External Time Code control

[Brian]

I need to get timecode into my WatchOUT machines for controlling playback from an audio server.

 

What kind of box is recommended for this?

 

Thanks

Brian

[jfk]

I need to get timecode into my WatchOUT machines for controlling playback from an audio server.

What kind of box is recommended for this?

Thanks

Brian

 

No box is needed, per se. SMPTE Timecode is by definition an audio signal.

WATCHOUT reads timecode through the Windows default audio input.

The example below was using the motherboard audio line level analog unbalanced input.

 

Example of timecode control - set to SMPTE non-drop, 1 hour offset

 

Windows - Control Panel - Sound - Recording, audio input selection and

Dataton WATCHOUT Timecode Tester (Timecode Reader.exe)

 

The most common issue encountered with timecode input is signal level mismatch,

so be sure to adapt your timecode audio signal to the correct levels for the audio input you choose to use.

 

Note: if watchmaker is removed, the watchpoint cluster master

has its own command to set timecode follow as well.

 

timecodeMode

Applies to the display software only. 

(Use the Timecode options in the Preferences dialog box to use timecode with the production software.)

 

Controls the LTC timecode receiver of the display computer. The timecode receiver is initially off.

When turned on, incoming timecode will control the presentation as if using the run, halt and goto-

Time commands. Furthermore, while playing, the presentation will be synchronized to the timecode.

Example command to achieve the same results as the watchmaker setting above.

timecodeMode 3 “-1:00:00”

 

Parameter Description

 

0 = receiver off, 1 = auto-detect format, 2 = EBU 25 fps, 3 = SMPTE

29.97 NDF, 4 = SMPTE 29.97 DF, 5 = SMPTE 30 (”B&W”), 6 = 24.

 

[ or ] Time offset expressed in milliseconds, or as a string in this format:

“HH:MM:SS.FFF”, where FFF is milliseconds. Default is 0.

 

Avoid using the auto-detect mode whenever possible. 

Instead, specify the expected timecode format explicitly. 

Specifically, the SMPTE 30 (”B&W”) format can not be detected automatically.

 

Use the separate Timecode Tester application to verify proper timecode reception,

and to confirm the appropriate input connector to use for the timecode signal .

HINT: For stand-alone use of the timecode control feature, put this command into a text file, as

described under “File-based Control”.

[Brian]

Thank you. This is/was a lot easier than I thought it was going to be.

 

I've always output control... rarely do I take in anything other than capture card inputs.

 

Do I gain anything by using a better audio card? My control computers are laptops so I have access to the internal card or I can use an external discreet card. Is there an advantage to one over the other?

 

Thanks again!

Brian

[jfk]

Thank you. This is/was a lot easier than I thought it was going to be.

 

I've always output control... rarely do I take in anything other than capture card inputs.

 

Do I gain anything by using a better audio card? My control computers are laptops so I have access to the internal card or I can use an external discreet card. Is there an advantage to one over the other?

 

Thanks again!

Brian

 

No, not really. 

If your timecode source is a pro audio device, a pro audio interface on the watchout computer

would make matching the audio signals easier. 

Otherwise, appropriate transformers, adaptors, whatever need be added.

[Brian]

No, not really. 

If your timecode source is a pro audio device, a pro audio interface on the watchout computer

would make matching the audio signals easier. 

Otherwise, appropriate transformers, adaptors, whatever need be added.

Understood. Thank you.