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Preset Vs Regen Timecode drift
I was wondering if there is a difference in the way timecode references the internal clock when laying it to tape for Regen Vs Preset? Whenever I stripe a tape I preset the timecode so it starts at the desrired time eg 09:56:00:00 and then switch it to regen as I remember someone saying it can drift if left on preset? Any comments or is this just an old wives tale?! I have an NTSC DVCAM deck that has a menu where you can just leave the mode in preset and it does insert editing and everything without glitches whilst left in this mode. As I am mastering from FCP timecode comes via 9 pin so I was interested in if preset/regen modes affect the interaction with this timecode stream once the assemble/insert edit commences.
Thanks!
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5 Replies
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You must switch over to Regen if you want the deck to properly pick up the timecode at the point of the edit. If you don’t, then the VTR typically restarts the timecode at whatever point it was when you hit “Stop.”
So you black a tape from 00:58:00:00 to 00:59:05:00.
Then you make an Edit at 00:59:00:00 on the VTR but you’re still set to Preset Timecode, most VTR’s will make that edit at 00:59:00:00 but the TC will switch to 00:59:05:01 at that point.
If you set up for Regen, then the TC will properly maintain from 00:59:00:00 at the point of edit.
This must the be the “drift” you’ve heard of.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
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You make right setting your TC generator to Preset when you stripe tapes. Like that you can chose the initial time, otherwise the desk would start with the last TC that have in memory.
This is works when you put the machine to record by “REC-PLAY”.
In the moment you edit by “Insert” or “Assemble” shouldn’t make no difference. In “Insert” you are not recording any new TC (LTC), you work with the TC that you have already set when striping the tape. In “Assemble” you are generating new TC in each ediing, but this TC must be the continuation of he previous TC. So you are regenerating (regen) the TC. This must be like that even if you have set the TC generator to “Preset”.
So if you are striping tapes and editing by Insert, set your TC generator to Preset and forget about it.
RafaelPPC G5 2x2Gh 4GbRAM/BlackMagic SD/PMBP 17″Core2Duo 4GbRAM
JVC DTV-17″/FCS2/AE CS3/COMBUSTION/SHAKE -
[rafalaos] “So if you are striping tapes and editing by Insert, set your TC generator to Preset and forget about it.
Rafael”Sorry, this is wrong.
If you are insert editing you will be putting new VITC on the tape and this needs to match the LTC – hence ‘Regen’ The drift everybody mentions is when the LTC doesn’t match the VITC because its been in preset.Peter
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Peter,
We both are right:-)
This is why I wrote: “In “Insert” you are not recording any new TC (LTC), you work with the TC that you have already set when striping the tape”.
As you see I said TC (LTC). If you are lying new picture (Insert or Assemble) of course you are recording new VITC. If you insert just audio, you do not record LTC, nor VITC.
And of course the two TC must much. When they do not match, you better switch and edit in CTL or you get crazy.
Rafael.PPC G5 2x2Gh 4GbRAM/BlackMagic SD/PMBP 17″Core2Duo 4GbRAM
JVC DTV-17″/FCS2/AE CS3/COMBUSTION/SHAKE -
Thanks to everyone for your feedback:-)
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