(1) One track of a multitrack magnetic tape recorder used for recording special signals that provide control information to the recording console during automated mixdown.
(2) A dedicated track prerecorded with a pilot tone, used on video tape which marks the start of each video frame in order to resolve playback speed by controlling and synchronizing the video frames. Can be used to count time for editing, but is prone to slip and lose count during winding. In 1″ and 
” formats, SMPTE timecode information is sent to a separate address track which creates confusion about the names of both of the tracks. See blacking, sync-locksync lock.