FCE Timecode Display

 
 


PieroF_FCE_Timecode_Display_v3.3R.fxscript.zip: (click the link to Download)

What does it do ?

FCE Timecode Display is a freeware script filter that displays the Timecode information for clips in Final Cut Express. The main purpose is to provide FCE users with a functionality otherwise reserved to FCP users: in FCP you may apply the filter Video/Timecode Reader that displays the current playhead Timecode, but doesn’t provide any other information, nor has the flexibility of FCE Timecode Display. This makes FCE Timecode Display possibly useful also for FCP users.

The main purpose is to display the current timecode, that is, the timecode at the playhead position; but you can choose to display also the timecodes of the IN and OUT points, and/or the timecodes of the start and end of the clip’s media file, as well as the clip “handles” size.

The displayed timecode may be chosen among three types: the absolute values (source time in FCP) as recorded by the camcorder, that are not visible in FCE without this filter; or the FCE timecodes, that are relative to the media start, and are usually displayed in the FCE windows; or the clip timecodes relative to the clip IN point (See note (a) for FCP users).

The generated text may also be formatted and positioned in the frame at your choice, using its controls in the Viewer. The format of the displayed values is described in Timecode and is compliant with the standards, including the NTSC drop-frame convention.

A recent addition is the ability to display also Date and Time: unfortunately, to my knowledge, there is no way for the filter to read Date and Time info embedded in the clip (as it does for the timecode), so a semiautomatic solution is made available: you write the date and time for a convenient point of your choice (media start, IN, or OUT, or other) and the filter will display the correct date and time at each frame of the clip.



In the above example, the italic value in the middle line (currently 00:06:33:20) is kept updated during playback and displays the timecode of the current playhead position and the current frame rate (@ 25 fps = frames per second); the top line contains both the media start timecode for the clip, in brackets [00:06:14:14], and its IN point timecode 00:06:33:20; finally the bottom line contains both the OUT point timecode for the clip 00:07:05:23, and its media end timecode, in brackets [00:07:05:23]. In this example the OUT point is set to the end of the clip media, so they have identical values (no “handle”).


Note that, if the timecode information is needed only during the edit session, you can easily remove or disable the filter before exporting the movie; if instead you need the timecode information “burned” into the movie, just leave it there and it will appear also in the exported movie.

Basic usage

After its Installation drag the filter FCE Timecode Display v3.3 from the Video Filter > pf folder of Effects into the Viewer on the clip of which you want see the timecode and or the date, and then set the controls.

In general the default values are sufficient (in the above example also the Media Start/End Timecode option is selected), but to add more information you may select any combination of the 7 controls following the Type selection (Absolute timecode by default):

  1. •Current TC, always the middle line in italic

  2. •In/Out TC, on the top and bottom lines, no brackets

  3. •Media Start/End TC, on the top and bottom lines, always in brackets

  4. •Handles Size; always prefixed by a sign: in the top line -xx:xx:xx:xx is the difference between the media start timecode and the IN point; in the bottom line +xx:xx:xx:xx is the difference between the media end timecode and the OUT point

  5. •Reel Name, always in the middle line, in italic, as defined during the media capture

  6. •Show fps: it displays “@ xx fps”

  7. •Date and Time: see Advanced Usage.

By default the output values are stacked as in the picture above and centered in the frame over a grey, half transparent band. If you need more flexibility in positioning or formatting the output, or need to display also the date and time, refer to the next section Advanced Usage.

Compatibility, Disclaimer

This FCE Timecode Display filter has been tested in Final Cut Express HD v3.5 and Final Cut Pro v5.1, but it will likely work also in other versions of FCE and FCP as long as they provide support for the fxscript language (see also the Disclaimer).

Version History

v3.3 - Interface improvements (thanks Tom Wolsky).

v3.2 - The frame rate information (“@ xx fps”) is now optional.

v3.1 - Added the possibility to simulate Date and Time information.

v3.0.5 - Added the possibility to display Reel Name and to add a colored band under the timecodes.

v3.0.4 - Fixed NTSC handling of drop frames - Added the choice of timecode type.

Note: This effect is based on a Filter originally written by Simon; I added more features and flexibility.

Advanced Usage

After its Installation choose the filter as described in Basic Usage above, and then set the following controls.

Timecode Format:


  1. •Type (default: Absolute Timecode): it is one of the following:

  2. ‣Absolute Timecode: the original timecode values are displayed as recorded by the camcorder while shooting, and then recorded by FCE into the media files while capturing. This way the filter displays timecodes otherwise hidden by the FCE, but used for media reconnection and Project Capture.

  3. ‣FCE Timecode: the timecode values are displayed relative to the start of the media file. The displayed values are also displayed by FCE in the current timecode field of the viewer for the clip.

  4. ‣Clip Timecode: the timecode values are displayed relative to the IN point of the clip (see Note (a))

  5. •Current TC (default: ON): if checked the timecode value is displayed of the frame under the playhead. This may be absolute, or FCE, or clip depending on the selected Type. Note: if no other display option is selected the current timecode is displayed even if Current Timecode is OFF.

  6. •IN/OUT TC (default: ON): if checked the timecode values are displayed of both the IN and the OUT points of the clip. These may be absolute, or FCE, or clip depending on the selected Type. In case of clip type the IN value is always 00:00:00:00.

  7. •Media Start/End TC (default: OFF): if checked the timecode values are displayed of both the start frame and the end frame in the clip media file. It is always displayed surrounded by square brackets and it may be absolute or FCE depending on the selected Type. In case of FCE type the Media Start/End Timecode value is always 00:00:00:00. In case of clip type no Media Start/End Timecode is displayed independent of this checkmark.

  8. •Handle Size (default: OFF): if checked the sizes are displayed of the two clip handles. In other words the difference between Media Start and the IN point timecodes is displayed (a negative timecode value) and the difference between Media End and the OUT point timecodes is displayed (a positive timecode value). These are displayed always prefixed by their sign.

  9. •Reel Name (default: OFF): if checked the reel name of the clip is displayed in front of the Current Timecode. The reel name of the clip is defined in the Capture window.

  10. •Show fps (default: ON): if checked the current frame rate is displayed after the Current Timecode.

  11. •Date and Time (default: OFF): if checked a date and time information is displayed based on the input provided with the following Date and Time controls.

Date and Time (manual):


  1. •Format (default: Date hh:mm:ss): you can choose one of 7 formats for displaying the Date and Time:

  2. Date hh:mm:ss, Date hh:mm, Date h:mm am/pm, hh:mm:ss, hh:mm, h:mm am/pm, Date.

  3. Where hh=hours, mm=minutes, ss=seconds, h=hours 1-12. The displayed value is computed based on the following control information:

  4. •Date (default: Jan 1, 2007): is a fixed, free text that might in fact contain any message.

  5. •Hour (hh) (default: 0): is an hour value in the range 0-23. The 24 hour convention must be used in this control even if the output format is of type [Date] h:mm am/pm.

  6. •Minute (mm) (default: 0): is a minute value in the range 0-59.

  7. •Second (ss) (default: 0): is a second value in the range 0-59.

  8. The above Date and time values (Date, Hour, Minute, Second) must be entered and refer to one of the reference points (e.g. Media Start, or IN Point, etc.) that can be selected with the Refers to control. The filter will display an updated Hour, Minute, and Second information for any frame position in the clip (note: Date never changes).

  9. •Refers to (default: Media Start): it is one of the following:

  10. ‣Absolute Timecode 00:00:00:00: the input Date and time values refer to the first frame of the recording while shooting with the camcorder. Using this selection you can enter the same value for all clips captured from that record on MiniDV.

  11. ‣Media Start: the input Date and time values refer to the start of the media file. In this case the values to be set into Date, Hour, Minute and Second may easily be read with the support of external tools (e.g. iMovie or FootTrack).

  12. ‣IN Point: the input Date and time values refer to the IN point of the clip.

  13. ‣OUT Point: the input Date and time values refer to the OUT point of the clip.

  14. ‣Media End: the input Date and time values refer to the end of the media file.

Text:


  1. •Font, Style, Size and Color: they set the text style for the counter (default: Lucida Grande, regular, 12, white)

Display Position:


  1. •Center Point (default: centered in the frame = 0,0): it sets the position of the Display in the frame.

  2. •Align Text (default: Center): it defines the alignement of the text within the Display

  3. •Display (default: Stacked): when Display = Stacked, 3 lines are displayed (see examples below): the first with Media Start, left Handle Size, In point, the second with the current timecode, the third with OUT point, right handle size, and Media End. Which values are displayed depends on the above options.
    When     Inline the same timecode values are displayed in the same order, but all on the same line.

  4. •Text Spacing (default: 1.2): it allows to add or remove blank space between timecodes.

  5. •Background Opacity (%) (default: 50): it defines the opacity for the rectangular background under the timecodes.

  6. •Background Color (default: Black): it defines the color for the rectangular background.

NTSC Only:


  1. •Drop Frame (default: ON): it sets the drop frame timecode (used only for NTSC). When Drop Frame is On and the sequence including the clip is NTSC, the drop frame timecode convention is used, where a semicolon separates seconds from frames (in place of a colon).

Timecode Display Examples:

  1. A. With all the default values the output looks like this:

  2. 00:06:33:20

  3. 00:06:35:02 @ 25fps

  4. 00:07:05:23


  6. Where the displayed timecode is the absolute (source) timecode, the IN point is at absolute 00:06:33:20 and the OUT point at 00:07:05:23. The playhead is on absolute position 00:06:35:02.

  7. B. With Type = Absolute Timecode (default) and all are options checked the output looks like this:

  8. [00:06:14:14]   -00:00:19:06   00:06:33:20

  9. Reel: DV16 - 00:06:35:02 @ 25fps

  10. 00:07:05:23   +00:00:00:00   [00:07:05:23]


  12. Where the clip media file starts at absolute 00:06:14:14 and ends at 00:07:05:23; the IN point is at absolute 00:06:33:20 and the OUT point at 00:07:05:23 (OUT point is at the end of the media file). The left handle is then of 00:00:19:06 frames while the right handle is empty. The playhead is on absolute frame 00:06:35:02. The reel was named DV16 during capture.

  13. These values are used also in the example of the Timecode description.

  14. C. With Type = FCE Timecode and all options checked (but Reel Name) the output looks like this, for the same clip and playhead position as above:

  15. [00:00:00:00]   -00:00:19:06   00:00:19:06

  16. 00:00:20:13 @ 25fps

  17. 00:00:51:09   +00:00:00:00   [00:00:51:09]


  19. Where the clip media file starts at relative 00:00:00:00 (always) and ends at 00:00:51:09; the IN point is at relative 00:00:19:06 and the OUT point at 00:00:51:09 (OUT point is at the end of the media file). The left handle is of 00:00:19:06 frames as above, while the right handle is empty. The playhead is on relative frame 00:00:20:13.

  20. D. With Type = Clip Timecode and all options checked (but Reel Name) the output looks like this, for the same clip and playhead position as above:

  21. 00:00:00:00

  22. 00:00:01:07 @ 25fps

  23. 00:00:32:03


  25. Where the clip IN point is at local 00:00:00:00 (always) and the OUT point at 00:00:32:03. The playhead is on relative frame 00:00:01:07. No media start/end nor handle sizes are displayed, since they’d be meaningless.

Date and Time Display Examples:

  1. A. With just the Date and Time display option selected the output looks like this:

  2. Jan 1, 2007 12:06 am

  3. B. With Current Timecode and Date and Time display options selected the output looks like this:

  4. 00:44:05:20 @ 25fps

  5. Jan 1, 2007 12:06 am

Date and Time Setup - Example of Process (tip):

  1. To get a correct Date and Time all over a clip you must first set the Date and Time values for one of the 5 reference points in the clip, selecting the proper Refer to value. The most useful selection is the Media Start point, since other tools able to read the Date and Time (e.g. iMovie and FootTrack) provide this value right for the first frame in the clip.

  2. Then process to set the correct date and time, using FootTrack (FT) as a support application, is the following:

  3. 1.in FCE capture the movie;

  4. 2.then apply DV Start/Stop Detect to the clip, and then Make Subclips;

  5. 3.in FT import the media file of the clip already captured by FCE (in FCE Capture Scratch folder)

  6. 4.then apply DV Start/Stop Detect to the imported tape: FT creates the same number of clips as FCE. However, different from FCE, for each new clip FT displays date, time and timecode of its first frame (see Figure 1);

  7. 5.in FCE apply the FCE Timecode Display filter to all the subclips

  8. 6.finally in each FCE subclip manually copy Date, Hour, Minute, and Second from the FT display to the corresponding controls in the filter, and select Media Start in the Refer to control (see Figure 2).

  9. Tip: The last 2 steps may be substituted by: apply the FCE Timecode Display filter to the first clip, write only the Date field, Copy the clip (cmd-C) and Paste Attributes (alt-V) to all remaining clips. This avoids writing the same date many times.

  10. Figure 1 - Date, Time and Timecode displayed by FootTrack


  12. Figure 2 - FCE Timecode Display filter controls set to the same values as in FootTrack



Notes:

  1. (a)Note for FCP users: the clip timecode in this filter is not the clip time as defined in FCP. The clip timecode in FCE Timecode Display is the number of frames measured from the clip IN point; the clip time in FCP, instead, is a possibly new value for the source timecode resulting from applying either a different frame rate, or the Time Remap function: it does not refer to the IN point.