DSLR timecode

[Jeremy Garchow]

[David Friedman] “‘ve tried using QTChange to add a timecode track to my QT files (and the resulting timeocde track does show up in QuickTime Player 7, etc.), but then no matter which of several import methods I’ve tried into FCPX they all end up with 00;00;00;00 starting timecode once in FCPX.”

In Qt change, you also have to delete the “current” tc track while updating it. Should look something like this screen grab:

After choosing that option, the tc shows up in FCPx.

Jeremy

[David Friedman]

That’s very interesting Jeremy, thanks. I’ve tried doing it your way, but I’m having spotty luck at best. Often, but not always, qtChange is giving me a script error when I try with deleting the Normal TC track (it feels like it’s getting confused because my Canon 5DMkII native QT files don’t have a TC track to begin with). And still only some of those that do work in qtChange are showing their timecode in FCPX.

Would you mind telling me a few more of your tech details? What camera are your clips from? What framerate are you shooting? What framerate setup are you using in qtChange? What Mac OS are you on?

My answers to above are: 5DMkII, 29.97 fps, NTSC DF, OS 10.6.8.

Thanks!

And, as a side note, while Grinder does work I’m not entirely happy with it because: 1. It has a known bug wherein it gives QT clips artificially long durations (original duration x10 I think); 2. It only does NDF timecode, not DF.

[Jeremy Garchow]

Sorry for the late response.

First and foremost, I’d email Bouke, the developer, and tell him your situation and also ask for the very latest version of qtChange.

If that doesn’t work, please write back.

Jeremy

[David Friedman]

I have been in touch with Bouke throughout my troubleshooting of the issue. He’s been extremely helpful, but we’re still plugging. (And I do have latest qtChange, v 1.83)

It would be useful Jeremy if you could supply those details from your setup please? I’m trying to eliminate variables. Also, just to be clear, you’re having 100% consistent success with it? Thanks.

[Jeremy Garchow]

Sorry, I’m away from my computers and media until next week, I will check then.

You do have all the THM files, correct?

All my footage is mostly 7D some 5D, and always 23.976fps.

It seems to work all the time, yes, but I haven’t done a ton of real work on FCPx.

I’ve tried it with about 40GBs of test material and it all seemed to work.

[David Friedman]

Thanks Jeremy – I think I’ve finally figured it out.

My first problem, that seems to have been causing the script errors in qtChange, was that I was using Photo Mechanic to ingest my video files (and the THMs) from CF card to hard drive. For some reason those that were ingested by Photo Mechanic throw the script error in qtChange, while the same files manually copied in the Finder do fine in qtChange.

Second thing was that both Bouke and I were curious about your step of deleting the Normal TC track while in qtChange – since the Canon clips don’t have a TC track to begin with. I tried it anyway and it didn’t work for me. What I did find though was In qtChange, if I only Add/Change the TC track, but don’t check any of the three “add to Reelname” options, then qtChange does add TC that does show up in QT Player but it does NOT show up in FCPX. But if I also select any or all of the three “add to Reelname” options then the timecode DOES show up in FCPX.

So now I’ve eliminated Photo Mechanic ingest from my workflow and I’m using qtChange with settings like this (where I’m selecting “clipname” in the “add to Reelname” choices):

[Jeremy Garchow]

Are you adding a reel name as well? That might be why you aren’t seeing the tc.

[David Friedman]

Not adding any reel name is precisely when I do not see the timecode once in FCPX. When I add the TC track AND a reel name in qtChange then I DO see the timecode in FCPX. Go figure. Bouke seems to be onto a fix for it in qtChange though.

[Jeremy Garchow]

[David Friedman] “Not adding any reel name is precisely when I do not see the timecode once in FCPX. “

Yes, works the same way for QT as well. Maybe you don’t have to delete the tc after all. The reel info is the only difference I see between yours and mine.

More testing for me, but glad we got you there!

Jeremy

[Andy Devries]

BUMP just stumbled upon this thread when experiencing the same issue – timeofday tc added in qtchange worked in FCP7 but was not showing up in FCPX.

Adding a reel name does it – the developer has added a very courteous note about this in the app as-of qtchange 2.18 (see screenshot below). Thanks all!