Proper tape specs for tv distribution

[Graeme Nattress]

Digital video never has, does not have and never will have any setup. Setup is only for analogue NTSC video in North America.

Graeme

– http://www.nattress.com – Film Effects for FCP

[Tony]

To avoid confusion in SD make sure the bars recorded on the HD masters are 75% saturation not 100%.

The timing I have used for air masters is as follows

1) timecode is DF
2) black from 58:00:00- 58:30:00
3) one minute bars and tone 58:30:00- 59:30:00
4) black 10 sec 59:30- 59:40:00
5) ten sec slate 59:40:00-59:59:50
6) Countdown 59:59:50-59:59:57
7) Programs starts at 01:00:00:00

Never send out discrete audio tracks for broadcast they should either be mixed down to mono or stereo depending on what the broadcaster has requested.

Setup is only for analog formats such as betacam sp, vhs, 1″, Umatic etc.

Tony Salgado

[Mallnu]

thank you both so much for the info. now you say you use drop frame. is this the standard? i have previosly always output in ndf.

[Tony]

DF timecode is the standard for broadcast programming.

However for short material such as 30 sec spots NDF or DF will be ok.

DF is essential for program masters such as 1/2 hour or longer in which the exact time (in reference to clock time) is necessary for the proper timing of commerical insertions or program breaks.

Tony Salgado

[Mallnu]

Thanks Tony for clearing that up.