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sequence timecode to tape?
Is there some trick to getting the timecode you have set up for your sequence to be recorded correctly to tape when you print it? I set up my timecode to start at 00:58:30;00, but when I print to video, the timecode on the tape starts at 01:00:00;00.
Is there something I have set wrong? I can’t seem to figure it out.
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9 Replies
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You can’t output timecode from Print to Video unless it’s Firewire.
Sean
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Do you mean unless you are printing to a deck hooked up through firewire? That is what I am doing.
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Then it’s your VTR settings that need to be changed. Make sure it is set to external regen.
Sean
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Well, typically you can’t do this via firewire, but you can try a trick that works for the DSR-11. But normally via firewire you cannot do this, you need a deck with deck control, like RS-422.
Shane’s Stock Answer #46 – Outputting Timecode to a DSR-11 DVCAM Deck
Since FCP 4 we have been unable to stripe a new TC such as 00:58:00:00 or 01:58:00:00 to a DVCAM tape with the DSR-11. NO MORE!! I think I found a solution.
Get SimpleVideoOut from the Apple (its free):
https://developer.apple.com/samplecode/SimpleVideoOut/SimpleVideoOut.html
Then create a QT Movie in FCP or Xpress Pro from a sequence which has the starting TC you want on the tape. I just tried it with 00:58:00:00. In the timeline, I just put Bars & Tone for 90 seconds and a black slug for 45 (to take me over 01:00:00:00). You could create a sequence with whatever combination you wanted with the TC set to start at whatever timecode you need for your choice. But the Timeline TC MUST be set to your desired starting code. The exported QT file will have this TC in it.
Then load this DV QT movie into SimpleVideoOut (having selecting Firewire / Apple Firewire PAL or NTSC when you open the app).
Now load a fresh DVCAM tape and set your DSR-11 to:
REC MODE = DVCAM
DV IN TC = EXTERNAL(Have the TC display turned on for this first test so you can verify it has worked.)
Then just hold the REC and PLAY buttons together on the DSR-11 and press play in the SimpleVideoOut app and the new TC will be recorded to your DVCAM tape. Hey presto you are now able to stripe a tape with what ever timecode you want using a DSR-11.
Remember to turn ‘DV IN TC’ back to INTERNAL on the DSR-11 when you come to record your edit to tape.
The problem with the DSR-11 is that it is not the best deck and starting recording at the exact TC, but playing with the pre-rolls should eventually get it spot on. I have had some success with FCP’s ‘Edit to Tape’ and very good results with Avid Xpress Pro after a few tweaks.
Also, if you just had a black QT file, you can change the starting TC to suite the tape; i.e. 00:58:00:00 or 02:58:00:00 etc without going back into FCP or Xpress Pro and rendering out another QT. To do this, just use Sebsky Tools to alter the starting TC of the file.
https://www.dharmafilm.com/sebskytools/Shane
Littlefrog PostGETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD now for sale!
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I was always able to output TC over firewire to both our DSR-1800 and our AJ-HD1200A. If you set device control to FW instead of RS232 on the deck, it should see and record FW timecode (even though you’re not actually controlling it).
Alternatively you can hook up a consumer DV camcorder and it should just work (provided you are doing miniDV tape and not DVCam tape).
Sean
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Sean –
“I was always able to output TC over firewire to … our AJ-HD1200A”
Can you explain exactly how you do this? I have always used the edit-to-tape feature and a lot of workarounds because I didn’t know this was possible. What menu settings do you use on the 1200A?
Herb Sevush
Zebra Productions -
All you do is Print to Video and press the record and play buttons on the 1200A. It will record the timecode coming from FCP. The only menu settings you need are the ones to select Firewire for the input.
Sean
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Wow, I had no idea this was actually such a difficult thing. Is it due to the structure of data flow in the firewire connection or something like that? I am using a DSR-11 btw.
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Got me. I am not an engineer. I just know that this feature was not designed into the firewire protocol. The fact that it works on some decks is interesting. This used to be a common practice with FCP 3. But since it ONLY worked with the DSR-11, Apple REMOVED that feature. So that others wouldn’t feel left out? Who knows.
Shane
Littlefrog PostGETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD now for sale!
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