How to offset the star time only for the media

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Level 1

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How to offset the star time only for the media

I have a QT movie with visual time code which starts at 01:00:00:00 instead of 00:00:00:00. I also have an .stl file (for subtitling) which was spotted against the visual time code on the QT movie. How can I offset the start time only for the video and not the .stl file?

Thank you for your help.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.2), iMac, Mac G4

Posted on Nov 20, 2008 7:13 PM

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Answer 1

Nick Holmes

Level 7

30,018 points

Nov 20, 2008 7:54 PM in response to YDHB

Are you talking about a timecode on screen, over the video content?

There's no way to change that, it is "burned" into the picture.

You could however, bring the QuickTime File into Final Cut Pro and overlay a Timecode Generator filter to cover the old one up. This could be set to generate any TC number you want.

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Answer 2

YDHB Author

Level 1

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Nov 20, 2008 8:03 PM in response to Nick Holmes

I'm sorry. Maybe I was not clear. I know that the visual time code on the QT movie cannot be changed. I need to change the timecode in the time line.

Currently, the QT movie starts at 00:00:00:00 in the time line, but when I import the .stl file, the first subtitle starts at 01:02:00:13, as it was spotted correctly against the visual time code on the QT movie. So, the first subtitle is placed toward the end of the QT movie, instead of at the beginning of the movie in the time line. I would like the media (video and audio) to "slide" to the right to match the subtitle stream. Or, slide the subtitle stream to the left without having to offset the .stl file.

Is this possible in DVD Studio Pro?

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Answer 3

Nov 21, 2008 2:35 AM in response to YDHB

In QT if you put the mouse over by the timecode (bottom left of movie) you can switch from Standard to Timecode and you'll see the TC you want.

In DVDSP you right+click on the TC area (above V1 & below the Markers) then select Asset based not Zero based.

That's what you mean, right?

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Answer 4

Nov 21, 2008 3:04 AM in response to subquestion

Does setting from zero based to asset based actually work for subs in DVD-SP 4. Never used to in earlier versions if I recall.

You could reset the timestamp of the m2v file using Restream (PC only) I think or MPEGAppend software (which is not free but has some useful parts to it so worth having in your arsenal - it can rest flags on wrongly encoded 16x9 encodes and stuff like that)

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Answer 5

Nov 21, 2008 7:37 PM in response to subquestion

This works! Except one minor problem...

I'm not sure what I am doing wrong to offset the start time. At the start of the QT movie, the visual T/C starts at 01:00:30:00. So, I go to Preferences>Encoding and change the Start: to 01:00:30:00 to match the start time of the QT movie. I click on Apply and hit OK.

When I see the asset-based T/C, it says 01:00:48:00. So, I go back to the above Preference setting and the start time is changed to 01:00:48:00.

Is there a certain seconds/frames of "pre-roll" that I have to take into account? Or Is there a way to clear any hidden, pre-used number I accidentally typed in?

Is there certain order in which I need to import the media and do the offset?

Thank you so much for you patience and help!

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Answer 6

Nov 22, 2008 7:46 AM in response to HBsunshine

Zero based TC instead of Asset based does work, BUT:
You need to change the STL a bit.
the $TapeOffset = False (or $TapeOffset = True) needs to be set also.
(just enter it on top of the STL)

Bouke

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Answer 7

YDHB Author

Level 1

0 points

Nov 22, 2008 11:27 PM in response to Videotoolshed

Setting the T/C view to "asset-based" helps me see the T/C I want to used based on the visual T/C. However, I'm still having trouble offsetting the video accurately.

Let's say, the QT movie's initial T/C (burn-in on the video) is 01:00:30:00. This is what I am doing to "offset" the T/C to match the start time of the video in DVDSP with the burn-in T/C.

1. Import the asset.
2. Go to Preferences>Encoding and change the start time to 01:00:30:00.
3. Close the window. Drag the asset (video and audio) down into Track 1.
4. Change the "View>Time Scale" to asset-based.
5. The start time shows as 01:00:42:00. (When I go back to Preferences>Encoding, the start time has changed to 01:00:42:00 without my knowledge.)

What am I doing wrong? If the software is adding extra seconds because of what I did before without knowing it, is there anyway I can clear this setting? I have already tried "Reset to Factory Default Setting" in the Preferences window too.

This is driving me nuts! Please help. Thank you for your time.

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Answer 8

YDHB Author

Level 1

0 points

Nov 23, 2008 8:43 AM in response to YDHB

I have discovered that you can accurately" offset the start time of the video by right-clicking on the imported asset and use "Encoder Settings" instead of through "Preferences".

Thank you all for your help and time.

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