so i didn't have the camera date/time set...and for each tape, i ended up getting one large file...i'm not sure i understand correctly, but does this mean i can't automatically split the file but I CAN manually split? Since i was stuck w/ the big files now, i was hoping to split out scenes in able to edit them, name them?, etc to make it much easier to track all the events...thanks

Yes you can split them manually, or you could get scenalyzer, a software capture scene splitting utility which can automatically split all the scenes you have captured. It would do it optically not based on the timecode so it won't be perfect but it's pretty good. I say just do it manually this time. It's good practise, but set your time on the camera now so next time they can split themselves.

SCLive Scene Detection
 

Actually, the SCLive product will perform either method of detection, TC or Optical based upon how you configure the detection settings.

SMPTE free-run -vs- record-run?
 

I can choose either free-run or record-run TC on my GY-DV500. As I understand from the thread, to take advantage of auto scene detection, I would need to use free-run TC. Is that correct?

Thanks,

Michael

Scene detection works on a break in the DATE/TIME signal, NOT
timecode. So it shouldn't matter which setting you are using.

Think about it. You pause recording at 14:15.30 (time) and the
timecode is 00:00:37:28. You start recording again exactly 10
minutes later at a new setup. The first frame then will be recorded
with a timecode of 00:00:37:29 [no break] and a time of 14:25.30
[break!]. That is what the software detects.

Now perhaps you can change your camera that it always begins
with a new timecode [ie, 00:00:00:00] at each recording but this
is not standard, and therefor won't be used.

I'm confused then. This is SMPTE timecode. When in record run mode, where is the day's time stored? In the userbits? When recording in run mode, the only TC I'm aware of being recorded on tape is the timecode, no separate day's time.

Information stored on tape (in a section you could call userbits)
is at least:

- "SMPTE" timecode
- Time
- Date
- Day of the week

Usually some camera settings are stored as well.

Just goes to show what *I* know. :) I'll dig deeper into SMPTE user-bits. I know I can manually set them to some useful number. I didn't realize there was additional info there.

However, ASD didn't work in either Vegas' video capture or Scenalyzer for about four different tapes acquired on other gear including an XL-1. I was queueing them on my JVC DV500.

I'll explore further.

You do have date & time set on the camera, right?