Time Code Breaks after Shut-Down at DVinfo.net

Nick Chevrefils · April 4th, 2006, 09:51 AM

I occasionally have a timecode break after I power down the camera. It happens around 5% of the time. It's a problem because it creates a lot of confusion when I log and capture into the computer. To work around it I always shoot a few seconds of extra video before I power the camera down, and when I power it back on I roll back to ensure I have timecode continuity before I record again. This wastes time and I miss some shots because of it. Anyone else having the same problem or any idea how to avoid? Thanks.

Jack Smith · April 4th, 2006, 10:06 PM

I've been accustom to overshooting 5 seconds for years, so that is what I do.I actually do it after every shot whether I'm powering down or just in stop.When I power down ,I generally shoot a few seconds with the lense cap on before powering down.This gives a definite scene change and does allow me to roll back a second for time code continuity. I think it's pretty much standard practice.

Nick Chevrefils · April 4th, 2006, 11:20 PM

Thanks Jack.. My issue isn't the rolling extra seconds before shutdown. It's having the timecode break when I power back up and record again and the process of having to roll back every time to eliminate the risk of the break.

Don Palomaki · April 5th, 2006, 04:27 AM

You should be able to spot a pending time code break from the time code in the EVF. If it is zero, you hve a break, if not zero there should not be a break. It is most likely to occur if the tape is removed from the camcorder between shoots, or if you preview the a scene.

Using the REC SEARCH (- bitton) is probably the fastest way to move the tape back to a point prior to end of the recording, and when this is successful you should see non-zero timecode in the EVF.

Nick Chevrefils · April 5th, 2006, 09:14 AM

Thanks Don... I realize that resetting to zero means a timecode break. What I'm trying to find out is if others have this situation. I do roll back into the timecode if it's broken. The problem is that this takes extra time that sometimes means a missed shot.

Jack Smith · April 5th, 2006, 11:31 PM

Nick, I see what your result problem is.I'm wondering how your running into this ,though.As in what are shooting that you need to powerup and start recording immediatly? As I have not had any problem with TC breaks because when on a shoot I normally don't power down except during a big break.I would only stop the camera as opposed to pause or shutting down.
After a big break,I would always have enough time to run through the setup to check WB,audio,refocus,etc. so at that time a check of TC isn't an issue.
Would going into "stop" solve your issue?

April 4th, 2006, 09:51 AM	#1
Nick Chevrefils Tourist Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sun Peaks, British Columbia,Canada Posts: 3	Time Code Breaks after Shut-Down I occasionally have a timecode break after I power down the camera. It happens around 5% of the time. It's a problem because it creates a lot of confusion when I log and capture into the computer. To work around it I always shoot a few seconds of extra video before I power the camera down, and when I power it back on I roll back to ensure I have timecode continuity before I record again. This wastes time and I miss some shots because of it. Anyone else having the same problem or any idea how to avoid? Thanks.

April 5th, 2006, 04:27 AM	#4
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,488	You should be able to spot a pending time code break from the time code in the EVF. If it is zero, you hve a break, if not zero there should not be a break. It is most likely to occur if the tape is removed from the camcorder between shoots, or if you preview the a scene. Using the REC SEARCH (- bitton) is probably the fastest way to move the tape back to a point prior to end of the recording, and when this is successful you should see non-zero timecode in the EVF. __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

April 4th, 2006, 10:06 PM	#2
Jack Smith Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: ontario Posts: 445	I've been accustom to overshooting 5 seconds for years, so that is what I do.I actually do it after every shot whether I'm powering down or just in stop.When I power down ,I generally shoot a few seconds with the lense cap on before powering down.This gives a definite scene change and does allow me to roll back a second for time code continuity. I think it's pretty much standard practice.

April 4th, 2006, 11:20 PM	#3
Nick Chevrefils Tourist Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sun Peaks, British Columbia,Canada Posts: 3	Thanks Jack.. My issue isn't the rolling extra seconds before shutdown. It's having the timecode break when I power back up and record again and the process of having to roll back every time to eliminate the risk of the break.

April 5th, 2006, 09:14 AM	#5
Nick Chevrefils Tourist Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sun Peaks, British Columbia,Canada Posts: 3	Thanks Don... I realize that resetting to zero means a timecode break. What I'm trying to find out is if others have this situation. I do roll back into the timecode if it's broken. The problem is that this takes extra time that sometimes means a missed shot.

April 5th, 2006, 11:31 PM	#6
Jack Smith Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: ontario Posts: 445	Nick, I see what your result problem is.I'm wondering how your running into this ,though.As in what are shooting that you need to powerup and start recording immediatly? As I have not had any problem with TC breaks because when on a shoot I normally don't power down except during a big break.I would only stop the camera as opposed to pause or shutting down. After a big break,I would always have enough time to run through the setup to check WB,audio,refocus,etc. so at that time a check of TC isn't an issue. Would going into "stop" solve your issue?