#Excel timecode calculator pro
#Excel timecode calculator tv

Timecode is a way of precisely labeling all the frames in a recording so you can know the exact location of a recorded point. None of this guarantees that post will be problem-free but it should definitely reduce the number of issues you’ll encounter. Or at least understand what problems you might run into depending on how the footage has been shot.

You may not be able to prevent recording issues, but you’ll be better equipped to fix any problems you encounter.Īfter reading this article, you should be able to set up your timecode to be as trouble-free as possible. Find out who shot the material and get as much information as you can about the camera settings. If you weren’t even in the pre-production prep, talk to the crew. Ask them about what settings they’ll be using, and make requests if you can. If you’re not on set but involved in production prep, talk to whoever’s handling the cameras. Instead, plan for the timecode you record on set to be as perfect as possible. You should regard sync in post as an absolute last resort.

Remember that timecode is native to your files, so bad timecode is basically like a genetic defect. Those programs are written by human beings who can make mistakes and can’t think of every possible situation.

#Excel timecode calculator pro

Premiere Pro also had an issue with timecode because it was round-tripping start timecode with audio files. Which can be caused by transcoding or unknown bugs with the programs you’re using.įor example, QTChange used to use a value of 23.98to calculate its frame rate and timecode instead of 23.976. Or with timecode that’s fine but where other issues come up. You can run into issues both with timecode you thought was fine but isn’t. Not without its problemsĪ basic search online for “timecode problems” shows that it’s not foolproof. Those deadlines aren’t moving, and those renders can’t go any faster. That’s a lot of lost effort, time, and money that you have to make up. In which case, you end up having to redo what you already did or throw it out and start again. But most of the time many issues only become apparent after you’ve done a fair amount of work. With timecode, you might know what the obvious problems are right at the beginning. What if your source material doesn’t have slates on top of that? You see where this is going. Now your timecode doesn’t even run at the same rate between the two sources. Now suppose your non-synced audio and video footage weren’t recorded at the same frame rate. Red Giant’s PluralEyes in conjunction with Adobe Premiere Pro CC. It’s even worse if the audio and video have been matched up by error but are totally unrelated. So where you see video and audio that aren’t synced, the computer only sees timecode. But the programs you’re using in post aren’t looking at anything other than digital references to the material. Yes, if your clips aren’t too long, there are applications you can use in post to sync audio and video, including FCP X’s built-in ability to sync audio and video, Premiere Pro CC, Red Giant’s PluralEyes, or even Audacity. And when you can, it’s often very expensive. You can’t fix everything in post-it just isn’t possible. If you’re an editor, you know how false that premise is. Our digital tools are so sophisticated that it’s become routine to think that everything can be fixed in post. But why can’t I just sync everything in post? It also, crucially, helps keep the sound and the picture in sync during the shoot. You know it’s the right place because of timecode. Timecode runs behind the scenes much of the time, but it’s the glue that holds everything together. If you’re using Frame.io to get detailed feedback and your client suggests shortening a cut, their comment appears on your timeline in precisely the right place. Will you remember that spot after shooting 30 identical takes? Wouldn’t it just be easier to have an exact timestamp of the moment? That way you could immediately find it when you’re in the cutting room. Suppose you’re shooting a music video and you’re on the 15th take of one shot all the takes look identical but there’s this one, perfect moment. But when you want to remember a page , or share a page with someone, or communicate about a page, then you need that URL which records the exact location. Most of the time, you don’t pay much attention to the URLs because you’re focused on the page itself. When you browse the web, you wander from page to page. From notes on set to the cuts in the edit to the dialogue, music, and sound effects. Timecode is a way of recording exactly what happened when.

#Excel timecode calculator tv

If you grew up in the digital age, timecode might seem like a relic of broadcast TV and celluloid film.