Timecode Applications - Lexicon NUVERB - FOR MACINTOSH Manual

NuVerb User Guide
Reference
Time Code Applications
About time Code
Time Code is an electronic signal applied to tape or film which identifies each individual video
frame. The ability to uniquely identify any frame provides a reference system for fast and
accurate location of any point on the tape. This referencing system maintains its accuracy
regardless of changes in playback or editing equipment, allowing precise synchronization of
an entire editing system.
Time Code identifies each video frame by assigning it a unique "address". Frames are
sequentially identified by hour, minute, second, and frame. For example, a typical Time Code
address appears as:
09 : 42 : 31 : 07
hours minutes seconds frames
As each frame is advanced, the Time Code address is increased by one frame "count". Because
the Time Code signal is locked to advancing video frames, both advance at exactly the same
rate.
In the USA, there are two standard frame rates, one for black and white (monochrome), and
one for color.
Monochromatic video runs at a rate of 30 frames per second. If a black and white TV program
is measured by Time Code, the program length, the Time Code display, and clock time, will
all be in sync.
Color video signals run at a rate of 29.97 frames per second, and clocking a one-hour color
program at 30 frames per second will result in a time discrepancy of 3.6 seconds (or 108 frames).
In order to correct this discrepancy, a version of Time Code called SMPTE Drop Frame was
developed.
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