What Frame Rate And Settings Should You Use; Smpte And Mtc User Bits - M-Audio Portman 4x4 Manual

What Frame Rate and Settings Should You Use?

The following table summarizes the frame rates that we recom-
mend you use when striping SMPTE:
Application
Audio Only
Video - Color U.S.
Video - B/W U.S.
Video - Color Europe
Video - B/W Europe
* Note: If you are in the U.S. and using a PORTMAN 4x4/S to do
audio scoring or MIDI sequencing for your own video, then we sug-
gest you use 30 non-drop instead of 30 drop. This is because drop-
frame is harder to work with since time calculations are more com-
plicated. Non-drop will allow you to sync just as well drop-frame;
drop-frame is really only a necessity for broadcast purposes.

SMPTE and MTC User Bits

The SMPTE and MTC standards provide a means for users to
"stamp" their media with reference numbers of their own choos-
ing. This is accomplished by setting aside some spare data (32
bits) within the time code message to be used as "User Bits."
SMPTE and MTC allow you to encode these User Bits into the
time code message without affecting the time code itself.
Because there are 32 User Bits available, they can be further subdi-
vided into 8 nibbles (one nibble = 4 bits), each of which can repre-
sent a binary- coded decimal (BCD) digit. A typical set of User
Bits might look like this:
This could be interpreted as April 19, shot 03, take 12. Although
this is one method of encoding user bit information, you may des-
ignate the digits in any way that you desire.
Many inexpensive sync boxes ignore User Bits because they have
no way to set them or read them. The PORTMAN 4x4/S User Bits
can be set via the Remote Control software and may be displayed
with some outboard device such as the MIDIMAN SMPTE Time
Window. The User Bits are also transmitted via MIDI message to
Frame Rate
30 non-drop
30 drop*
30 non-drop
25
25
0 4 1 9 0 3
29
1 2