Generating an audio timecode track?

[Douglas Spotted eagle]

what are you attempting to control with Vegas? Hardware? Software?
There are many virtual MIDI routers, and there are many MIDI to SMPTE converter/controllers for hardware.
More information would be helpful.

Douglas Spotted Eagle
VASST

Certified Sony Vegas Trainer
Aerial Camera/Instructor

[Daniel Atkinson]

Hi,

The final DVD is meant for a lighting tech, he needs to sync certain lighting effects to the video. He says that he usually gets an “SMPTE audio timecode” on the center channel and would like me to do the same.

Only trouble is, I’ve never heard of such a thing. I’ve heard of MIDI timecode, but up to this point I had no idea that SMPTE timecode could be in audio form. He sent me a sample WAV file from the center chan of one of his previous projects, it sounds very much like MIDI timecode, a series of beeps.

I’ve no control over the equipment used to play the DVD, so at this point I just have to comply with his wishes and have an audio timecode on the center chan.

Is there any software solution that can generate an audio timecode track for an existing video? An application? a DX/VST plugin? Anything at all?

I just have vegas and a jog shuttle. No other hardware at all, not to mention a deck with “TC OUT”. I really hope there’s a way doing this using only software.

My musician friend says that he thinks Cubase can generate audio timecode, but even if that’s true and suppose I ask him for a timecode track of the desired length at the right framerate, will it be synced properly to my video and audio if I just import it as is into vegas and throw it onto the center chan?

[childish rant] Why can’t Vegas just have a “Audio timecode” plugin, like the video timecode one? *sigh* [/childish rant]

Thank you, by the way, for the amazingly quick response.
Daniel

[Douglas Spotted eagle]

Visual timecode doesn’t do anything for you other than provide a visual reference point….

The only way I can think of that you can do this on the cheap/free, is to send the audio to a recorder that has BWF ability, re-import that audio to Vegas with timestamps, and use a tool like Majax to extract the LTC.
I’m not aware of software that generates LTC, although it may well exist. We have several MOTU devices that manage MTC to LTC, perhaps you can rent/borrow from a local studio or house. Or have someone generate a track for you locally, it won’t take long.

Douglas Spotted Eagle
VASST

Certified Sony Vegas Trainer
Aerial Camera/Instructor

[Daniel Atkinson]

Thanks Douglas.

I’ve called some local studios, the young editors had no idea what I was talking about, but some of the older ones knew and said that it’s a relic from the analog days.

I found this little shockwave application called LTCgeneretor, which seems to be the only software solution for this. It’s pretty new and costs 170 euro, way beyond my modest budget. I understand that the author, Bouke, is a member of this forum as well.

I’ll figure this out eventually.
Thanks again.

[John Frey]

I spent many years using analog linear edit systems in my studio. My edit controllers could read either linear (audio) timecode or VITC (vertical interval timecode) from Betacam or 3/4″SP videotapes in the edit source and record decks. Some decks had built-in TC generators and were used to “pre-stripe” the editmaster tapes in advance. Timecode was generated in the field recorder to tape during the shoot. I had a standalone audio TC generator that is sitting around somewhere in storage. Maybe this signal could be fed into an audio input to Vegas or Sound Forge to record that distinct signal – or not! If you are interested in it, let me know.

John D. Frey
25 Year owner/operator of two California-based production studios.

Digital West Video Productions of San Luis Obispo and Inland Images of Lake Elsinore