Apple Final Cut Pro X: Change Project Timecode

Timecode is a label that uniquely identifies every frame of video in a clip or project. Most often, timecode is displayed as four pairs of numbers, where the first pair represents hours, then minutes, then seconds, then frames.

NOTE: Sometimes, the frames number is replaced by a decimal representing thousandths of a second. The first three pairs, however, remain the same.

Timecode exists because without it we couldn’t edit. It would be similar to saying: “Come visit my house.” “Where is it?” “Oh, right here in LA.” While it is nice to be invited to visit, the description of the location of the house is far too vague to actually find it.

Same thing with timecode. We need something that specifically, precisely and uniquely identifies every frame. Actually, Final Cut creates a label for each frame composed of the clip’s path name, file name and timecode. This is why you can have two clips with exactly the same file name and timecode, yet Final Cut can still tell them apart.

THE OLDE DAYS

In the “old days,” when video was principally distributed on broadcast television and cable, there were rules about the timecode to be assigned to each project. Setup material, such as bars and tone, started at 00:58:45:00 and the program started precisely at 01:00:00:00. (Programs originating in the EU would often start at 09:58:45:00 and 10:00:00:00, respectively.)

Today, with most vides distributed to the web and setup material no longer required, the rules are much simpler: “Any timecode you want to use is fine.” In fact, most of the time, you can ignore timecode with a clear conscience.

CHANGING TIMECODE

Again, in the old days, editing systems were not as robust as today and we would sometimes need to find ways to change clip timecode – for example, repairing damaged archive clips captured from older video tape. Today, I can’t think of a single reason where changing clip timecode is necessary.  Even for those situations where audio and video timecode don’t match, it is easier to dial in an offset than to reset the timecode of the clip itself.

NOTE: Unless your distributor tells you to change timecode, don’t change timecode. The default settings are fine for most projects and any timecode will work for the web.

However, there are times where changing the project timecode can solve problems. Here’s how.

• Open the project with the timecode you want to change into the Timeline.

• Type Cmd + J (or choose: Window > Project Properties).

• At the top of the Inspector, click the blue Modify text button. This opens the Project Properties dialog.

• Enter the starting timecode you want to use for your project in the Starting Timecode text entry box, located at the top of the dialog.

Click OK and you’re done.

EXTRA CREDIT

You may have heard the terms “drop-frame” and “non-drop-frame” timecode. These terms applied only to standard-definition NTSC video. The frames being “dropped,” were not video frames, but timecode numbers associated with video frames. (“No video frames were harmed in the making of this drop-frame project.” Smile…)

This renumbering was required when television switched from black and white to color video in the late 1950s and caused by the extra time it took to transmit color information as part of the video signal. The rule was:

“Drop two timecode numbers (frames) every minute on the minute except for every tenth minute, when no timecode numbers will be dropped.”

This is why the timecode: 01:00:00:00 exists in 29.97 fps NTSC video, but 01:01:00:00 does not. The first number is on a tenth minute, but the second number is not.

Weird, but true. HD video does not drop any timecode numbers.

---

Bookmark the permalink.