FCP X Adding timer counter

Question

FCP X Adding timer counter

I have a video of some track and field competitions. I need to add a timer clock to start exactly at the moment of the gun fire and end at the exact frame the runner crosses the finish line.

Timecode in FCPX doesn't work because it starts based off the timecode of the project. So, 10 seconds into the clip while the runners get ready, the timecode generator starts at 00:00:10 seconds, I want it to start at 0:00:00 and go up from there.

Motion 5 didn't help. I can make a rig that is offsets the timecode by however much I want but I never know when the gun fire starts, each track run is different and some last a few minutes others a few seconds.

I can create a timecode generator and export that as a video then overlay the movie created. That seems silly to be, why is there no timer, clock counter in FCPX?

Anyone have other work arounds or know of any 3rd party plug-ins that can do this. Simple just having a classic "timer on a bomb" counter effect would be nice in Final Cut Pro X. Apple support didn't have any resolution just told me to provide feature feedback and perhaps a future update may include a generator like that.

Final Cut Pro X, Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on May 7, 2012 2:29 PM

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Answer 1

May 8, 2012 2:25 AM in response to mauriciofromaustin

You can easily create a generator in Motion that does what you are asking. There is a "Date and Time" generator there, and you can customize it to your heart's content. Or, you can just use the one freely available from Ripple Training:

/www.rippletraining.com/categories/final-cut-studio-courses/final-cut-pro-produ cts/fcp-classic-generators-volume-1.html

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Answer 2

May 8, 2012 10:05 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Thanks for the info. I guess the date and time generator works ok, but still not quite what I was going for.

If you have an iPhone or iPod Touch there is a "Stop Watch" feature along with the alarm and also a timer. You press start and the counter goes. That's what I'm going for.

A stop watch generator that starts on zero where ever I place it on the timeline and goes from there until I stop it. Like a track coach would.

- The Ripple Training stuff is useful, but not for my projects.

I'm just surprised that there is nothing out there I've been able to find that does that feature in Motion or FCPX. Where do the Olympics and sports events get their timer generators? LOL

I have Boris RED, Cinema 4D but I don't feel I have to go through those programs just for, what seems like, a simple generator concept.

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Answer 3

fox_m

Level 6

13,354 points

May 8, 2012 5:46 PM in response to mauriciofromaustin

It's easier to show than explain.

http://sight-creations.com/fxexchange/sc_stopwatch.zip

Stopwatch 2 is 61 seconds long: 1 second wait til start of count; 60 second stopwatch (you didn't specify how long you needed - I set it for 1 minute.)

Stopwatch 2 has a project end loop, so you can cut the generator for the stop time and it will still "play" accurately up to that point.

Stopped Watch is a matching generator to set a final time. You can pull it out as long as you want to show it. For the Value - type in the end time times 100; e.g.: an end time of 39.15 seconds -- type in 3915 to display 39.15s.

Position OSC, Scale and Color value parameters provided.

If you need more than that - you should be able to figure it out easily enough. If not, just ask...

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Answer 4

May 9, 2012 10:13 AM in response to fox_m

Great work around. I was trying to use the ramp values as well. I was intent on using the time code generator. This is certainly helpful and I can look at the project to pararmeters to add to it. Nice job!

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Answer 5

Oct 24, 2012 1:38 PM in response to fox_m

I tried the Stopped Watch, but it appears to think a minute contains 100 seconds, instead of 60. At 0:59 it continues to 0:60, 0:61, 0:62... all the way to 0:99 and then goes to 1:00. This can't be right, can it?

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Answer 6

fox_m

Level 6

13,354 points

Oct 24, 2012 4:12 PM in response to Stringray

That demo goes from 000.00 to 59.99 seconds (showing 1/100ths of seconds) and loops back to 000.00. That's not a colon on the last 2 digits, it's a period.

"Stopped Watch" appears to be broken in the latest update of FCPX and Motion (since yesterday).

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Answer 7

Oct 25, 2012 6:49 AM in response to fox_m

Ah, I get it. Unfortunately I have no idea how to alter it in Motion to get a useful stopwatch. I need to add it to a 30 minute piece of video.

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Answer 8

Mesmee

Level 1

15 points

May 23, 2013 10:17 AM in response to mauriciofromaustin

Hey MauriciofromAustin, not sure if you still need a timer/stopwatch but I found this from Digital Heaven, which was referred to me from Steve at Ripple Training.

From what I see, this is the stopwatch / timer solution I was looking for. I'm buying this generator right now. 🙂

http://www.digital-heaven.co.uk/dh_counterx

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Answer 9

Feb 11, 2016 1:48 PM in response to mauriciofromaustin

There is a way you can do this using the basic FCPX Timecode Generator. I had a clip from work comparing the speed of unlocking a smartphone bluetooth padlock vs. a normal key padlock vs. a combination code padlock. I wanted a timer to start at a set point where the test began.

Use the blade tool to cut the clip at the exact point where the timecode needs to start, which was easy in my case as there was a 3,2,1 countdown. I guess in your case its when the starter gun fires. Then cut it at the exact point where you want the timer to stop. Copy that clip you have just cut into a new project so you have a totally fresh timeline starting from 00:00:00:00

Add your timecode generator, which will now start from zero due to the new project. Extend the timecode so its in line with where the clip stops. Create a compound clip to merge the video clip and the timecode into one

Copy and paste that compound clip back into your main project timeline, replacing the old clip you initially copied. Job done

I guess you would want the timecode to stop and then stay on the screen frozen at that point whilst the clip of the runners carries on? I am not too sure how you would do that. To get round that I just left the timecode running at the bottom of the screen for the entire duration of the clip, then as each padlock was unlocked I added individual custom text to pop up stating the amount of seconds at which is was unlocked.

Hope that helps!

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