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HVR-S270 compact flash card timecode
I’m not getting timecode when importing clips from my HVR-MRC1 unit (32GB compact flash) attached to the HVR-s270 camcorder. My setup appears correct. I can record timecode to a video cassette and the display indicates timecode is present on the CF unit and matches the TC on the tape. The TC appears to be present during playback of the HVR-MRC1 and matches the TC on the tape. But on the Vegas timeline all clips begin at 00:00:00:00, either in the avi mode or the DV (quicktime) mode. Anyone else experience this problem? Any solutions?
Thanks
Larry Brewer
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16 Replies
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Larry, this will always be the case with any clip you import, be it from tape, hard drive, CF card, etc.
You need to display the timecode on the source material to be able to use timecode the way I think you want to.
In Vegas Pro 8, run the “Tools – Scripting – Add Timecode to all Media” script.
Source timecode is now displayed on each clip.
I don’t use this feature very often but, when I do, it’s proven to be very helpful.
There’s a companion script to disable all timecode when you’re done with it. -
Thanks Mike,
The problem isn’t the ability to display TC, as in a window timecode function. I figured out that one along time ago with the help of someone from this forum. I’m talking about field timecode issues. I shoot time of day, Dropframe, free run and my client takes notes from her wristwatch. The timecode is fine on the DVCam cassette and the notes are helpful in finding shots. But not from clips recorded on the 32GB compact flash card. Each clip begins at 00:00:00:00, even though the timecode numbers are visible on the LCD screen of the HVR-MRC1 during taping and playback.
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Larry, I face the same issue with tape.
I regularly log tapes and take notes according to time code numbers (I shoot rec run mode).
My camera has the ability to preset timecode so, on a shoot with a lot of tapes, tape 1 starts at 01:00:00:00, tape 2 starts at 02:00:00:00, etc.
I’ll then batch capture according to my notes.
Once I sart up Vegas though, all this goes out the window because, as you said, each clip starts at 00:00:00:00 🙁
The only way around it for me is to run the script so that I can see the source timecode.
I’m not sure if it’ll help but, if you have the Edit Details tab open, you can see the source timecode information there on a clip by clip basis.
Enabling the Detail View in the Media Pool will show it as well. -
Mike
Like I said, The DVCam tape timecode works just fine. It’s only when I use the Compact Flash card. (HVR-s270)
If I use the script to “add timecode to all clips” the timecode still comes up 00:00:00:00 at the beginning of each clips. So that is of little use.
Thanks
Larry Brewer
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“It’s only when I use the Compact Flash card.”
Thanks Larry. It finally sunk in 🙂
My excuse is that it’s Friday of a long week!!
FWIW, I checked the HVR-Z7 / HVR-S270 forum on DV Info and this seems to be a common complaint across most NLEs 🙁 -
For what it’s worth, I just managed to solve a similar problem of vanishing native timecode (not sure if that’s the correct term, what I mean is the timecode stored on the tape, time the the footage was originally fimed, not anything added later in Vegas)
Native timecode, if we’re calling it that, is stored in many different formats (there’s not much standardization) and Vegas likes some and not others. In my case I had one long AVI that I used an outside program to split into scenes by timecode/datestamp (Ideally you do that during capture but this was after the fact). It would then output several AVIs with the timecode of each intact.
I had to go through a few different programs. The first three outputted AVIs which, when I checked using those programs, showed the timecode was fine (as did the camera). Vegas, however, didn’t recognize them, I got the zero issue mentioned above, even using the add timecode script, timecode fx in the media viewer, etc. no go same issue above.
I then tried a third program, and for whatever reason it exported the timecode-split scenes in a format Vegas 8 liked, problem solved (by the way it was scenalyzer live, the newer version not the old freeware)
So in these timecode zero cases, best to keep in mind the a) the timecode must be there on the original file/media, and b) it must be in a format Vegas likes. If not, you’re banging your head against the wall for hours like I just did thinking there’s a magic setting, when you need to go back to the AVI. (Maybe Vegas 9 is more accompanying, haven’t tried)
Like I said, for what it’s worth
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I just bought a hvr-mrc1
to give new life to my Sony PD170.I am having the same timecode problem. I can see it on the hvr-mrc1, but when Vegas 10.0e imports it, it reads the starting point as 0000000.
I tried your scenelizer live, and within that program I can also see the correct timecode. But when I save it from there, the Vegas still opens it as if there is no timecode.
Have you come up with any workarounds in the last two years on this?
John Lenihan
John Lenihan
LeniCam Video Productions
https://www.lenicamvideoproductions.com -
John
Are you shooting HDV or DVCam?
I ask this because I’m certain my issues back in 2009 were concerning DVCam, standard def video. And I can’t really say if that issue was ever cleared up. These days I shoot only HDV on the Sony HVR-s270 camcorder with the HVR-MRC1 using 32GB cards and the time code is fine.
I’ll have my camera out this weekend and I’ll shoot some DVCam with it to see if Vegas 10E behaves any better that Vegas 8 did back when I first posted this complaint.
But until then, here’s something for you to try. Are you aware of a import utility for Sony Compact Flash recorders called “ru_util.exe”? ru_util.exe is a free program you can find at…
https://pro.sony.com/bbsccms/ext/hdv/z7u_s270u_m35u/HVR-Z7U/unit_software.html
Even if it doesn’t fix the timecode issue, it will fix the 4GB issue. What happens with the MCR1, is that it will break your continuous recordings into 4GB blocks. If they aren’t imported via ru_util.exe, there will be an interruption at the beginning and ending of each block. ru_util.exe is a stitching program that fixes that.
Of course if you never record long continuous clips exceeding 13 mins, you would have never even noticed this problem. BTW, this only works when used during the initial importing from the CF card, it can’t fix the stitching problem after the fact.
So… My issue was concerning DVCam recordings only. HDV recordings have timecode and should work inside Sony Vegas 10e.
Try re-importing the footage from the CF card using the ru_util.exe and see if it makes a difference.
Try shooting in HDV mode, if you aren’t already. You get 50% more footage on the same media as DVCam, and Sony Vegas 10e loves HDV footage. You can always downconvert your finished program.
Let me know if this helps and good luck!
Larry Brewer
Vegas Pro 10e
Intel quad core 12 GB ram -
John
Just re-read your post and noticed the PD170 you are using. So HDV recording isn’t an option. I would still be curious is the ru_util.exe would help the situation.
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Thanks Larry,
I have been using that software utility all this time that I have had this problem.
Actually, I tried bypassing the utility, but that didn’t help it.
I am operating the pd170 in dvcam mode.
John Lenihan
John Lenihan
LeniCam Video Productions
https://www.lenicamvideoproductions.com
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