A video processing system and method are provided for generating clock and timing signals from an incoming video signal. The system includes a timing reference circuit for generating a reference clock signal, a video format detector coupled to the reference clock signal and to synchronization data derived from the incoming video signal for generating a format signal indicating the format of the incoming video signal, and a clock and timing generator circuit coupled to the format signal and the reference clock signal for generating clock and timing signals that emulate the incoming video signal, and may be locked to the incoming video signal.