How do I get the date and time stamp from metadata to appear on video import in Final Cut Pro X

MShoup wrote:

It's for surveillance video. The date and time stamp on digital video is embedded on a metadata file and for some reason all of the video capture software out there, especially on the Mac platform, will not display the date and time when imported digitally. Typically we have to export it analog with the data code on so that the DTS stamp is displayed and then re-digitize the film.

Be nice to just have the DTS Stamp displayed in full digital. It's a quality thing.

I've worked with some surveillance systems, they are VERY propriatary and typically record in non-common highly compressed - low resolution video formats. The cameras used by such systems are very basic cameras that don't have any option settings on the camera itself. The surveillance DVR / system is responsible for date/time information.

Are you extracting the video using the system? If you are, then you should be able to set the software to put the time stamp on the video when extracting if it's not already the default setting. The important thing I learned when working with surveillance systems is RTFM (Read The Freaking Manual).

If you are just copying the video files without using the system AND are somehow able to read or convert them to import into FCPX, then you will likely have to put the time stamp on it yourself. There was a discussion on these forums a while back on how this can be achieved but it's non-trivial.

Check out the following: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3500947?answerId=16791428022#16791428022

That'd normally be the camera's job, wouldn't it?

I haven't noticed any way to do that automatically in FCPX (but others may know).

You could always add a title overlay, but that wouldn't really help with the time stamp, which obviously changes by the second.

MShoup, I am also a Private Investigator. I use a Panasonic Camcorder. When I have finished a job I download the video from my camera on to my PC (I don't have a Mac). Then I run it through a program called VATS (Visual AVCHD Time Stamp). It then stamps all of my video clips with the date and time stamp. I love it!! Then I have to take the sound off using another program and then a video converter program to reduce the size of the file!!

If you google the full name of the VATS program you will find it. It only cost about $50

I recently purchased my first iPad and have used it VERY successfully covertly. It paid for itself first job out the door. I am looking for a date and time stamp program for that as my clients want that ability.

I hope I helped!!?

I'm in the exact same boat, MShoup. Please let me know if you figure anything out. In the meantime, I've found a way to manuall do it (which is a pain, but better than nothing).

http://www.macworld.com/article/1166605/how_to_time_stamp_your_video_in_imovie.h tml

Hello, I know this post is a little old but I am running into the same problem right now. I work for an investigation agency as both an investigator and help with editing as well. We recently switched from digital tapes to strictly digital cameras with built in hard drives and SD cards. We use to do a real time playback from the camera to capture the video to the computer for editing. We were hoping that with the new cameras we could save time by just having digital fiels that we could drag a drop. But when we import the digital files the timestamp is gone. We did find that if you import the files into iMove from the camera directly you can apply the date/time title and it shows up correctly. We could then export the file and import it into Final Cut Pro X and the stamp is still there. We tried installing a title generator on FInal Cut but all that would do is show the current time. I hope using the iMovie thing might help you out but we would like to cut that step out and just drag a file from the camera to the computer hard drive and when imported to Final Cut have the timestamp display. If you have found a solution to the problem since then please reply with your solution so we can use it too.

I too am a PI and have started using iMovie and then iDVD.

I used to use video capture hardware and play it out 1:1 then author and burn the DVD but there are a lot of steps to that and a lot of quality loss.

I recently equipped my field investigators with hi def camcorders (Panasonic since they have PREC) and have been using iMovie and iDVD since the first of the year. Keep in mind that iMovie looks at your video as if it is GMT (or GMT +1 during DST) so you must set up your "home time zone" on your camera accordingly so that it not only records the actual time/date (for court) and so iMovie processes it properly without having to use the "adjust clip date and time" command (not good when subject to a cross exam on the stand).

I have played with FCP but don't see any advantage to it over iMovie for our purposes, in fact, iMovie works a LOT better for what we do.

I know this is an old post, but I am about to tear my hair out.

I am also an investigator (surveillance) and I have just moved from windows laptop to MacBook Pro.

Has anyone found a program that I can use to time and date stamp my captured video.

I used to use a program call Super DVDate that was ideal, but as yet I am unable to confirm if it works on a mac.

HELP

Sure, but you need to use iMovie 9

it is easy to do with iMovie.

And you can easilly strip the audio off the video also. Save it as a 1080p or 720p .mov file or in (3) resolutions of .m4v (mp4)

What camera are you using and what resolution settings?

The new iMovie is not as easy to use for surveillance video.

Sorry, but you are wrong. That is not the way iMovie works. It imports the video (AVCHD) and extracts the metadata from each clip. A simple time/date overlay from the menu and you're ready to export the video.

actually "my" involvement in it only takes a few minutes then I move to another task as it renders/processes. I do have several Macs in the office and there are times where I have 5 or 6 machines going at the same time.

I just now started one where we have 1.5 hrs of HD video and the status says about 3hrs. But the end result is crystal clear video which plays great on a 46" screen.

Shakey, I can walk you through getting iMovie 9.09 on or back on your computer and how to get your time/date stamp on as well as strip the audio and do it all quickly and efficiently.

PM me csiu2 (at) me.com

dont know if anyone has figured this out ...

but here is a fix: SYSTEM PREFERENCES > DATE & TIME > TIME ZONE > UNCHECK "Set time zome automatically using current location". That should add the date/time correct to your video clips when you import.

However, during daylight savings, I have to move the current location one hour west. That screws up the "real" time on your computer. I just change it back when i'm through with iMovie.

(and DVDate does NOT work on mac)

I used to be a PC investigator but no more. DVDate took forever to render... this is 1/4 the time for minimal effort.

word!