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Imkindofabigdeal
Inspiring
March 8, 2026
Question

Extendscript create bars and tone timebase

  • March 8, 2026
  • 2 replies
  • 36 views

Hi folks

I'm trying to create bars and tone programmatically using the API. I can't figure out the format of timebase, it either fails or creates a 29.97 bars and tone (I want 24fps)

Docs say

app.project.newBarsAndTone(width, height, timeBase, PARNum, PARDen, audioSampleRate, name)

 

Here's what I've tried.

Fails     

var audioSampleRate = sequence.getSettings().audioSampleRate;



var bars = app.project.newBarsAndTone(1920, 1080, "24.00", 1, 1, audioSampleRate, "filler");

var bars = app.project.newBarsAndTone(1920, 1080, "24.00 fps", 1, 1, audioSampleRate, "filler");

So it's not a string, even though the docs say a timebase is a string

 

Sequence.timebase¶

app.project.sequences[index].timebase

 

Description¶

The number of ticks per frame in the sequence. Converted to seconds, this is commonly referred to as the frame duration of the sequence.

 

Type¶

String; read-only.

 

Creates 29.97 , which is assumed is the default?   

var bars = app.project.newBarsAndTone(1920, 1080, 24.00, 1, 1, audioSampleRate, "filler");

var bars = app.project.newBarsAndTone(1920, 1080, 24, 1, 1, audioSampleRate, "filler");

var bars = app.project.newBarsAndTone(1920, 1080, 10584000000, 1, 1, audioSampleRate, "filler");

var bars = app.project.newBarsAndTone(1920, 1080, sequence.timebase, 1, 1, audioSampleRate, "filler");

 

Can anyone help with the correct parameters?

 

 

 

      2 replies

      Bruce Bullis
      Bruce Bullis
      Legend
      June 10, 2026

      I think the timebases in use, are those referred to at the top of the PProPanel sample:

       

      var TIMEDISPLAY_24Timecode				= 100;
      var TIMEDISPLAY_25Timecode				= 101;
      var TIMEDISPLAY_2997DropTimecode		= 102;
      var TIMEDISPLAY_2997NonDropTimecode		= 103;
      var TIMEDISPLAY_30Timecode				= 104;
      var TIMEDISPLAY_50Timecode				= 105;
      var TIMEDISPLAY_5994DropTimecode		= 106;
      var TIMEDISPLAY_5994NonDropTimecode		= 107;
      var TIMEDISPLAY_60Timecode				= 108;
      var TIMEDISPLAY_Frames					= 109;
      var TIMEDISPLAY_23976Timecode			= 110;
      var TIMEDISPLAY_16mmFeetFrames			= 111;
      var TIMEDISPLAY_35mmFeetFrames			= 112;
      var TIMEDISPLAY_48Timecode				= 113;
      var TIMEDISPLAY_AudioSamplesTimecode	= 200;
      var TIMEDISPLAY_AudioMsTimecode			= 201;

      The following is successful:

       

      var timeBase = 102;

      app.project.newBarsAndTone(666, 555, timeBase, 1, 1, 48000, "Tony")

       

      K
      Community Manager
      Kevin-MonahanCommunity Manager
      Community Manager
      June 8, 2026

      Hey there, ​@Imkindofabigdeal,

      Thanks for the question. I think we’d need a product team member to help here. ​@Bruce Bullis might be able to assist here. Sorry for the hassle.

       

      Thanks,
      Kevin

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