Apple M8728Z/A User Manual - Page 32

Timecode Considerations, General Timecode Tips, About NTSC Timecode

Page 32 highlights

Your Final Cut Pro system needs to be equipped with specialized hardware to capture 24p video, either as compressed or uncompressed clips. Alternatively, some DV cameras, such as the Panasonic AG-DVX100 camcorder, can shoot 24p video and use the 2:3:3:2 pull-down method to record it to tape at 29.97 fps (the NTSC standard). Using Final Cut Pro and Cinema Tools, you can capture this video and remove the 2:3:3:2 pull-down so that you can edit it at 24 fps. See Adding and Removing Pull-Down in 24p Clips for more information. Note: When used as part of an NTSC system, the 24p videotape recorder's (VTR's) frame rate is actually 23.976 fps (referred to as 23.98 fps) to be compatible with the NTSC 29.97 fps rate. Timecode Considerations There are several general issues related to timecode that you should be aware of. If you're using NTSC video, you can also choose between two timecode formats. General Timecode Tips When using video or audio equipment that allows you to define the timecode setting, it is recommended that you set the "hours" part of the timecode to match the tape's reel number. This makes it much easier to recognize which reel a clip originated from. It is also best to avoid "crossing midnight" on a tape. This happens when the timecode turns over from 23:59:59:29 to 00:00:00:00 while the tape is playing. You have the option to use record run or free run timecode during the production: • Record run timecode: The timecode generator pauses each time you stop recording. Your tape ends up with continuous timecode, because each time you start recording it picks up from where it left off. • Free run timecode: The timecode generator runs continuously. Your tape ends up with a timecode break each time you start recording. To avoid potential issues while capturing clips, it is strongly suggested that you use the record run method, which avoids noncontinuous timecode within a tape. Whenever a tape has noncontinuous timecode (with jumps in the numbers between takes), make sure to allow enough time (handles) for the pre-roll and post-roll required during the capture process when logging your clips. See the Final Cut Pro documentation for additional information about timecode usage. About NTSC Timecode Normal NTSC timecode (referred to as non-drop frame timecode) works as you would expect-each frame uses the next available number. There are 30 frames per second, 60 seconds per minute, and 60 minutes per hour. Because NTSC's actual frame rate of 29.97 fps is a little less than 30 fps, non-drop frame timecode ends up being slow (by 3 seconds and 18 frames per hour) when compared to actual elapsed time. 32 Chapter 2 Before You Begin Your Film Project

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30
  • 31
  • 32
  • 33
  • 34
  • 35
  • 36
  • 37
  • 38
  • 39
  • 40
  • 41
  • 42
  • 43
  • 44
  • 45
  • 46
  • 47
  • 48
  • 49
  • 50
  • 51
  • 52
  • 53
  • 54
  • 55
  • 56
  • 57
  • 58
  • 59
  • 60
  • 61
  • 62
  • 63
  • 64
  • 65
  • 66
  • 67
  • 68
  • 69
  • 70
  • 71
  • 72
  • 73
  • 74
  • 75
  • 76
  • 77
  • 78
  • 79
  • 80
  • 81
  • 82
  • 83
  • 84
  • 85
  • 86
  • 87
  • 88
  • 89
  • 90
  • 91
  • 92
  • 93
  • 94
  • 95
  • 96
  • 97
  • 98
  • 99
  • 100
  • 101
  • 102
  • 103
  • 104
  • 105
  • 106
  • 107
  • 108
  • 109
  • 110
  • 111
  • 112
  • 113
  • 114
  • 115
  • 116
  • 117
  • 118
  • 119
  • 120
  • 121
  • 122
  • 123
  • 124
  • 125
  • 126
  • 127
  • 128
  • 129
  • 130
  • 131
  • 132
  • 133
  • 134
  • 135
  • 136
  • 137
  • 138
  • 139
  • 140
  • 141
  • 142
  • 143
  • 144
  • 145
  • 146
  • 147
  • 148
  • 149
  • 150
  • 151
  • 152
  • 153
  • 154
  • 155
  • 156
  • 157
  • 158
  • 159
  • 160
  • 161
  • 162
  • 163
  • 164
  • 165
  • 166
  • 167
  • 168
  • 169
  • 170
  • 171
  • 172
  • 173
  • 174
  • 175
  • 176
  • 177
  • 178
  • 179
  • 180
  • 181
  • 182
  • 183
  • 184
  • 185
  • 186
  • 187
  • 188
  • 189
  • 190
  • 191
  • 192
  • 193
  • 194
  • 195
  • 196
  • 197
  • 198
  • 199
  • 200
  • 201
  • 202
  • 203
  • 204
  • 205
  • 206
  • 207
  • 208
  • 209
  • 210
  • 211
  • 212
  • 213
  • 214
  • 215
  • 216
  • 217
  • 218
  • 219
  • 220
  • 221
  • 222
  • 223
  • 224
  • 225
  • 226
  • 227
  • 228
  • 229
  • 230
  • 231
  • 232
  • 233
  • 234
  • 235
  • 236
  • 237
  • 238
  • 239
  • 240
  • 241
  • 242
  • 243
  • 244
  • 245
  • 246
  • 247
  • 248
  • 249
  • 250
  • 251
  • 252
  • 253
  • 254
  • 255
  • 256
  • 257
  • 258

Your Final Cut Pro system needs to be equipped with specialized hardware to capture
24p video, either as compressed or uncompressed clips. Alternatively, some DV cameras,
such as the Panasonic AG-DVX100 camcorder, can shoot 24p video and use the 2:3:3:2
pull-down method to record it to tape at 29.97 fps (the NTSC standard). Using Final Cut Pro
and Cinema Tools, you can capture this video and remove the 2:3:3:2 pull-down so that
you can edit it at 24 fps. See
Adding and Removing Pull-Down in 24p Clips
for more
information.
Note:
When used as part of an NTSC system, the 24p videotape recorder’s (VTR’s) frame
rate is actually 23.976 fps (referred to as
23.98 fps
) to be compatible with the NTSC 29.97 fps
rate.
Timecode Considerations
There are several general issues related to timecode that you should be aware of. If you’re
using NTSC video, you can also choose between two timecode formats.
General Timecode Tips
When using video or audio equipment that allows you to define the timecode setting, it
is recommended that you set the “hours” part of the timecode to match the tape’s reel
number. This makes it much easier to recognize which reel a clip originated from. It is
also best to avoid “crossing midnight” on a tape. This happens when the timecode turns
over from 23:59:59:29 to 00:00:00:00 while the tape is playing.
You have the option to use
record run
or
free run
timecode during the production:
Record run timecode:
The timecode generator pauses each time you stop recording.
Your tape ends up with continuous timecode, because each time you start recording
it picks up from where it left off.
Free run timecode:
The timecode generator runs continuously. Your tape ends up with
a timecode break each time you start recording.
To avoid potential issues while capturing clips, it is strongly suggested that you use the
record run method, which avoids noncontinuous timecode within a tape.
Whenever a tape has noncontinuous timecode (with jumps in the numbers between
takes), make sure to allow enough time (handles) for the pre-roll and post-roll required
during the capture process when logging your clips. See the Final Cut Pro documentation
for additional information about timecode usage.
About NTSC Timecode
Normal NTSC timecode (referred to as
non-drop frame
timecode) works as you would
expect—each frame uses the next available number. There are 30 frames per second,
60 seconds per minute, and 60 minutes per hour. Because NTSC’s actual frame rate of
29.97 fps is a little less than 30 fps, non-drop frame timecode ends up being slow (by
3 seconds and 18 frames per hour) when compared to actual elapsed time.
32
Chapter 2
Before You Begin Your Film Project