Time Code in Record Mode vs. VCR Mode at DVinfo.net

Justin Wheeler · March 9th, 2003, 10:19 PM

Greetings, fellow XL1ers:

I have a question about the timecode as displayed in the EVF in any Record Mode on the XL1s.

In VCR Mode, the XL1s displays the Timecode as HH:MM:SS:FF (Hours:Minutes:Seconds:Frames). However, while in any of the Record Modes (we are using Manual, primarily), the timecode displays only as HH:MM:SS. No Frame numbers.

Is this just a fact of life with the XL1s, or is there some really simple, you-idiot-you-should-have-found-it button I can push to have the Timecode display with Frame information in Record Mode?

I do realize the Timecode is correctly (with Frame info) captured on the Mini-DV Tape, as it's there in all its glory when I transfer the video to my Mac.

I thank you in advance for your guidance.

Justin
Los Angeles

Ken Tanaka · March 9th, 2003, 11:24 PM

Alas, 'tis a fact of life. You're not missing anything that I know of.

Justin Wheeler · March 10th, 2003, 10:34 AM

Bummer. Thanks, Ken. I'll tell my DP to stop whining now!

I guess maybe that's one more item to add to the wish list for the XL2. Or, maybe nobody but our DP cares. He thinks it's necessary for proper Script Supervision and Post-prep.

We'll learn to live with it.

Thank you.

Don Palomaki · March 10th, 2003, 04:14 PM

Another difference between the XL1 and XL1s.

Ken Tanaka · March 10th, 2003, 04:50 PM

Don,
Your note suggests that the XL1S can display HH:MM:SS:FF during recording. How? I sure haven't been able to determine how.

Don Palomaki · March 11th, 2003, 05:22 AM

The XL1 displays H:MM:SS:FF during recording. Can't speak to the XL1s, but apparently it (like the GL1) does not show FF during record.

Justin Wheeler · March 11th, 2003, 11:20 AM

Thanks for your post, Don.

This explains why our AD was claiming our XL1s should be able to display frame count as part of the timecode and we must have the 'wrong setting': he's the proud owner of an XL1, so he's probably used to seeing frame count in record mode.

Ken, Don, thank you both for your assistance. Mystery solved. I'll send an e-mail to Canon to ask that the next version of the XL1s (XL2, if there is one) have frames as an optional part of timecode during record. Gives it a more professional feel, I think, and for those of us who want to edit on a laptop in the field, it can make a difference to identify each shot by timecode with frame count.

What we're doing now is 10 second slating each shot, so it's easy to differentiate each shot by timecode with just minutes and seconds. We're shooting a Spec Commercial project right now, with several shots that are only 1 or 2 seconds long. So, by rolling the Camera a full 10 seconds on each slate, we should be able to find them and tell them apart easily enough when we go to edit.

Simple work around, but our, um, finicky DP (a staunch Sony PD-150 advocate) has added this to his list of reasons he ‘hates’ the Canon XL series....our images, however, look fantastic, and our editor didn't seem to care when we told him our completed shot list wouldn't include frames with the timecode. So, all's well that ends with good final cut, I guess.

Cheers, and thanks again for your help. This site is the greatest thing since DV itself, and I ONLY buy from Watchdog sponsors if they carry the products I'm after. Only seems fair!

March 9th, 2003, 10:19 PM	#1
Justin Wheeler New Boot Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: North Hollywood, CA Posts: 13	Time Code in Record Mode vs. VCR Mode Greetings, fellow XL1ers: I have a question about the timecode as displayed in the EVF in any Record Mode on the XL1s. In VCR Mode, the XL1s displays the Timecode as HH:MM:SS:FF (Hours:Minutes:Seconds:Frames). However, while in any of the Record Modes (we are using Manual, primarily), the timecode displays only as HH:MM:SS. No Frame numbers. Is this just a fact of life with the XL1s, or is there some really simple, you-idiot-you-should-have-found-it button I can push to have the Timecode display with Frame information in Record Mode? I do realize the Timecode is correctly (with Frame info) captured on the Mini-DV Tape, as it's there in all its glory when I transfer the video to my Mac. I thank you in advance for your guidance. Justin Los Angeles

March 9th, 2003, 11:24 PM	#2
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Welcome Justin Alas, 'tis a fact of life. You're not missing anything that I know of. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

March 10th, 2003, 10:34 AM	#3
Justin Wheeler New Boot Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: North Hollywood, CA Posts: 13	Bummer. Thanks, Ken. I'll tell my DP to stop whining now! I guess maybe that's one more item to add to the wish list for the XL2. Or, maybe nobody but our DP cares. He thinks it's necessary for proper Script Supervision and Post-prep. We'll learn to live with it. Thank you. __________________ It isn't just a hobby anymore...

March 10th, 2003, 04:50 PM	#5
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Don, Your note suggests that the XL1S can display HH:MM:SS:FF during recording. How? I sure haven't been able to determine how. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

March 11th, 2003, 11:20 AM	#7
Justin Wheeler New Boot Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: North Hollywood, CA Posts: 13	Thanks for your post, Don. This explains why our AD was claiming our XL1s should be able to display frame count as part of the timecode and we must have the 'wrong setting': he's the proud owner of an XL1, so he's probably used to seeing frame count in record mode. Ken, Don, thank you both for your assistance. Mystery solved. I'll send an e-mail to Canon to ask that the next version of the XL1s (XL2, if there is one) have frames as an optional part of timecode during record. Gives it a more professional feel, I think, and for those of us who want to edit on a laptop in the field, it can make a difference to identify each shot by timecode with frame count. What we're doing now is 10 second slating each shot, so it's easy to differentiate each shot by timecode with just minutes and seconds. We're shooting a Spec Commercial project right now, with several shots that are only 1 or 2 seconds long. So, by rolling the Camera a full 10 seconds on each slate, we should be able to find them and tell them apart easily enough when we go to edit. Simple work around, but our, um, finicky DP (a staunch Sony PD-150 advocate) has added this to his list of reasons he ‘hates’ the Canon XL series....our images, however, look fantastic, and our editor didn't seem to care when we told him our completed shot list wouldn't include frames with the timecode. So, all's well that ends with good final cut, I guess. Cheers, and thanks again for your help. This site is the greatest thing since DV itself, and I ONLY buy from Watchdog sponsors if they carry the products I'm after. Only seems fair! __________________ It isn't just a hobby anymore...

March 10th, 2003, 04:14 PM	#4
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,487	Another difference between the XL1 and XL1s.

March 11th, 2003, 05:22 AM	#6
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,487	The XL1 displays H:MM:SS:FF during recording. Can't speak to the XL1s, but apparently it (like the GL1) does not show FF during record.