Project Timecode Display for Approval Copies

[joevideo]

It would be nice to have a positionable timecode window that would show project timecode that could be placed over our output video. This feature would come in handy in two ways:

First, it would make it easy for clients to tell us where they want their changes based on the numbers on the screen.

Second, when we send an approval copy out the door for a client to review we could be reasonably sure that they would not try to turn it into their "Master" for runnig off to have someone else duplicate it (it would nice to be paid in full before they get their "Master").

This Project Timecode window could also be customizeable so things like the client's name/ revision number etc. would show as well.


Thanks


Joe Video

[Scott Bates]

Joe, go to NewTek's FTP Site (ftp://ftp.newtek.com/pub/VideoToaster/Downloads/) and download TCdf1.zip and TCdf2.zip. These are 1st hour and 2nd hour time code overlay .avi clips that you can super over your projects to do what you want. Client's name/ revision number etc. can easily be handled with a simple CG overlay as well as something like a nice big brassy "REVIEW COPY ONLY" (at 25% opacity) placed diagonally across the middle of the screen so they're not likely to run off to a dub house with it.

[Ivan]

I just used those overlays yesterday. Not as slick as the FCP Timecode overlay but I didn't have to render either.

Ivan

[joevideo]

Thanks for the tip.

I just checked out the FTP site and each of those two files runs at or over 60 MB each. Since I'm on dialup I'll have to wait till I can pull them down with a computer with a faster connection.

It sounds like this will accomplish what I have in mind, but it would still be nice to have a software button that would set it up automatically.

Thanks again!

[Ivan]

You could create this in Aura. I think there is a george script. As I mentioned, FCP has the "button" but it needs to be rendered. This is a work around but it's one that is actually better than the real thing provided by other packages.

Ivan

[ScorpioProd]

Well, but let's be honest here, this really is a feature that should be built into VT[4] and not a workaround.

Have you seen how nice programs like EDIUS can do this? Click a button and get project time, clip time, and even audio meters overlaid on the bottom. Now THAT is slick. Yes, all in real-time.

Especially since there is NO workaround to get clip time code burned in in VT-Edit, only project time, and only as long as you are very careful, since it's not like you can lock it to anything! :(