-
Timecode slips on output
Having a strange timecode and/or sync issue on output using FCP 5.1.1, AJA Kona2(v2.0) w/ K-box, and a Panasonic AJ-SD930 deck in an XSan environment. Timecode gradually ends up being 3;19 too fast by the end of an hour long program. So where the program should end at 01 44 45;00, it ends at 01 44 41;11. The sequence is 29.97 drop and the settings match that across the board. Sync is generated by a Horita BSG-50 and has seperate BNCs going to both the K-box and the deck. The tape has been striped with 29.97 drop-frame timecode. I’ve trashed FCP prefs, I’ve restarted, I’ve gone through the deck settings to make sure it’s drop. This worked yesterday! 🙁 Another editor did get on the system in b/w to output through an AJA IO, and the way it’s wired is that the SDI2 out from the K-box goes to the IO, so they did change some settings in both control panels to make it work. I’ve returned the Kona Control Panel back to it’s previous settings of course. Any thoughts would be appreciated!
-Luke -
13 Replies
-
I’d update your drivers to v3.3 as v3 and above is written for fcp 5.1.x
Jeremy
-
Yep. Tried that but it didn’t change anything. I’m suspicious that even though I’m blacking the tape with drop frame timecode it’s actually writing non-drop timecode to the tape. That seems to be the only logical solution to me, yet I’ve triple-checked that the deck is set to DF in the menu and I’ve blacked a brand new tape. Any other thoughts?
thanks,
Luke -
Well check the tape, it is drop frame?
-
Another good point. What happened was I had blacked the tape using the Edit to Tape window in FCP using Current Settings and making sure the ‘drop frame’ box was checked. Since I was suspicious that the tape itself was non-drop, I blacked a new tape using the INT SG of the deck with drop frame timecode. This worked just fine. What I haven’t figured out–and what I don’t really have time to figure out at this point, is why FCP would’ve blacked a tape with non-drop timecode when I specifically told it to use drop frame on 2 separate occassions. Ugh. Thanks for your help Jeremy.
-Luke -
[Luke Lindhjem] “Thanks for your help Jeremy.”
Checking the box in FCP does not automatically ‘send’ drop frame tc to your deck. You have to set up your deck for DF and then set up FCP for DF so that your deck and tc will visually match (i.e. 01:21:21:21 in your FCP timeline corresponds to 01:21:21:21 on your tape if you are laying off that way). You also have to make sure your tc offset is calibrated correctly for that deck in FCP. I could explain it, but the manual does a decent job of explaining how to calibrate your tc offset if you haven’t done so already.
Jeremy
-
Once drop frame timecode is actually striped on the tape the timecode matches up just fine–so I’m not convinced calibration is the issue. From the Edit to Tape window in FCP, I’ve clicked on the Black and Code button, selected ‘AJA Kona2: DVCPRO 50 29.97’, then checked the drop frame box–with starting timecode at 00 58 00;02. The Panasonic AJ-SD930 deck, even though it is set up for DF (DF MODE 0000 under No.509 menu setting, with LOCAL ENA 0002 ENA under No.001), then stripes the tape with non-drop timecode. After this happened more than once, I looked at Menu No.001 on the deck and found that the LOCAL ENA setting had changed from 0002 ENA to 0001 ST&EJ (Only the STOP and EJECT buttons can be operated). According to Panasonic’s manual, drop frame mode is valid only when the CONTROL switch is set to LOCAL or the setup menu No.001 (LOCAL ENA) is set to ENA. It seems that FCP is somehow automatically changing this setting on the deck in order to control the deck, thereby striping the tape with nondrop timecode. Would love to hear if anyone has experienced this…
Thanks,
Luke -
So just park your timeline on black, enter in a manual tc for the deck and manually hit play and record and stripe the tape that way. That should lay down df tc that way. Skip FCP black and code.
Jeremy
-
Right, that’s exactly what I’ve done. What I was asking is if anyone else has encountered this problem in FCP? Can anyone from Panasonic, AJA or Apple weigh in on this? Could it be a firmware issue?
thanks
Luke -
I think you answered your own question about the df tc settings that you mentioned earlier on the deck. Your deck has to be in local or df tc. Easy enough.
Jeremy
-
[JeremyG] “Your deck has to be in local or df tc”
Sorry, typo, Your deck has to be in local FOR df tc.
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up