Modifying Timecode in Media Files
In Final Cut Pro, you can modify media file timecode in several ways:
•Individual clips can be adjusted by choosing Modify > Timecode.
•Multiple clips can be adjusted in the Browser timecode columns (such as Media Start and Media End).
In general, choosing Modify > Timecode provides deeper control over your timecode modifications, but the Browser allows you to modify multiple clips at once.
Using the Modify Timecode Command
Timecode tracks in your media files can be added, altered, and even removed in the Modify Timecode dialog.
Each media file can have up to three timecode tracks and corresponding reel names:
•Source timecode track and reel name
•Aux 1 timecode and Aux 1 reel name
•Aux 2 timecode and Aux 2 reel name
When you select a checkbox next to a timecode track, you are adding that timecode track to your media file. Deselecting the checkbox deletes that timecode track from the media file.
Important: Be careful not to delete the source timecode track of your media file by deselecting its checkbox.
To modify the timecode of a clip’s media file:
1 In the Browser, select the clip or sequence with the timecode you want to change.
2 Choose Modify > Timecode.
3 Verify that the settings are correct:
•Frame to Set: Choose the frame you want to alter.
•Current: Choose this to alter the timecode of the current frame in the clip or sequence.
Starting: Choose this to change the timecode of the starting frame of the clip or sequence.
•Source TC: Select this checkbox to add or alter the timecode of the source clip or sequence’s media file on disk.
•Aux TC 1 and Aux TC 2: Select these checkboxes to create or change the properties of auxiliary timecode clips or sequences.
•Reel/Roll: The reel number is displayed here. If you need to change the reel number, enter the reel number here.
•Timecode: The current timecode is displayed here. If you choose to modify the timecode, enter the new timecode here.
•Format: Choose Drop Frame or Non-Drop Frame from the pop-up menu.
•Rate: Choose a timecode rate from the pop-up menu.
4 Enter the new timecode in the Timecode field.
5 Click OK to permanently change the timecode.
Modifying Timecode in the Browser or Item Properties
Most timecode settings can be modified in the Browser or the Item Properties window, but some fields are restricted to prevent accidental changes to many media files at once. When you modify particular Browser columns, Final Cut Pro warns you that the media file, not just the clip, will be affected.
The TC Rate item property (visible in both the Browser columns and the Item Properties window), always shows the rate of the source timecode track of a clip’s media file. The Aux 1 or Aux 2 timecode rates are never shown here. Use the TC Rate column in the Browser to adjust the timecode rate for many clips at once. Some timecode rates are not allowed for some video frame rates.
Note: The TC Rate property is the rate of the source timecode track in a media file. The Vid Rate property is the rate of the video track in a media file. In many instances, these are the same, but not always. For example, an NTSC media file has a video rate of 29.97 fps, but a timecode rate of 30 fps.
+Source: Final Cut Pro User Manual+
