Count down clock for New Years at DVinfo.net

John Paulsel · December 18th, 2002, 09:09 AM

I need to create a count down video for a New Years Eve event. Any ideas of an easy/inexpensive method to do this? Would need to be a couple hours long, perhaps just the countdown clock over some appropriate background.

Jeff Donald · December 18th, 2002, 09:19 AM

How are you wanting to display the countdown? As video on a TV or on a computer monitor.

Jeff

John Paulsel · December 18th, 2002, 09:22 AM

Good question. I was thinking video but it probably could be a computer instead. The set designer planned for a 17 inch monitor.

If it's video, I'm on a Mac using Premiere.

John Locke · December 18th, 2002, 09:27 AM

Just shoot a digital clock now starting at 10:00 p.m. and cut it after midnight. Then, in editing, make that image float over whatever background you want going on. On New Year's Eve, start it right at 10:00.

Use a digital clock that shows tenths of a second so that there's always a lot of movement.

John Paulsel · December 18th, 2002, 09:30 AM

The time needs to count down, not up. Was hoping there was some little program/plug-in that would do the trick.

John Locke · December 18th, 2002, 09:33 AM

You could probably do the same thing still. Just get a digital clock that has a countdown feature (like you often see on wristwatches), set it for two hours, and start taping.

There's a brand called Scientific American (I think that's the name) that always has lots of bells and whistles.

Jeff Donald · December 18th, 2002, 09:45 AM

You can rent a timecode generator, Fast forward Video http://www.ffv.com/product_specs/timecode.htm and set a custom TC and feed the output to a TV. The size and position of the characters are adjustable. If you need a countdown, you'll need to record the time in forward, starting a zero. Then capture the tape, and put a motion effect on it in Premiere to run backwards.

Jeff

Robert Knecht Schmidt · December 18th, 2002, 03:11 PM

Trying to do this with video is just asking for synch problems. There are software solutions for this sort of thing http://www.panaga.com/clocks/clocks.htm and make sure your computer is running an NTP (or SNTP) client (such as Automachron) to keep the clock accurate.

John Jay · December 18th, 2002, 03:51 PM

someone did a time counter with nixitubes for a pc

yes nixitubes - real cool retro

you will have to do a google search

Jeff Donald · December 18th, 2002, 04:22 PM

Robert,

I don't think a Time Code generator will create a sync problem. It's frame accurate. Are your referring to starting the video at the correct time? Someone just needs to start it on time.

Jeff

Rob Lohman · December 29th, 2002, 05:19 PM

If you shoot a clock from 10 to 12 as suggested earlier you can
remove the first digit (or shoot from midnight to 2) and then
reverse the video (speed of -100% in premiere)

John Paulsel · December 30th, 2002, 07:28 AM

Thanks for the idea, but in order to avoid a ton of rendering, we opted for a very simple countdown clock on a PC. We were able to fill the screen with it on top of a custom desktop background. Not real fancy, but very low fuss.

December 18th, 2002, 09:09 AM	#1
John Paulsel Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Pendleton (near Indianapolis), Indiana USA Posts: 49	Count down clock for New Years I need to create a count down video for a New Years Eve event. Any ideas of an easy/inexpensive method to do this? Would need to be a couple hours long, perhaps just the countdown clock over some appropriate background. __________________ John Paulsel Highpoint Productions "I'd do it for free but I don't!"

December 18th, 2002, 09:22 AM	#3
John Paulsel Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Pendleton (near Indianapolis), Indiana USA Posts: 49	Good question. I was thinking video but it probably could be a computer instead. The set designer planned for a 17 inch monitor. If it's video, I'm on a Mac using Premiere. __________________ John Paulsel Highpoint Productions "I'd do it for free but I don't!"

December 18th, 2002, 09:27 AM	#4
John Locke Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Austin, TX USA Posts: 2,882	Just shoot a digital clock now starting at 10:00 p.m. and cut it after midnight. Then, in editing, make that image float over whatever background you want going on. On New Year's Eve, start it right at 10:00. Use a digital clock that shows tenths of a second so that there's always a lot of movement. __________________ John Locke SursumFilms.com

December 18th, 2002, 09:30 AM	#5
John Paulsel Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Pendleton (near Indianapolis), Indiana USA Posts: 49	The time needs to count down, not up. Was hoping there was some little program/plug-in that would do the trick. __________________ John Paulsel Highpoint Productions "I'd do it for free but I don't!"

December 18th, 2002, 09:33 AM	#6
John Locke Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Austin, TX USA Posts: 2,882	You could probably do the same thing still. Just get a digital clock that has a countdown feature (like you often see on wristwatches), set it for two hours, and start taping. There's a brand called Scientific American (I think that's the name) that always has lots of bells and whistles. __________________ John Locke SursumFilms.com

December 18th, 2002, 09:19 AM	#2
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	How are you wanting to display the countdown? As video on a TV or on a computer monitor. Jeff

December 18th, 2002, 09:45 AM	#7
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	You can rent a timecode generator, Fast forward Video http://www.ffv.com/product_specs/timecode.htm and set a custom TC and feed the output to a TV. The size and position of the characters are adjustable. If you need a countdown, you'll need to record the time in forward, starting a zero. Then capture the tape, and put a motion effect on it in Premiere to run backwards. Jeff

December 18th, 2002, 03:11 PM	#8
Robert Knecht Schmidt Wrangler Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 1,933	Trying to do this with video is just asking for synch problems. There are software solutions for this sort of thing http://www.panaga.com/clocks/clocks.htm and make sure your computer is running an NTP (or SNTP) client (such as Automachron) to keep the clock accurate. __________________ All the best, Robert K S Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| The best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

December 18th, 2002, 03:51 PM	#9
John Jay Major Player Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: US & THEM Posts: 827	someone did a time counter with nixitubes for a pc yes nixitubes - real cool retro you will have to do a google search

December 18th, 2002, 04:22 PM	#10
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Robert, I don't think a Time Code generator will create a sync problem. It's frame accurate. Are your referring to starting the video at the correct time? Someone just needs to start it on time. Jeff

December 29th, 2002, 05:19 PM	#11
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	If you shoot a clock from 10 to 12 as suggested earlier you can remove the first digit (or shoot from midnight to 2) and then reverse the video (speed of -100% in premiere) __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

December 30th, 2002, 07:28 AM	#12
John Paulsel Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Pendleton (near Indianapolis), Indiana USA Posts: 49	Thanks for the idea, but in order to avoid a ton of rendering, we opted for a very simple countdown clock on a PC. We were able to fill the screen with it on top of a custom desktop background. Not real fancy, but very low fuss. __________________ John Paulsel Highpoint Productions "I'd do it for free but I don't!"