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Multiclip and Tapes with Timecode breaks
Hello,
I’ve just shot a concert with 6 cameras and I’m editing them as a Multiclip. Trouble is, one of the camera tapes had a timecode break because the operator was accidentally bulldozed by a security guard during the show, and the camera switched off for around 20 seconds.
On this occassion the cameras were not timecode synched so I synched the clips in the Multiclip by visually matching in points.
What shall I do about the second part of the camera that was switched off? I could add it as a new angle but shifting the synch by scrubbing a little at a time will take forever as the timecode break occurred 20 minutes into the gig.
I’d really appreciate some advice on this…
Many thanks,
Steve.
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7 Replies
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If the camera was on free run and not rec run here is what I do.
Make a seq and lay in the first clip in. Match the seq’s TC to the Clip’s, then lay in the 2nd clip so the TC lines up. This will create a gap where the camera was stopped. Export this will current settings (not self-contained) and use this in your multicam clip.
This really helps if all the cameras were TC locked but it give a solid video clip with an easy way to check for other breaks and bypasses the need to do any math, which is always a good thing.
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“Export this will current settings (not self-contained) and use this in your multicam clip. ”
I wish it did work that easily. Unfortunately FCP has a problem exporting a clip with a gap – it won’t export as a reference movie. You’ll get a huge self-contained movie that takes eons to writie no matter how you set it to export. My workaround is to use a piece of slug that has been exported as a self contained movie to fill the gap in the track. Just import it and copy and paste it enough times to fill the spot where the camera wasn’t running. That way the movie will be a very small reference movie. (Oddly slug right out of the viewer won’t work. You’ll still get a full-sized exported file.) What would be an even better solution would be if FCP allowed nests to be used in multiclips. As it is now an error occurs, hence the need to export a clip before using it.
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SORRY, just realized my huge typo, I meant SELF-CONTAINED, I used a ref movie one time and I changed the name of the fold they were in and everything got messed up. also self-contained.
I’ve done it many times. Works like a charm. Most fixes take a bit of time (not eons) but I have found that if you take an hour on the front end and do a fix the right way you are not fighting it the whole time and you end up spending hours. Not saying my way is the only right way but in the end it is a rock solid solution.
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Thanks for that – that would be great if not for the fact I’ve already edited the first 20 minutes of the gig using the first part of the tape with the timecode break, thinking I could easily add the second clip from that tape as a new angle later on and then adjust it to the correct place in the Multiclip!
This would have worked out ok if I could adjust the synchronisation of the clip in increments of, say, a minute or so at a time – as it is FCP only lets me adjust it by a few frames each time I sweep my mouse across the mat. Is there a way of scrubbing the sync with the mouse in greater increments?
Thanks,
Steve.
ps – I know…I should have planned things better!
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Modify the Timecode of the broken clip to match the rest and add it to the Multiclip window.
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Aha! That’s done it. Thank you.
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Cheers guys for some very helpful tips.
About to get kick started on a 3 hours long conference edit with a 3 camera setup. 2 of the cameras have matching timecode with no tape changes, then theres the culpret a third camera without matching timecode, and 3 tape changes.
Once the captures finish I will get started.
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