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Black the Timecode for the Whole Tape?
Hi All,
I need to clarify something about editing to BetaSP. Everything that I have seen by reading through the manuals etc. leads me to believe that I have to stripe/black the whole tape with timecode before recording to tape.
In my previous setup (discreet edit), we were able to tell the software to layout say 2 mins of timecode. Then the deck would cue back to in the inpoint and record the footage with timecode. Subsequently, appending new footage would simply add timecode as it recorded. We would usually add a 10 sec black tail to the clip to allow future footage to be recorded (frame accurate).
Does this make sense? Please tell me that FCP has provision to do the same. Otherwise, I’ll be wasting lots of time waiting for new tapes to get ‘prepared’.
Please advise.
Steve. -
7 Replies
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If you mean doing an assemble edit to tape, then no, you don’t have to black the whole tape, simply black the beginning and then assemble onto it and new timecode with be written. The TC might not be continuous, but that depends on the deck, most will simply start writing TC at the assigned TC preset. If you want continuous TC then you have to do an insert edit of VANDA onto a blacked tape with timecode.
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It has always been standard operating procedure for insert editing to black and code tape in advance. This is not a big deal.
What I do miss from the old Video Cube days is the ability to do a crash record and output timecode from the timeline.
This method allowed using simple crash record machines to lay off entire sequences.
Why the heck Avid and FCP are still not able to do this simple task amazes me.
Tony Salgado
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Hi steve,
I out put around 5 beta sp tapes per day,
I need to use black/stripe the tape, only when the tape is new.
You do not have to black/stripe the whole tape,
Stripe your desired timecode & let it go for max 2 minutes or so.
Then you can escape the procedure.
& then go to your desired intime & then it would automatically burn the
timecode in assemble mode for your whole desired dump. (uncheck the time code icon in edit to tape)As per my knowledge like “Edit”. fcp does not have option to stripe for 2 mnts
& automatically cue to in point & start the record. (If there is an option,anyone pls do let me
know coz would be helpful for me too)Hope that was clear
All the best
Regards
Rajesh Bhanushali
rajeshbhanushali@gmail.com -
[tony salgado] “What I do miss from the old Video Cube days is the ability to do a crash record and output timecode from the timeline.”
We had the Video Cube and “upgraded” to the Accom Affinity. The Affinity chassis doesn’t provide a TC output like the Cube did. They offer a solution in the back of the manual. The purchase of a Horita box that siphons the time code from the RS422 port. You would then feed the output from the box into the deck’s external TC input. I’m not sure if you could do the same with FCP. Sounds like in interesting experiment.
When I used to edit news in a linear edit bay, the standard procedure was to black the entire tape and insert edit only. If I was in a hurry, I would black only what I needed right away and then later go back and black the rest of the tape. To many, Time Code is still black magic, even though it has existed since the 1960s. People were amazed when I showed them the Regen-Preset switch. Yeah, you can just go back and Assemble Edit with Regen and black the rest of the tape. No harm done!
I could have had a full-time job just fixing edit tapes where an editor had accidently assembled on a master tape. This was oxide Beta and there was no VITC yet. It was easy to add new time code to fix the mistakes.
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I simply manually set my starting timecode on the tape deck at 00:58:30:00 and just black about 10 seconds or so. Then I set my In Point on the deck at 58:40:00 and my In Point on my timeline at 58:40:00 and make an Assemble edit.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Creative Genius, Biscardi Creative Media
https://www.biscardicreative.comNow in Production, “The Rough Cut,” https://www.theroughcutmovie.com
“I reject your reality and substitute my own!” – Adam Savage, Mythbusters
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There is absolutely no need to black a tape in the non-linear output world. Blacking a tape is preparing it for insert editing.
Assemble editing is by definition picking up where timecode left off and continuing the wriitng of said timecode along with image. You need only have enough timecode on a tape to preroll the machine to assemble edit your entire timeline with frame accuracy onto a master. You have essentially blacked the tape with your program. It is now prepared for insert editing if you needed to fix a shot or change audio etc.
Some decks only offer assemble editing. More advanced offer insert editing where image and sound are laid down without disrupting the timecode.
Glad I started out as a linear editor!
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“Assemble editing is by definition picking up where timecode left off and continuing the wriitng of said timecode along with image.”
Not so. This is very dependent on the deck. Many, many decks will not pre-read the timecode and will simply write timecode from the preset or from the last timecode they wrote, if they’re in record run, or from time of day or some other time, if they’re in free run. This is regardless of the TC that’s already on the tape.
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