Question about superimposing time code on screen.
by Stevan Pope
on
Jul 15, 2008 at 12:05:33 am
I want to know how to have existing footage on the screen before adding the time code generator superimposed over video. I have several takes of a vehicle making a left hand turn. I want to show how many seconds it takes each time.
Do I have to do a match-frame edit for each take in order to have the video clip on the screen before adding the the time code generator?
When I click on effects, video filter, video and then timecode generator, it starts immediately at that spot. However, I need to establish the video clip first before the timecode generator comes on and starts. How do I do that?
My phone number is 480.368.5773. I would really appreciate your help. Thank you
Re: Question about superimposing time code on screen. by Steve Wargo on Jul 15, 2008 at 7:26:23 am
Steven, Can't you go to the spot where you want the TC to start and slice the video and then go to where you want it to end and slice again? Then, apply the TC filter only to the clip you want the TC on.
Steve Wargo
Tempe, Arizona
It's a dry heat!
Sony HDCAM F-900 & HDW-2000/1 deck
5 Final Cut (not quite PRO) systems
Sony HVR-M25 HDV deck
2-Sony EX-1 HD .
Re: Question about superimposing time code on screen. by Stevan Pope on Jul 15, 2008 at 8:50:10 pm
Thanks for responding Steve.
Because the footage potentially may be shown in a courtroom during a trial, I hesitate to tamper with the footage because obviously I don't want a jump cut or flash frame to appear on screen.
I hoped to establish the vehicle on screen for a couple of seconds as it comes to a stop in the center lane. Then when traffic has cleared, the vehicle makes a left hand turn. It is at this point I want the time code generator to be superimposed on the screen to show how many seconds and frames it takes to complete the turn.
Do I need to perform a match frame edit to accomplish this? Please advise. Thank you, Stevan Pope
Re: Question about superimposing time code on screen. by Dustinn Craig on Jul 16, 2008 at 10:28:59 am
Hey Steven,
This may be cumbersome but it will work.
It seems like you could make a new sequence, and add a slug or color to the timeline, and then add the timecode reader filter to that slug. Then export this out as a self contained Quicktime movie. Then import that movie back into your project, and superimpose that over your traffic footage. You can crop down the slug footage with the crop tool, so it just shows timecode beginning at 0 seconds.
Re: Question about superimposing time code on screen. by Stevan Pope on Jul 16, 2008 at 5:33:59 pm
Thank you Dustin, your suggestion makes total sense.
Thank you very much. Now to do it.
By the way, I could not access your web page. Would like to visit with you. Thanks again, Stevan Pope
Re: Question about superimposing time code on screen. by Steve Wargo on Jul 19, 2008 at 7:05:01 am
Steven
We have done this many times. To experiment, take a clip that is on a timeline and put two slices in the video. There won't be any jump cuts or flash frames. Why would there be any?
Then, apply a TCG filter to the clip in the middle. Why dismiss my suggestion without taking 5 minutes to try it? After all, I am never wrong, you know. Or maybe you don't know. But now you do.
I'm willing to put $20 on it.
Steve Wargo
Tempe, Arizona
It's a dry heat!
Sony HDCAM F-900 & HDW-2000/1 deck
5 Final Cut (not quite PRO) systems
Sony HVR-M25 HDV deck
2-Sony EX-1 HD .
Re: Question about superimposing time code on screen. by Stevan Pope on Jul 21, 2008 at 2:40:53 pm
Steve,
I am trying each suggestion to see how each of these applications works and will try your method. I rule nothing out and appreciate your input. What works is what works, its that simple.
Re: Question about superimposing time code on screen. by Mitch Ives on Jul 16, 2008 at 9:29:17 pm
There seems to be some confusion with regard to the TC plugins. There are two... TC Reader and TC Generator. TC Reader is going to read the actual TC from the clip (the way it was recorded). If you apply it to a slug, I'm not sure what will happen, since there is no TC source in the slug.
The TC Generator is going to generate TC, but it is going to use the timeline's TC... so I think there are going to be some hoops to jump through to get done what Steve wants done... especially on several different clips.
The problem as Steve mentioned, is that all of this manipulation will be frowned upon by the opposing council and the court...
Re: Question about superimposing time code on screen. by Stevan Pope on Jul 16, 2008 at 11:26:41 pm
Mitch, thanks for your input, I appreciate it. You are correct. I am using the TCG and not the TCR to superimpose over each video clip so that I can show the counter readout during each take as the vehicle starts to make the turn and clears the curb off the roadway. The TCG starts at 00:00:00:00 each take and therefore clearly communicates how long the turn takes.
Because there's several takes at different distances, using the actual Time Code only adds confusion to the viewer since they would have to then calculate the TC numbers appearing on the counter in order to determine the actual time it took to complete each turn during each take. The TCR & TCG also appear at the start and end of each video clip in FC, so it would not solve the dilema.
As previously mentioned, I wish to avoid compromising the integrity of the video in the event it is played in the court room. Therefore, performing a match-frame edit in order to extend the video clip a few seconds prior to having the TCG counter appear is my challenge. However, I would like to establish the vehicle on the screen in the middle of the road awaiting traffic to clear before actually making the turn and engaging the TCG counter on the screen.
In your opinion, if I simply added 3 seconds prior to each take/turn, I communicate that information on a full screen graphic prior to showing any of the takes, so the viewer understands that each take starts -3 seconds from starting each turn?
Re: Question about superimposing time code on screen. by Dustinn Craig on Jul 17, 2008 at 6:47:42 am
Yeah, applying the timecode reader to a slug on a new timeline will read the timecode of the new sequence. You can set the sequence TC to begin at zero. My suggestion will create a generic TC window that goes from zero to whatever time length you need. This can be composited on top of anything you can put on the timeline and does not need to read or generate anything, it's simply a quicktime file with a counter.
It's cumbersome, but it'll work. I learned FCP from version 1.0 and there were no classes on it back then. So much of what I've learned is unconventional.
Re: Question about superimposing time code on screen. by Stevan Pope on Jul 17, 2008 at 9:40:46 pm
Thank you Dustin, for hanging in there with me to sort this out. I will give it a try. How do I get it touch with you? Call me OK? 480.368.5773
Thank you once again. Stevan Pope
Re: Question about superimposing time code on screen. by Mitch Ives on Jul 22, 2008 at 2:42:32 pm
[Dustinn Craig]"My suggestion will create a generic TC window that goes from zero to whatever time length you need. This can be composited on top of anything you can put on the timeline and does not need to read or generate anything, it's simply a quicktime file with a counter. "
I think that is the best approach... that way you can leave the video untouched... and be able to say that when you are drawn into court to answer those questions...
