Mini DV tape timeline

electrovellum · Post by **electrovellum** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 6:07 pm

I have a number of mini DV tape, all with the timeline using 4:3 picture format. Can these be used to shoot 16:9 format or will the timeline be faulty when imported into VS11+?

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 10:50 pm

Not sure if I understand you completely. Whatever is on those tapes will be overwritten when recording to them again. The frame size or aspect ratio has no bearing on the time code in any way. A minute is still a minute, whether it be 4:3 or 16:9.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 11:22 pm

I agree with Heinz's comments -- though you could have problems if you began your 16:9 recording some way into the DV cassette. If there is 4:3 video before it, then Video Studio could become confused during capture if it first encounters 4:3 settings.

If you want to be absolutely certain, I would run the tape through my 16:9 camera from the very start, but with the lens cap on, an away from noise. That way, you would get a new continuous time code set specifically by your 16:9 camera.

electrovellum · Post by **electrovellum** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 11:45 pm

Thanks for the fast responses guys.

My concern was that if there was also a frame count recorded at the time the timecode was recorded when the tape was run through, then the framecount corresponding to the timecode could be wrong. Furthermore, I understood that once recorded, there was no way to overwrite a timecode with a new one - ie. running the tape through again with 16:9 set, would not rewrite the timecode.

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 12:05 am

I could be wrong but it doesn't make any sense to me. When I record to a previously used tape, I would want to know, by means of the recorded time code, when the footage was taken and not when the tape was used the first time.

I don't reuse my tapes and have hence not been confronted with this scenario. I would be more than surprised though if the time code would not be overwritten during a subsequent recording.

The reason behind the practice of "formatting" a tape prior to its first use is to ensure there are no blank spots without any time code on the tape. Blank spots (missing time code) can throw your capture. Not overwriting the existing code would be counterproductive since scene changes could not be detected during capture by means of the change in time code.

BrianCee · Post by **BrianCee** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 11:59 am

It seems to me electrovellum that you are somewhat confused between timecode and date code. The timecode simply records a sequential time/frame number from the start of a tape to the end - or if you take the tape out midway through and do not put the tape back in the same place the timecode restarts, this timecode has no relation at all to the date or time on which the video was made. If you record over the top of a tape with this timecode the new recording will synchronise to this time code at the start - but if it encounters a break the new recording will over write the original timecode with a new one.

The date code which is also recorded on the tape records the date and time of the recording - the date code is always overwritten by a new recording.

The format used on the tape is not related to timecode in any way - the tape has no memory at all of what format (4:3/16:9) or what fps the previous recordings were - a new recording will also overwrite those options.

electrovellum · Post by **electrovellum** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 12:06 pm

Thanks very much for your input, guys. It would seem I was worrying unnecessarily. Much better to reserve worrying for the real issues!