-
batch capturing through timecode breaks
I’ve got a number of tapes to digitize that have sequential breaks in the timecode, which final cut hates. Basically there’s timecode from 2:00:00:00 to 2:10:00:00, then it jumps to 3:00:00:00 to 3:10:00:00, etc.
Is there any way to log and then capture all of it at once? I’ve had to capture within each break, avid has no problem going forward to look for the next timecode, is there a way to get final cut to do this?
Thanks for the help
-
10 Replies
-
Did you try Capture Now?
Without handles FCP won’t be able to pre-roll the deck. Do you need to capture from the very first frame of each clip? Leaving the customary 3 – 5 seconds of handles depending on your deck preferences you should be able to batch capture your material leaving 3-5 seconds of pre-roll on that clip starting on the 3 hour mark as well. This will also allow you to re-capture your media in the event that you loose the captured footage.
also if the exact in is not mandatory and you will never need to re-capture this material accurately you could go to User Preferences and in the General tab uncheck Abort Capture on Dropped Frames. Not sure if FCP will let you jump from hour 2 to hour 3. You might have to capture each individually.
Victor
-
You didn’t mention what format you’re capturing. For HDV and DV captures with TC breaks I use Capture Magic HD:
https://bigmugsoftware.com/capture/
I believe it works outside the framework of QuickTime, so multiple stream captures as well as capturing through breaks is possible. It plows right through any tape – tapes that would make FCP choke over and over. The only thing you need to look out for is audio synch issues.
-
Joel,
That looks like live capture software like Adobe On Location. It sounds like your method would be the same as setting the camera to “non-controllable device” and using the capture now feature. Will this break up clips when the timecode breaks?
As far as batch capturing goes, you can go into your user preferences and change the tab that says “On Timecode Break” from Abort to Make New Clip. That generally works pretty well. In terms of logging, it might require you to adjust your clip description or other logging information.
The other thing you can do, is manually relog it. You can drag your offline logged clip directly into the “Log and Capture” tool and it will start with the logged timecode and parameters, and then you can adjust your out point to accommodate the timecode break. (Minding necessary pre and post roll)
Richard Sanchez
North Hollywood, CA“We are the facilitators of our own creative evolution.” – Bill Hicks
-
Under User Preferences, On timecode break, “make new clip”
Set yourself up with the capture window.
Rewind the tape.
Press play on the deck.
Under Capture, Hit “Now”
Should automatically build a new clip at every timecode break.
Once it gets past the last recorded material, Final Cut will keep playing tape until the end, looking for timecode. It’s okay to stop it once you know you are past all recorded material.
This might work. And speaking of what might be, reading through your post, all we can gather is that you have tapes and Final Cut. It would be helpful to all if moving forward any questions provide lots of specific details. The more detail there is, the easier it is to provide an answer.
-
I’m capturing footage from a dbeta as uncompressed through sdi using decklink for those wondering. Make new clip on timecode break is no help because my clips don’t span the breaks, they are just in between them. I’m considering capturing the whole tape without timecode and then logging that huge quicktime instead, I don’t want to keep waiting for little sets of captures every 10 mins of footage…
-
Dino –
It would be nice if the method you outlined actually worked the way it is supposed to – however in the real world it is highly prone to error. It’s sort of the Russian Roulette method of digitization – and like the man said, you’ve got to ask yourself “do you feel lucky?”
Herb Sevush
Zebra Productions -
Another alternative would be to dub the digibeta with the broken time code, to a fresh tape. Now you’d have continuous timecode. I would highly recommend you refrain from capturing without time code in case you need to revisit the project and footage.
Richard Sanchez
North Hollywood, CA“We are the facilitators of our own creative evolution.” – Bill Hicks
-
That’s something I’ve done in the past with tapes that had very erratic timecode, but now that drives are so cheap I don’t think it’s worth it to do this anymore. I would also have to find a second deck and wait for the entire tape to dub.
Capturing the whole tape isn’t so bad now that storage is about 10 cents a gig, but I’ll have to switch to prores hq. I would still rather capture from the original tape, but it can’t deal with those breaks without me babysitting it.
-
I’ve had decent success with that method for HDV tapes. I was merely suggesting a possibility.
-
I too have had great success with that method – whether it be digibeta or hdcam sr or hdv (which has a sperate functionality for this based on every time u press record)
I would agree with the others that using capture now with the proper settings is a great way to solve this issue – if it does not work the way u like then try other things.
Best
Lisa
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up