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Vegas 15 Timecode Skips 1 Frame Sometimes
Hi! I burned the timecode into my picture-locked edit for my sound designer by creating a blank title/text across the top of my entire timeline and adding the FX “VEGAS Timecode.” We have just recently noticed that every once in a while, the timecode skips a frame. My project is 1920×1080 29.97fps. The timecode format I’m using is hours:minutes:seconds:frames. So, for example, what happens is the timecode reads 00:00:16:28 then it jumps to 00:00:17:00. But the 29th frame of that second does NOT drop out of the video – the video still plays all 30 frames. It’s JUST the timecode that’s wrong.
I’m not going to try to fix it now because we’re already a week into sound post-production and it’ll set her back to have to wait for a new render. But does anybody know why this is and what I could do to fix it for the next project? Thanks!
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2 Replies
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In short this is because of the 29.97 fps. That .97 is what’s causing this drop. Unless this material is being produced for TV or has some specific technical requirements, then I suggest you just go with a solid 30fps in the future.
I’ve attached a screenshot of the Timecode FX in Vegas Pro 20 and the Time Format settings for Ruler timecode. I copied your project settings and setting Timecode FX to “Time & Frames” is what introduces the lack of “,29” before 00:00:17:00. If I set it to the SMPTE 29.97 options – it has the “,29” now.
There’s probably some math that explains this difference very clearly, but basically in your case you need to have a matching Time Format in your Project Settings, Ruler, Timecode FX. To edit Ruler timecode – go to 3rd tab of your Project Settings or right click on the time above timeline. If there’s an option with your specific framerate – use that; if not – use Time & Frames.
Actually you can set your Ruler to Absolute Frames and try playing around with switching between 29.97 and 30 fps for your project at different points in the timeline. The values will differ slightly (as they should) and at some point they no longer round to the same value and this difference increases every x frames. This shows the .03 fps difference pretty well. I guess that if you don’t specify the .97 fps value then it rounds some things to 30 fps? I feel like it should be something along those lines and there’s probably a more technical explanation.
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Thank you, this makes perfect sense.
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