Timecoding U-Matic Tapes

Using videotapes that have been blacked and timecoded will make your life easier. Laying down an uninterrupted black video signal prepares the tape for insert editing. See the Editing Video Tapes page for more details on insert editing, assemble editing, and timecode.

Timecode format is hour:minute:second:frame. Minutes and seconds range from 0-60 while frames range form 0-30.

Setting the timecode start point:

Set CTL/TC/Dial Menu to Dial Menu (switch)
If the view monitor screen is blank push the jog/shuttle knob once.
If the screen says "... timecode preset TGC 00:00:00:00" (probably what you want), then just hit "Set" (button, red label)
To make the timecode start somewhere else (for instance if you're recording something long on multiple tapes you can set the hour field to the tape number):
- Turn the dial until the appropriate set of number is blinking.
- Change that number by pressing in the "Data" button while turning the dial.
- Hit the "Set" button when all fields have been set to your satisfaction.
Set CTL/TC/Dial Menu back to TC (switch)

Blacking a videotape

Set a timecode start point as explained above
Select "edit" mode (switch)
Select "assemble" edit (button)
Set line/dub to line (switch)
Go to the very beginning of the tape
Press "play" and "pause".
Press "edit".
Route black to the U-Matic with the Web interface (middle-click Black, left-click Umatic 3/4" Rec deck) or with the telect command: telect -lntsc -iblack -oumatrec
Switch the leftmost switch on the secret hidden timecode panel from "Free Run" to "Rec Run". To access the secret hidden timecode panel, which is underneath the main control panel of the 3/4" record deck, open it with the little metal pushbuttons at the lower outer corners of the lower half of the front panel. When you push down on them you can pull up the face of the panel, exposing some timecode switches.
Hit "pause" to start recording
I highly recommend that you black the entire tape unless you are absolutely desperately pressed for time.
Remember to change the timecode switch from "Rec Run" back to "Free Run" when you're done, it needs to be in free run mode for the edit deck to work. Note that to get the panel back down, you need to lift up on the arms holding up the panel face.

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Last modified: Thu Jan 14 18:04:26 PST 1999