DVCAM "index marks" question..

I have been looking for information regarding the use of "index marks" on DVCAM tapes. I haven't had much luck and was wondering if anyone could offer assistance.

Can "index marks" be added at time of editing and then be mastered to DVCAM tape? And can they later be used to speed up the re-digitizing process? I am trying to reduce or eliminate shuttling and relogging tapes when re-digitizing. If index marks can be used to speed up that process it would be an big help.

If anyone has any suggestions I would really appreciate it.

Thanks,
Ralph D'Angelo

Sorry, I should have explained further....

I receive edited DVCAM tapes that I have to redigitize and compress for web applications. Unfortunately, when I recieve these tapes, I have to shuttle, find my capture points, log and re-digitze. Very time consuming.

I am not sure exactly what the function of "index" marks are. But if they can be placed in the timeline or on the tape at time of editing and then later be used by my deck or NLE to locate sections to be re-digitized, that would save me alot of work.

I hope I am making a bit more sense....I basically just want to save the time I use shuttling to locate capture points.

Thanks for your assistance,
Ralph D'Angelo

I would like the studio that provides us with the edited tapes to imbed the "index marks", if these would allow us to automate our capturing process. As opposed to us searching through tapes and logging clips ourselves I'm just not sure if this is possible using "index" marks. If it is, it would be great.

True, they could simply provide us with a list of time code points that we could use to log. The less I impose on them the more likely they are to comply. If it is as easy as imbedding points while they are editing, they are more likely to agree to do it. Would there be a way these marks could be imbedded and later used by the DVCAM deck or NLE as references for capturing?

I apologize if this seems a bit convoluted. I hope I am making some sense. I am just trying to see if this is feasible or if I am misunderstanding the capabilities of "index"marks.

Thanks again,
RALPH

You answered my question. Thanks. EDL's would be fine. I simply never used DVCAM tapes with chips, so I was completely unaware of what they were capable of.

Reading that the camera can insert "index marks" I was curious to see what applications they may have. If they could have sped up my capturing, that would have been great. The less I request from the editor the more likely they are to cooperate. They will just have to log time codes mannually........I'll see what happens.

Really, thanks for taking the time to clarify this for me.