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Source Timecode in Quicktime Clips
Hi there.
Firstly can I apologise if I am dragging up an issue which has been debated to death, but I really need to get a handle on a specific issue I am having.
I work for a post production facility in London and recently we have had several similar requests from different production companies.
They are all shooting on the Arri Alexa, to the Quicktime ProRes file format on SxS cards.
The Alexa shoots in LOG C, which gives all of the footage a ‘washed-out’ look. They have asked us if there is any way that we can ‘batch process’ all of their rushes, applying a generic colour correction to each clip, and supply them back in a format that can be easily ingested into an Avid (DNxHD for example)
The reason I am posting this enquiry on the Vegas forum is that, having used Vegas vehemently throughout my time at university, and having it save my life on numerous occasions, when I was asked by ‘the professionals’ to investigate it’s capabilities in this area, I was determined to come up with a positive response.
I notice that, with Production Assistant 2.0, it is possible to batch process a collection of clips in this way.
Unfortunately, one of the requirements is that the clips that are rendered out MUST retain the source timecode stamped into each one at the time of filming.
As yet, all I get from each clip when I import them into Vegas is a start TC of 00:00:00:00
Short of dragging each clip individually onto the timeline (there will be hundreds!) and giving them the right start TC, I cannot see any work around for this.
Has anybody found a solution to this? Do you think it is worth me taking this to Sony and trying to get it incorporated into their next revision of Vegas 10?
We are getting more and more requests for this kind of solution now that more people are shooting on the Alexa, and if Vegas could offer a solution, I feel that they would have a very strong tool for the professional market.
Alternatively, is anyone aware of another piece of software which may allow us to supply clients with batch processed clips.
I am aware, by the way, that source timecode can be recognised when a tape is captured directly into Vegas, but we will have hundreds of Quicktime ProRes files given to us on a drive.
Many thanks for your patience in reading this, I look forward to any help you may be able to offer.
Kind regards
Mark.
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4 Replies
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Mark, the only suggestion I can offer is to make sure you’re using Pro 10.0a as the timecode issue reared it’s ugly head in 10.0b and wasn’t noticed until 10.0c
Whether Vegas is capable of reading source timecode from these clips is another matter entirely but at least use the version that reads source timecode properly. -
Many thanks for your response.
I have heard about 10 b & c losing source TC. Unfortunately, I have tried sample clips on version 9c and it still has the issue of not recognising source/native clip timecode.
If I drop the same clip into FCP the source timecode is displayed in the information next to the clip in the bin, so I know it is there.
I have seen source TC in captured video in this version, so I know it can do it sometimes.
I think this is an issue with Vegas not recognising or simply ignoring certain formats of metadata, in this case, Quicktime.
Mark.
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I suspect that you’re correct with respect to Vegas not reading QuickTime timecode and I personally do not know of any way to fix this.
If Vegas gave us the ability to re-stripe timecode to a user-specified number (it’s been asked for numerous times),this would be an easy fix but we’re still waiting 🙁 -
email steve@lightillusion.com
he’s doing beta testing of a workflow that will do what you want (in a very easy and basic fashion at the moment)
here is a demo videohttps://homepage.mac.com/lindsayellis/avid-alexa.mov
hope it helps someone
jamie
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