Knowledge

Linear timecode

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signal, and can be treated as an audio signal in regards to distribution. Like audio, LTC can be distributed by standard audio wiring, connectors, distribution amplifiers, and patchbays, and can be ground-isolated with audio transformers. It can also be distributed via 75 ohm video cable and video distribution amplifiers, although the voltage attenuation caused by using a 75 ohm system may cause the signal to drop to a level that can not be read by some equipment.
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bit. Since the sync code includes an odd number of 1 bits, it is an odd parity bit over the data.) This keeps the phase of each frame consistent, so it always starts with a rising edge at the beginning of bit 0. This allows seamless splicing of different time codes, and lets it be more easily read
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Made up of 80 bits per frame, where there may be 24, 25 or 30 frames per second, LTC timecode varies from 960 Hz (binary zeros at 24 frames/s) to 2400 Hz (binary ones at 30 frames/s), and thus is comfortably in the audio frequency range. LTC can exist as either a balanced or unbalanced
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When synchronizing multiple clock-dependent digital devices together with video, such as digital audio recorders, the devices must be connected to a common word clock signal that is derived from the house black burst signal. This can be accomplished by using a generator that generates both black
795:"Polarity correction bit" (bit 59 at 25 frame/s, bit 27 at other rates): this bit is chosen to provide an even number of 0 bits in the whole frame, including the sync code. (Since the frame is an even number of bits long, this implies an even number of 1 bits, and is thus an 807:"Binary group flag" bits BGF0 and BGF2 (bits 27 and 43 at 25 frame/s, bits 43 and 59 at other rates): these indicate the format of the user bits. Both 0 indicates no (or unspecified) format. Only BGF0 set indicates four 8-bit characters (transmitted 819:
The sync pattern in bits 64 through 79 includes 12 consecutive 1 bits, which cannot appear anywhere else in the time code. Assuming all user bits are set to 1, the longest run of 1 bits that can appear elsewhere in the time code is 10, bits 9 to 18
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Bit 58, unused in earlier versions of the specification, is now defined as "binary group flag 1" and indicates that the time code is synchronized to an external clock. if zero, the time origin is arbitrary.
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burst and video-resolved word clock, or by synchronizing the master digital device to video, and synchronizing all subsequent devices to the word clock output of the master digital device (and to LTC).
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numbering is in use; frame numbers 0 and 1 are skipped during the first second of every minute, except multiples of 10 minutes. This converts 30 frame/second time code to the 29.97 frame/second
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Recommendation ITU-R BR.780-2: Time and control code standards, for production applications in order to facilitate the international exchange of television programmes on magnetic tapes
54:): a 0 bit has a single transition at the start of the bit period. A 1 bit has two transitions, at the beginning and middle of the period. This encoding is 145:
Longitudinal SMPTE timecode should be played back at a middle-level when recorded on an audio track, as both low and high levels will introduce distortion.
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The basic format is an 80-bit code that gives the time of day to the second, and the frame number within the second. Values are stored in
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The sync pattern is preceded by 00 and followed by 01. This is used to determine whether an audio tape is running forward or backward.
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This is an example of the 25 frame/s bit assignments, which are different from the more commonly seen 30/29.97/24 bit assignments.
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Care has to be taken with analog audio to avoid audible 'breakthrough' (aka "crosstalk") from the LTC track to the audio tracks.
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In broadcast video situations, the LTC generator should be tied into house black burst, as should all devices using timecode,
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The sound of linear timecode is a jarring and distinctive noise and has been used as a sound-effects shorthand to imply
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Indian Standard IS: 12429 (Part 1) Time and Control Code for Video Tape Recorders: Part 1 Longitudinal Time Code (LTC)
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bit, is set to 1 if the time code is synchronized to a color video signal. The frame number modulo 2 (for NTSC and
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Bits 27, 43, and 59 differ between 25 frame/s time code, and other frame rates (30, 29.97, or 24). The bits are:
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The time code reader uses the direction sense bits to determine whether the tape is running forward or backward.
940: 165:, least significant bit first. There are thirty-two bits of user data, usually used for a reel number and date. 999: 862: 1014: 925: 867: 833: 763: 590: 786: 916: 162: 8: 1009: 39: 896: 838: 81:
bit, ensures that there are an even number of AC transitions in each timecode frame.
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Linear timecode waveform as displayed in Audacity with 80 bit data frame highlighted
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to ensure correct color framing and correct synchronization of all digital clocks.
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As of 2019-01-21, this recommendation was withdrawn by ITU-R
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track or other storage media. The bits are encoded using the
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Never process an LTC with noise reduction, eq or compressor
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To create negative time code add one hour to time (avoid
43: 148: 991: 962:"Synchronisation and SMPTE timecode (time code)" 811:). The combinations with BGF2 set are reserved. 77:A special bit in the linear timecode frame, the 98: 38:, as defined in SMPTE 12M specification. The 286: 891: 889: 887: 885: 883: 985:LGPL library to en/decode LTC in software 946:. TimeLine Vista, Inc. 1996. p. 11. 152: 880: 992: 686: 678: 670: 662: 422: 414: 406: 398: 141:Always put slowest device as a master 959: 125:Avoid percussive sounds close to LTC 844:Control track longitudinal timecode 16:Timecode encoded as an audio signal 13: 14: 1031: 978: 149:Longitudinal timecode data format 62:' which has a special predefined 58:. Each frame is terminated by a ' 42:signal is commonly recorded on a 20:Linear (or Longitudinal) Timecode 858:Differential Manchester encoding 960:Rees, Phil (15 November 2013). 754: 751: 738: 734: 731: 718: 714: 711: 698: 694: 691: 658: 654: 651: 623: 619: 616: 589: 586: 583: 582: 578: 575: 550: 546: 543: 494: 490: 487: 474: 470: 467: 454: 450: 447: 434: 430: 427: 394: 390: 387: 362: 358: 355: 330: 326: 323: 298: 283: 280: 227: 953: 933: 909: 613: 610: 607: 1: 873: 863:Rewritable consumer timecode 131:Allow pre roll and post roll 7: 827: 99:Generation and Distribution 10: 1036: 926:Bureau of Indian Standards 868:Vertical interval timecode 215: 204: 193: 182: 1020:Film and video technology 834:AES-EBU embedded timecode 648: 642: 636: 538: 525: 512: 501: 273: 260: 247: 234: 79:biphase mark correction 1005:Electrical engineering 928:. 2002 . pp. 1–3. 787:chrominance subcarrier 762:Bit 10 is set to 1 if 169:SMPTE linear timecode 158: 66:relationship with any 1000:Broadcast engineering 156: 163:binary-coded decimal 941:"SMPTR Made Simple" 781:) or modulo 4 (for 631:"Color frame" flag 170: 649:(flag, see below) 643:(flag, see below) 637:(flag, see below) 168: 159: 1015:Recording devices 839:Burnt-in timecode 759: 758: 48:biphase mark code 1027: 972: 971: 969: 968: 957: 951: 950: 945: 937: 931: 929: 923: 913: 907: 906: 893: 171: 167: 1035: 1034: 1030: 1029: 1028: 1026: 1025: 1024: 990: 989: 981: 976: 975: 966: 964: 958: 954: 943: 939: 938: 934: 921: 915: 914: 910: 895: 894: 881: 876: 854:Manchester code 830: 688: 680: 672: 664: 540: 529: 527: 516: 514: 503: 424: 416: 408: 400: 294: 292: 290: 288: 277: 275: 264: 262: 251: 249: 238: 236: 151: 136:midnight effect 101: 50:(also known as 17: 12: 11: 5: 1033: 1023: 1022: 1017: 1012: 1007: 1002: 988: 987: 980: 979:External links 977: 974: 973: 952: 932: 908: 905:. 2005-04-08 . 878: 877: 875: 872: 871: 870: 865: 860: 851: 846: 841: 836: 829: 826: 825: 824: 821: 817: 814: 813: 812: 805: 790: 771: 757: 756: 753: 750: 747: 744: 741: 737: 736: 733: 730: 727: 724: 721: 717: 716: 713: 710: 707: 704: 701: 697: 696: 693: 690: 685: 682: 677: 674: 669: 666: 661: 657: 656: 653: 650: 647: 644: 641: 638: 635: 632: 629: 626: 622: 621: 618: 615: 612: 609: 606: 603: 600: 597: 594: 588: 585: 581: 580: 577: 574: 571: 568: 565: 562: 559: 556: 553: 549: 548: 545: 542: 537: 534: 531: 524: 521: 518: 511: 508: 505: 500: 497: 493: 492: 489: 486: 483: 480: 477: 473: 472: 469: 466: 463: 460: 457: 453: 452: 449: 446: 443: 440: 437: 433: 432: 429: 426: 421: 418: 413: 410: 405: 402: 397: 393: 392: 389: 386: 383: 380: 377: 374: 371: 368: 365: 361: 360: 357: 354: 351: 348: 345: 342: 339: 336: 333: 329: 328: 325: 322: 319: 316: 313: 310: 307: 304: 301: 297: 296: 285: 282: 279: 272: 269: 266: 259: 256: 253: 246: 243: 240: 233: 230: 226: 225: 222: 219: 216: 214: 211: 208: 205: 203: 200: 197: 194: 192: 189: 186: 183: 181: 178: 175: 150: 147: 143: 142: 139: 132: 129: 126: 100: 97: 32:SMPTE timecode 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1032: 1021: 1018: 1016: 1013: 1011: 1008: 1006: 1003: 1001: 998: 997: 995: 986: 983: 982: 963: 956: 949: 942: 936: 927: 920: 919: 912: 904: 900: 899: 892: 890: 888: 886: 884: 879: 869: 866: 864: 861: 859: 855: 852: 850: 849:MIDI timecode 847: 845: 842: 840: 837: 835: 832: 831: 822: 818: 815: 810: 809:little-endian 806: 803: 798: 794: 793: 791: 788: 784: 780: 776: 775:color framing 772: 769: 765: 761: 760: 748: 745: 742: 739: 728: 725: 722: 719: 708: 705: 702: 699: 683: 675: 667: 659: 645: 639: 633: 630: 627: 624: 604: 601: 598: 595: 592: 572: 569: 566: 563: 560: 557: 554: 551: 535: 532: 522: 519: 509: 506: 498: 495: 484: 481: 478: 475: 464: 461: 458: 455: 444: 441: 438: 435: 419: 411: 403: 395: 384: 381: 378: 375: 372: 369: 366: 363: 352: 349: 346: 343: 340: 337: 334: 331: 320: 317: 314: 311: 308: 305: 302: 299: 270: 267: 257: 254: 244: 241: 231: 228: 223: 220: 217: 212: 209: 206: 201: 198: 195: 190: 187: 184: 179: 176: 173: 172: 166: 164: 155: 146: 140: 137: 133: 130: 127: 124: 123: 122: 120: 116: 113: 109: 106: 96: 93: 91: 87: 82: 80: 75: 73: 69: 65: 61: 57: 56:self-clocking 53: 49: 45: 41: 37: 33: 29: 25: 21: 965:. Retrieved 955: 947: 935: 917: 911: 897: 802:oscilloscope 773:Bit 11, the 502:Frame number 235:Frame number 160: 144: 135: 118: 117: 114: 110: 104: 102: 94: 89: 85: 83: 78: 76: 51: 36:audio signal 23: 19: 18: 797:even parity 614:Clock flag 541:tens (0-2) 504:tens (0-2) 34:data in an 994:Categories 967:2016-12-25 874:References 820:inclusive. 764:drop frame 591:Drop frame 295:1111 1101 287:Sync word, 1010:Timecodes 770:standard. 687:User bits 679:User bits 671:User bits 663:User bits 423:User bits 415:User bits 407:User bits 399:User bits 293:0011 1111 289:fixed bit 90:computers 86:telemetry 74:content. 60:sync word 828:See also 800:with an 689:field 8 681:field 6 673:field 4 665:field 2 425:field 7 417:field 5 409:field 3 401:field 1 224:Meaning 213:Meaning 202:Meaning 191:Meaning 180:Meaning 119:LTC care 28:encoding 26:) is an 526:Minutes 513:Seconds 291:pattern 261:Minutes 248:Seconds 593:flag. 530:(0–5) 517:(0–5) 278:(0–9) 265:(0–9) 252:(0–9) 239:(0–9) 210:Weight 199:Weight 188:Weight 177:Weight 944:(PDF) 922:(PDF) 779:SECAM 539:Hours 276:units 274:Hours 263:units 250:units 237:units 221:Value 68:video 40:audio 768:NTSC 611:BGF1 528:tens 515:tens 72:film 64:sync 903:ITU 783:PAL 749:63 746:47 743:31 740:15 729:62 726:46 723:30 720:14 709:61 706:45 703:29 700:13 605:40 599:40 573:20 567:20 561:20 555:20 485:55 482:39 479:23 476:07 465:54 462:38 459:22 456:06 445:53 442:37 439:21 436:05 218:Bit 207:Bit 196:Bit 185:Bit 174:Bit 88:or 70:or 44:VTR 30:of 24:LTC 996:: 924:. 901:. 882:^ 856:, 755:1 752:79 735:0 732:78 715:1 712:77 695:1 692:76 684:60 676:44 668:28 660:12 655:1 652:75 646:59 640:43 634:27 625:11 620:1 617:74 608:58 602:42 596:26 584:10 579:1 576:73 570:57 564:41 558:25 552:09 547:1 544:72 536:10 533:56 523:10 520:40 510:10 507:24 499:10 496:08 491:1 488:71 471:1 468:70 451:1 448:69 431:1 428:68 420:52 412:36 404:20 396:04 391:1 388:67 385:8 382:51 379:8 376:35 373:8 370:19 367:8 364:03 359:1 356:66 353:4 350:50 347:4 344:34 341:4 338:18 335:4 332:02 327:0 324:65 321:2 318:49 315:2 312:33 309:2 306:17 303:2 300:01 281:64 268:48 255:32 242:16 229:00 121:: 92:. 52:FM 970:. 804:. 789:. 628:C 587:D 284:0 271:1 258:1 245:1 232:1 138:) 22:(

Index

encoding
SMPTE timecode
audio signal
audio
VTR
biphase mark code
self-clocking
sync word
sync
video
film

binary-coded decimal
Drop frame
drop frame
NTSC
color framing
SECAM
PAL
chrominance subcarrier
even parity
oscilloscope
little-endian
AES-EBU embedded timecode
Burnt-in timecode
Control track longitudinal timecode
MIDI timecode
Manchester code
Differential Manchester encoding
Rewritable consumer timecode

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