Timecode and Automation

Owned by Noah Chamow
Last updated: Jul 18, 2024
3 min read

The Timecode and Automation tab controls various aspects of recording that are dependent on timecode as well as deck control and EDL settings.

Record control - Timecode can control record in various ways, from a simple “record if running” to SDI record flags for common cameras (Arri, Sony, Panasonic and Red) to automated multiclip deck control records.

The most common setting are the Generated TC modes and LTC source setting.

There are multiple timecode options for your recording.

  • Select “SDI” if you want to record the timecode coming into the recorder, embedded in the source video.

  • Select “LTC” 1-2 (linear time code) to record a house time code source connected to the LTC 1-2 input BNC connector. On 4 channel machines ch 3 and 4 use the LTC 3-4 input BNC connector.

  • Select “master LTC” to use house timecode on the master LTC BNC connection. (Note; master LTC is optional on ZX and not applicable to RX)

  • Select RS-422 to record timecode from the RS-422 connection to a slave device (see ** below)

  • Select “gen” to use internally generated timecode.

 

** RS-422 timecode is only available as a timecode source, for channels set to master RS-422 mode and that have an active RS-422 connection to a slave device set to remote mode.
If the channel requiring RS-422 timecode is sharing a project with other channels, the other channels must also be set to master RS-422 mode. Also, the RS-422 remote link must be active to transmit the timecode

The Record TC trigger selection determines what timecode source is referenced in conjunction with preset start/ stop times.

Record control has several additional modes that are described below.

When set to “external device via SDI”, the deck is set to receive record start / stop commands embedded in the SDI ancillary data stream coming from a camera. This allows recording to be controlled from the camera.

When set to EDL, the deck can record and stop based on the events in the selected EDL. The selected “trigger TC source” is the timecode source used to trigger the EDL events.

When a channel is set to RS-422 master mode, RS-422 is available as a trigger.

In addition, when in RS-422 mode, EDL mode can drive a connected tape machine, essentially operating as master in an auto-conform session.

When set to “input rec-run TC”, the channel will automatically record whenever the timecode source selected on the associated encode page(s) is incrementing at normal speed. This mode can be used with cameras and other devices when another mode such as “external device via SDI” is not possible but slave recording is desired. It is also useful for simple tape to file transfers.

A delay of a few frames is set to help prevent false triggers. In this example, the deck will wait to see 4 frames of sequential, contiguous timecode before starting a recording.