Sync

The Sync tab configures timecode format, frame rate, start offset, and timing compensation for MIDI synchronization. These settings affect how Plinken communicates with external hardware and software via MIDI Time Code (MTC) and MIDI Clock (MC).

Open Settings with ⌘, (macOS) or Ctrl+, (Windows/Linux), then select Sync in the sidebar.

Frame Rate

The frame rate determines the timecode format used for MIDI Time Code (MTC) output and display. Choose the rate that matches your video or broadcast standard.

Option	FPS	Drop Frame	Use Case
24 fps (Film)	24.0	No	Cinema, film post-production
25 fps (PAL)	25.0	No	European broadcast (PAL/SECAM)
29.97 fps NDF	29.97	No	NTSC non-drop — continuous count
29.97 fps DF	29.97	Yes	NTSC drop-frame — matches wall clock
30 fps	30.0	No	Default. Music production, some broadcast

The default is 30 fps. For video work, match the frame rate of your video project. For music-only projects, 30 fps is standard.

Timecode Start

Set the SMPTE timecode value at the start of the timeline (position zero). This shifts all timecode display and MTC output.

Field	Range	Default	Description
Hours (HH)	0–23	1	Hours component
Minutes (MM)	0–59	0	Minutes component
Seconds (SS)	0–59	0	Seconds component
Frames (FF)	0–(fps−1)	0	Frames component (max depends on frame rate)

The default start time is 01:00:00:00 — standard for broadcast and post-production work.

Editing Timecode Fields

Each field supports three interaction methods:

Scroll wheel — hover over a field and scroll up/down to increment/decrement
Click & drag — click and drag vertically to adjust (drag up to increase)
Double-click — enter direct text editing mode (type digits, press Enter to confirm or Escape to cancel)

Timing Compensation

Compensate for MIDI hardware latency. These sliders add or subtract milliseconds to sync message timing, ensuring tight synchronization with external gear.

Setting	Range	Storage Key	Description
Input	−10 to +10 ms	`sync.input_compensation_ms`	Compensate for latency in incoming MIDI
Output MTC	−50 to +50 ms	`sync.output_mtc_compensation_ms`	Shift outgoing MTC earlier/later
Output MC	−50 to +50 ms	`sync.output_mc_compensation_ms`	Shift outgoing MIDI Clock earlier/later

When to Use Compensation

Input compensation — if notes from a MIDI keyboard consistently arrive early or late, adjust this to compensate
Output MTC compensation — if video or external recorders drift from Plinken’s timeline, shift MTC output to align
Output MC compensation — if external synths or drum machines feel ahead or behind the beat, adjust MIDI Clock timing

Values display in green when non-zero, with a + or − prefix. A value of 0.0 ms means no compensation.

Lua API

-- Set input timing compensation (ms)
pl.cmd("settings:set", { key = "sync.input_compensation_ms", value = "2.5" })

-- Set output MTC compensation (ms)
pl.cmd("settings:set", { key = "sync.output_mtc_compensation_ms", value = "-5.0" })

-- Set output MIDI Clock compensation (ms)
pl.cmd("settings:set", { key = "sync.output_mc_compensation_ms", value = "3.0" })

Frame rate and timecode offset are applied through engine commands:

-- Set frame rate (applied through engine)
pl.cmd("engine:setFrameRate", { fps = 25.0, dropFrame = false })

-- Set timecode offset (total frames from HH:MM:SS:FF)
pl.cmd("engine:setTimecodeOffset", { offsetFrames = 108000 })

Command	Description
`settings:set`	Set a user setting by key
`engine:setFrameRate`	Set the timecode frame rate
`engine:setTimecodeOffset`	Set the timecode start offset
`engine:setOutputCompensationMtc`	Apply MTC output compensation in ms
`engine:setOutputCompensationMc`	Apply MC output compensation in ms