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SECTION 8.4 TIMECODE CONFIGURATION
FIGURE 146
TriCaster can supply event time values based on the system clock, when necessary. To access timecode options, click the small gear icon next to the timecode display at right in Live Desktop’s Dashboard.
Hint: You can set TriCaster’s system clock as for any computer by exiting to the Windows® Desktop.
Most TriCasters can optionally use an external linear timecode (LTC) reference to drive its clocks, and timecode for capture (TriCaster 410 and TriCaster Mini do not support external timecode).
The current time value is embedded in the frames of Quicktime video files captured during the session using TriCaster’s Record function. For this reason, a switch labeled Subtract 12 Hours is provided.
This option permits you to avoid confusion that
FIGURE 147
might arise when sequencing files based on timecode that ‘wraps around’ past
midnight. (Otherwise, for example, a video frame recorded one minute before midnight would be assigned the timecode 23:59:59.00, while frames recorded one minute or more later would have timecode ≥ 01:00:00.00 – seemingly a lower (i.e., ordinarily earlier) timecode value.)
Two more switches, under the label Indicate Event Time, allow you to configure Start and End times for your upcoming show. Beside each of these is an editable time field. Enable the Start/End switches, and click inside the field to modify the time value by direct entry, or drag left right to raise or lower the current value.
During live production, the Dashboard and as well as TriCaster’s monitor panes and default Multiview layouts (Figure 149) offer Broadcast Clock displays based on the current timecode. Secondary clock displays show a useful countdown to the (production) Start and End times when the corresponding switches are enabled in the Timecode Configuration panel.
FIGURE 148 |
Linear timecode is by far the most common method of sharing an external timecode reference in video production.
Output from an external timecode generator is supplied to devices in the video pipeline using a standard audio connection. TriCaster uses either Audio Input 7 or 3 for this purpose (see Section
FIGURE 150
3.7), depending on the model (as mentioned previously, TriCaster 410 and TriCaster Mini do not support this feature).
TriCaster decodes time stamps from the audible signal, and uses the values for clock displays and embedded timecode when recording video. This is a great asset for post-production purposes. Enable linear timecode using the switch labeled Use External timecode (LTC) in Timecode Configuration.
Sound from the audio input tasked with supplying timecode is automatically muted for recording and output purposes when LTC timecode is enabled, but you can un- mute it briefly in the Audio Mixer to let you adjust input levels.
Hint: The timecode display in the Live Desktop titlebar is tinted blue when external timecode is in use. If the external connection is lost for any reason, the display changes to white. TriCaster will attempt to maintain continuous timecode from the interruption on, until a valid signal is restored (in which case the display turns blue once more).