Main time scale – M-AUDIO Pro Tools Recording Studio User Manual
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Pro Tools Reference Guide
666
Main Time Scale
While all Timebase rulers can be displayed si-
multaneously in the Edit and MIDI Editor win-
dows, there is only one that represents the Main 
Time Scale. This ruler is also called the Main 
Timebase ruler. 
The Main Time Scale determines the time for-
mat used for:
• The Main Counter in the Transport
• The Main Counter at the top of the Edit
window or MIDI Editor window
• Start, End, and Length values
• Pre- and post-roll amounts
• Grid and Nudge values
The Main Time Scale can be set to the following 
formats:
• Bars|Beats
• Minutes:Seconds
• Time Code (Pro Tools HD and Pro Tools LE
with DV Toolkit 2 only)
• Feet+Frames (Pro Tools HD and Pro Tools
LE with Complete Production Toolkit or 
DV Toolkit 2 only)
• Samples
Setting the Main Time Scale
To set the Main Time Scale, do one of the 
following:
Click a Main Counter selector (located at the
top of the Edit or Transport window (when it is 
set to display Counters) and select a Time Scale.
If a Timebase ruler is displayed, click its name
so it becomes highlighted.
Navigating with the Main Counters
The Main Counters (at the top of the Edit win-
dow and in the Transport window) provide a 
convenient way to navigate to a specific time lo-
cation. 
To navigate with a Main Counter:
1
Click in a Main Counter.
2
Type in a location.
3
Press Enter (Windows or Mac) or Return (Mac)
to automatically navigate to a new location.
Main Counter selector (in the Edit window)
Setting the Main Time Scale to the timebase 
currently displayed in the Sub Counter 
switches the two Time Scales, setting the 
Sub Time Scale to the previous timebase of 
the Main Time Scale.
Switching the Main Time Scale from Bars|Beats to 
Min:Sec
The Main Counter indicator in the 
Transport window only displays when the 
Transport is set to display Counters.
