, or a region, for example) to the current playhead position.
Set the playhead position to the required SMPTE time, by going to a specific frame of the film in the Video track, for example.
Note: In addition to the usual position commands, you can also use the Rewind One Frame and Forward One Frame key commands to move one frame backward or forward.
Select the object that you want to place at this time position.
Use the Pickup Clock (Move Event to Playhead Position) key command to align the start point of the object with this time position.
The Pickup Clock & Select Next Event key command selects the next object, after the first object is moved.
Note: When using Pickup Clock with audio regions, it is the region’s anchor (not the region start point) that is moved to the playhead position.
In situations where you’re working with synchronized film, you often want specific sound effects to play at a specific SMPTE time, rather than a particular bar position.
If the tempo of the piece needs to be altered at a later stage, the SMPTE time location of events that have already been positioned will change. The Lock SMPTE Position function prevents this from happening.
You can SMPTE-lock individual events in the Event List, or entire regions (along with all events they contain). Objects locked to a SMPTE position display a small padlock symbol in front of their name.
Select the object.
Do one of the following:
In the Event List, Hyper Editor, and Piano Roll Editor: Choose Functions > Lock SMPTE Position.
In the Arrange window: Choose Region > Lock SMPTE Position.
Use the Lock SMPTE Position key command.
Note: Copies of locked objects do not preserve their locked status, whether copied or pasted via the Clipboard, or by Option-dragging.
Select the object.
Do one of the following:
In the Event List, Hyper Editor, and Piano Roll Editor: Choose Functions > Unlock SMPTE Position.
In the Arrange window: Choose Region > Unlock SMPTE Position.
Use the Unlock SMPTE Position key command.
All selected objects that were locked to their SMPTE position are now fixed to their current bar position, just like normal events. This means they can be shifted by any future tempo changes. The padlock symbol in front of the name disappears.
If you want a particular bar in the project to coincide with a specific SMPTE time, you need to alter the tempo of the preceding passage.
Open the Tempo List (see Using the Tempo List).
Create a tempo event at the desired bar position.
Set a time position for this tempo event in the SMPTE Position column.
The preceding tempo event is automatically adjusted, to generate the correct bar and time position for the inserted tempo event.
If you want to keep the same tempo for the following passage, delete the tempo event you inserted.