Split Selected Clip(s) at Markers” – System.FormatException when Main Counter is in Timecode

Hi all, running the latest PT, 2025,10 and the latest SF 6,0,1

I ran into an issue with the “Split Selected Clip(s) at Markers” command and thought I’d document it here in case it helps someone (or the script can be updated).

This is the error from the SoundFlow log:

!! Command Error: Split Selected Clip(s) at Markers:
Could not ensure main counter (Split Selected Clip(s) at Markers: Line 5)
    System.FormatException: The input string '00:58:52:21' was not in a correct format.
   at System.Number.ThrowFormatException[TChar](ReadOnlySpan`1) + 0x4c
   at SoundFlow.Shortcuts.Automation.Actions.GetSelectionInSamplesAction.<>c__DisplayClass5_0.<<Execute>b__1>d.MoveNext() + 0x20c
--- End of stack trace from previous location ---
   at System.Runtime.ExceptionServices.ExceptionDispatchInfo.Throw() + 0x24
   at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.ThrowForNonSuccess(Task) + 0x100
   at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.HandleNonSuccessAndDebuggerNotification(Task, ConfigureAwaitOptions) + 0x68
   at SoundFlow.Shortcuts.Automation.Actions.DoMainCounterAction.<Execute>d__13.MoveNext() + 0x270
--- End of stack trace from previous location ---
   at System.Runtime.ExceptionServices.ExceptionDispatchInfo.Throw() + 0x24
   at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.ThrowForNonSuccess(Task) + 0x100
   at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.HandleNonSuccessAndDebuggerNotification(Task, ConfigureAwaitOptions) + 0x68
   at SoundFlow.Shortcuts.Automation.AutoAction`1.<Run>d__25.MoveNext() + 0x368

The key line is:

System.FormatException: The input string '00:58:52:21' was not in a correct format.

What was going on

• In Pro Tools, my Main Counter was set to Timecode.
• The command internally calls GetSelectionInSamplesAction / DoMainCounterAction, which (based on the error) tries to parse the Main Counter value as a numeric type.
• When the Main Counter string is something like 00:58:52:21 (HH:MM:SS:FF timecode), .NET can’t parse that directly as a number, so it throws a System.FormatException.

So essentially the script expects a numeric value (e.g. samples or maybe Min:Secs), but it gets a timecode string and chokes on it.

Simple workaround / fix

As soon as I switched the Pro Tools Main Counter to Samples, the command worked perfectly.

Steps:

1. In Pro Tools, click the Main Counter display.
2. Change it from Timecode to Samples.
3. Make sure the clip is selected.
4. Run “Split Selected Clip(s) at Markers” again in SoundFlow.

No more error, and the clips split as expected at the markers.

Possible improvement

If the script is reading from the Main Counter text and parsing it, it might be more robust to:

• Either:

  • Force the Main Counter to Samples programmatically before reading it, or

• Use the Pro Tools/Surface API to fetch the selection in samples directly, instead of parsing the Main Counter display string.

But for anyone hitting this problem: check that your Main Counter is set to Samples before running the command – that solved it for me.

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