XHA1 & Time Code at DVinfo.net

Kevin Lewis · March 7th, 2009, 02:01 PM

It seems like i've been reading a lot of threads that involve time code. If you a tape with broken time code is it that big of a deal? Will you still have usable footage that can be captured?

Annie Haycock · March 7th, 2009, 02:47 PM

Yes. But you are likely to find the same time code two or more times on the same tape, so you might have a slight problem relocating something if you've just made a note of the time code. ie was it at the first 00:00:05:20 or the second time it came round.

Time code is most likely to "break" if you rewind your tape, watch the video, and then leave a gap before the next clip you film. Even the tiniest gap will have that effect.

Petri Kaipiainen · March 8th, 2009, 01:43 PM

there are two ways to prevent time code breaks on the tape:

1) Never take the tape out untill it is full, and if you rewind the tape return to the end with end search before you start recording again.

2) "Format" the tape by recording something on it without stopping. It really does not matter what you record, but for obvious reasons most people prefer to record black (lens cap on and max underexposure) without sound (no mic and rec level at zero). When you reuse the tape the original timecode remains and you can start and stop and leave gaps and still have continuous code.

March 7th, 2009, 02:01 PM	#1
Kevin Lewis Major Player Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Philadelphia, pa Posts: 705	XHA1 & Time Code It seems like i've been reading a lot of threads that involve time code. If you a tape with broken time code is it that big of a deal? Will you still have usable footage that can be captured?

March 7th, 2009, 02:47 PM	#2
Annie Haycock Major Player Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Pembrokeshire, Wales Posts: 734	Yes. But you are likely to find the same time code two or more times on the same tape, so you might have a slight problem relocating something if you've just made a note of the time code. ie was it at the first 00:00:05:20 or the second time it came round. Time code is most likely to "break" if you rewind your tape, watch the video, and then leave a gap before the next clip you film. Even the tiniest gap will have that effect. __________________ Canon XH A1; Canon XF100; Nikon D800

March 8th, 2009, 01:43 PM	#3
Petri Kaipiainen Major Player Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Espoo Finland Posts: 380	there are two ways to prevent time code breaks on the tape: 1) Never take the tape out untill it is full, and if you rewind the tape return to the end with end search before you start recording again. 2) "Format" the tape by recording something on it without stopping. It really does not matter what you record, but for obvious reasons most people prefer to record black (lens cap on and max underexposure) without sound (no mic and rec level at zero). When you reuse the tape the original timecode remains and you can start and stop and leave gaps and still have continuous code.