Can FCP capture film transfer edge code stored in the user bits on HDCAM tape?

[Rafael Amador]

Hi Zach,
Normally the User-bits are generated when you record with a camera or Video-desk. Users bits are embed in the TC (Longitudinal TC or Vertical Interval TC). When you capture your footage with FC the Uers-bits are captured but, as long as I know, FC doesn’t give you any chance to use that information, not even to monitor that data. And when you export from FC a new TC is generated but you can not even set User-bits in it.
About TC the only chance that FC gives you is to set the initial time.
Cheers,
rafael

[Gary Adcock]

[drdeluxe] “My colorist said the edge code of each role is automatically stored in the userbits (or UBits) of the HDCAM tape.”

I have never heard of a telecine actually adding edge code to a tape during transfer.
Usually the telecine includes a flex file with the transfer that needs to be handled inside of cinema tools and that CT maintains that database.

“Is Final Cut Pro capable of recognising the user bit data if so how can I aquire that when I capture the source material from tape.”
No. but then neither can avid directly -both use specialized apps to maintain that data base.
That being said my Kona Cards can read UB data but that has been limited so far in FCP to rp188 TC for variable frame rates/ 24p.

gary adcock
Studio37
HD & Film Consultation
Post and Production Workflows

[Steven Gonzales]

Horita has some software called PC-LOG that captures time code or user bits. Perhaps you could use that to collect timecode to user bit (keycode), then match that to information from a Final Cut batch list somehow.

https://www.horita.com/

[Joseph Owens]

In order to extract the VITC-imbedded metadata (which can include keycode footage numbers, record tape TC, and external audio system TC), you usually require a device such as an “Afterburner” which will spit out the numbers.
In your case, you should be able to use Cinema Tools to import the metadata (.FLX) file which should have been generated with your transfer. That data will appear as the secondary codes in FCP.

It is correct that telecines do not insert metadata into the video stream. An onboard (on the telecine) keycode reader (Aaton or Evertz) looks at the barcodes as they fly past — and send that to a downstream key/insert box which becomes an external VITC source, inserted instead of the videotape recorder’s internal VITC generator. Getting these codes correct and in sync can be quite complicated, given the internal frame delays, etc., that can be associated with digital signal paths, recorders, noise reducers, and so on.

Joe