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Need help with a Timecode problem
So I have a somewhat unique situation. I edit a very high volume of cookie cutter projects. These projects are recorded using a version of the divx codec, which isn’t great. I realize that Final Cut kind of hates AVIs, so we’re converting them to MOVs with Divx Doctor before bringing them into Final Cut.
After quite a bit of fighting with the various components that I use, I’ve gotten everything to work together except for the timecode. Due to the high volume of work, I’d like to get it to where I don’t need to render the timecode generator each time I do a film. The client wants the timecode in the bottom right corner of the frame, so I can’t really get around it.So to the question:
Is there a way to either 1) alter the Timecode Generator’s default settings such as the position and size or 2) render a Timecode Generator-enhanced slug with an empty/transparent alpha layer to an AVI so that I can run it back through Divx Doctor and bring it back into Final Cut so that the codecs all match and rendering is kept to a minimum?Hopefully this is clear enough. I know the process is somewhat convoluted, but I’m just sort of testing the waters here.
Thanks
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5 Replies
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I’m not sure I understand your issue, but you can size and position both the tc reader and tc generator. You can nest your entire program and add either to the nest. On my system they don’t have to be rendered.
John
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You can save your preferred settings for the TC generator or reader as a “favorite”, and then you can apply it with a single click to your shots in the future.
Also, there’s a TC generator or reader filter in Compressor. I’ve never used it, but it’s worth looking into to help automate your situation.
Finally, you can make a “blank” frame in Photoshop, save edit that into a timeline, apply the TC generator to it & use that as a template project for your future use. Simply make a black color solid in PS, add a black alpha channel, flatten & save it as a .tif or .tga, and that can be your blank.
Arnie
Post production is not an afterthought!
https://www.arniepix.com/ -
Thanks, I was unaware that that was how the favorites work. That’s a step in the right direction. It still appears that I need to render it, but I think that it has something to do with my codec situation. I’ll try the photoshop thing out tomorrow and update this.
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Why render the TC in?
If you have QT TC, or zero based TC, QT player can display that just fine.
As an alternative, you could use a logging program with for the client/director to create logging lists for you.
Wouldn’t that be a tad more efficient?Bouke
https://www.videotoolshed.com/
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That wouldn’t really work in my case, because we’re in kind of a unique situation where the client actually wants the timecode on the final product so that they can gauge the length of interactions, etc.
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