DigiDesign MachineControl Manual page 36

Choosing a Record Protocol
The Machine Track Arming window provides
the following two choices for configuring the re-
cording protocol of the target deck:
Auto Edit
This mode is a highly accurate way to ensure
that the target deck will record only within the
boundaries of an on-screen selection. (If your
deck does not support Auto Edit, use Punch
In/Punch Out, as explained below.)
In Auto Edit mode, the record start/end times
are downloaded to the target deck (along with
any pre- or post-roll), and the deck is responsible
for performing the insert punch in/out at the
specified times (see "Rules for On-Screen Selec-
tions" on page 33 for details).
Because this protocol removes the vagaries of
CPU timing from the remote recording process,
Auto Edit is frame-accurate. It is also the best
way to ensure that your machine will punch out
correctly and avoid accidental erasure of audio,
even in the event of a CPU error.
Punch In/Out
This mode uses Pro Tools to control the process
of punch in/out. Instead of downloading the
punch points (as in Auto Edit), Pro Tools actu-
ally performs them during the record pass. Be-
cause serial communication has inherent de-
lays, timing with Punch In/Punch Out mode
cannot guarantee frame-accuracy (though it will
almost always be within 2 to 3 frames).
32 MachineControl Guide
Choosing a Record Mode
The Machine Track Arming window provides
two choices for Record mode:
Insert
Insert mode is used to perform insert editing
(punching in individual tracks) where one or
more audio tracks is replaced by new material
and the video material is retained.
Assemble
Use Assemble mode when you want to:
Begin recording program onto a completely
blank tape (unformatted)
– or –
Append program to the remainder of a tape
which already has program you want to keep
Assemble mode is not appropriate for audio lay-
backs to video masters.
Assemble mode should be used carefully because
it arms all tracks on the target deck for record-
ing—including the video track, time code track
and control track. When performing an Assem-
ble edit, all material on all tracks after the edit in
point will be replaced. Because a break in the
control track will result at the edit out point, any
remaining program material after an Assemble
edit may be unusable.
To avoid accidentally recording over program
material, experiment with Assemble and Insert
modes on a dispensable tape to familiarize your-
self with the edit capabilities of your deck.
Assemble mode replaces all the elements on
the target tape deck—audio, video and time
code. Use this mode with caution.