Troubleshooting: Resolume Arena not seeing SMPTE Timecode
This guide will walk you through what to do if Resolume Arena is not recognizing or responding to a SMPTE Timecode signal. There are several possible causes of this issue at both Resolume and Ableton. This guide will look at the most common causes in both area.
These steps only apply if your Focusrite 2i2 audio interface connected to your Resolume machine is getting an audio signal from the FOH audio console. You can confirm this by looking at the ring around the "Gain" knob. If it is lit up red, you are likely receiving a proper audio signal. If it is not, you will need to troubleshoot audio patching / routing.
Possible Issues at Resolume
- Resolume does not have the correct audio interface selected
- The Focusrite 2i2 audio interface gain is too high
Possible Issues at Ableton
- The gain on the timecode track is too high or too low
- The timecode audio file is warped
- The timecode audio file is corrupted
Possible Issues on the Computer
- Arena does not have microphone access
Before moving on, it is always good practice to try these two things to see if they resolve the issue:
- Save and Quit Resolume Arena, then re-launch it.
- Save and Quit Resolume, then fully restart your computer and re-launch Resolume.
If those steps do not resolve the issue, continue reading as we walk through how to identify and resolve the issues listed above.
Resolume does not have the correct audio interface selected
One way you can verify that this is the issue is by looking for the SMPTE 1 and SMPTE 2 readouts in the middle of the Resolume interface. If these do not appear, your audio interface is not set up in Resolume.
To resolve this, go to "Arena > Preferences..." in the menu bar. In the "Audio" menu, verify the following settings:
-
Audio Output Device = Scarlett 2i2 USB
- (Note, this setting is mostly irrelevant, except that if this is set to "No Output Device", Resolume will not allow you to select an Audio Input Device)
- Audio Input Device = Scarlett 2i2 USB
- SMPTE Timecode Framerate = 30
- SMPTE Timecode Input 1 = Input 1
- SMPTE Timecode Input 2 = Input 2
If your Scarlette 2i2 audio interface does not show up as an option in either Audio Input Device or Audio Output Device, try re-seating the USB connection and hitting refresh in the preferences menu, or try restarting the computer.
The Focusrite 2i2 audio interface gain is too high
To resolve this, turn the gain knobs for Input 1 and 2 down to 0. Since this is gain and not volume, it brings the timecode signal down to a more manageable level for the computer to interpret.
The gain on the timecode track in Ableton is too high or too low
On the timecode track in Ableton, verify that the Gain is set to 0, and that the meter is hitting at a similar level to what is shown in the picture below.
The timecode audio file is warped in Ableton
Ableton can dynamically adjust the playback speed of audio files. This can cause undesired effects when working with SMPTE Timecode. Here's how to disable it.
- Double click on the timecode file in the Ableton Timeline
- Click on the "Warp" button in the edit panel at the bottom
- The button should now turn grey instead of yellow. Warping for that file is now off.
The timecode audio file is corrupted in Ableton
Occasionally when opening a Ableton session made remotely, timecode audio files can become corrupted. To resolve this, simply remove and re-add those files to your Ableton session.
(You can find .wav files for different timecode values at this link)
Arena does not have microphone access
Open up the security preferences of the computer and ensure Arena has access to the microphone.
Conclusion
Hopefully one of these resolves your issue. If you are still having issues, please submit a tech desk ticket HERE and our team will do our best to help you resolve your issue.