Batch Add TC
Batch Add TC is designed to add a timecode track to QuickTime files exported
from Avid. The starting TC value and the Source ID (Reel name) is read
from a corresponding ALE shot log which is also exported from the Avid
system. When imported into FCP, the QuickTime files appears in the bin
browser with the original timecode and reel name.
Batch Add TC works by going through each clip in the ALE shot log, truncating
the clip name entry if necessary, adding a file extension if necessary
and then look for a QuickTime file by this name in a specified folder.
If it finds a QuickTime file with this name, it will read the timecode
entry and reel name from the ALE shot log and add this as a timecode track
to the QuickTime file. This is possible because Avid is very consistent
at naming the QuickTime files when performing an export. Avid uses the
first 27 or 28 characters (depending on the QuickTime version) of the clip
name as basis of the QuickTime file name and then adds a file extension.
NOTE: Batch Add TC requires three distinct columns to be present in
the ALE log: Start, Name and Tape. If you want to add timecode from an
Auxiliary Timecode column or the TC 24 Start column this also has to be
present.
To batch add timecode to a number of QuickTime files follow these steps:
-
In Avid export the clips you want to bring into FCP as QuickTime movies
and ALE shot logs.
-
In Sebsky Tools select menu item Batch Add TC under menu Tools or click
the Batch Add TC icon in the toolbar.
-
Select the ALE shot log. You can choose which timecode column the clips
starting timecode should come from. If the video standard is set to 24
fps you can choose to convert from 29.97 fps timecode to 24 fps timecode.
Click Select.
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Next, select the folder containing the QuickTime media files. Here you
also have a few options to set.
Overwrite existing Timecode Track - If a QuickTime movie already
contains a timecode track you can choose to overwrite it.
Match QuickTime file names exported from Windows - The Windows
OS changes the file name of a clip when a QuickTime file is exported from
Avid. This option matches the clip name to the actual file name, so it
is possible for Sebsky Tools to locate the QuickTime files.
Movie File extension - Select the movie file extension that applies
to your QuickTime files.
-
Click Add TC.
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When Sebsky Tools has finished adding timecode tracks, a sheet descends
informing you how many QuickTime files had timecode tracks added, how many
files were skipped and how many files could not be located. For further
details look in the output log accessible from the Windows menu or by clicking
the Log icon in the toolbar.