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--- external:smpte_timecode [2019/12/26 11:54] – [Table] icke_siegen
+++ external:smpte_timecode [2020/03/17 03:12] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 Whenever more than one device - software, hardware, computer etc. - are used simultaneously to create one final thing - e.g. a movie with music, or a lightshow running in sync to music or to a video - then a way to synchronize all devices is required. SMPTE Timecode is something like the standard for such a task: the timecode master sends a continuous stream of data which permanently states the time the master has advanced into the show/track/clip. And all other devices - here: timecode slaves - are to react to the very time as programmed in each device.
-^ More info on Linear Timecode  | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linear_timecode  |
+^ More info on Linear Timecode  | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linear_timecode      |
-^ More info om SMPTE Timecode   | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMPTE_timecode   |
+^ More info on SMPTE Timecode   | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMPTE_timecode       |
-^ Signal                        | digital audio signal, 80 bit per frame         |
+^ Signal                        | digital audio signal, 80 bit per frame             |
-^ Framerate                     | 24, **25**, 29.97, 30 fps                      |
+^ Framerate                     | 24, **25**, 29.97, 30 fps                          |
-^ Connector/Cables              | usually 3 pin XLR.                             |
+^ Connector/Cables              | usually 3 pin XLR. Other connectors are possible.  |
+^ Value range                   | from 00:00:00.00 to 23:59:59:23 (frames as per framerate) |
 From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linear_timecode#Generation_and_Distribution:
@@ Line 24: / Line 25: @@
 >  * To create negative time code add one hour to time (avoid midnight effect)
 >  * Always put slowest device as a master
+===== Practical Handling =====
+Usually the timecode signal comes as extra audio signal. It is not uncommon to record it as extra track on a multitrack system. For rehearsing/preprogramming your lights you can even have the producers mix all audio together e.g. on the left audio track, and have timecode on audio right channel. If you remember how a fax machine or a computer modem sounds: this is how SMPTE timecode sounds as well.
+The signal needs to be sent to all devices which need to be synced. In a very basic environment feed the timecode from your video playback or digital audio workstation into your lighting console.
+For testing purposes you can even find audio files with timecode online or generate it, e.g. at http://elteesee.pehrhovey.net/.
+===== Titan Consoles and timecode =====
+Not every Titan console has the hardware to handle SMPTE timecode:
+  * the Titan One and the T1 do **NOT** support timecode input
+  * the T2 does support timecode, and can be used as timecode input for other consoles
+  * the Titan Mobile, Quartz, Tiger Touch, Tiger Touch Pro, Pearl Expert and Pear Expert Pro do **not** support timecode input but
+    * if running Titan v12 or above: can be extended with a T2 in order to be used as timecode input
+    * do understand MIDI timecode so that you can use an external converter box to convert LTC to MTC, see below ([[external:smpte_timecode#Converters]])
+  * Tiger Touch 2 and Sapphire Touch both have a designated LTC (SMPTE) input
+===== Converters =====
+There are some converters on the market which can translate between SMPTE timecode and MIDI timecode. They have different feature sets - some can convert from everything to everything, some can generate timecode themselfes, some converte to/from USB MIDI as well etc. Just some examples:
+  * the [[https://rosendahl-studiotechnik.com/mif4.html|Rosendahl Mif-4]] is the gold standard for timecode converters in the AV industry
+  * various [[https://motu.com/products/body.html?productslider=4|MOTU interfaces]], e.g. the [[https://motu.com/products/midi/micro_usb|MOTU micro express]] ((a few yeears ago there was a firmware issue in some MOTU interfaces, resulting in 1 second jumps in special situations, depending from frame rate and start time. Don't know if this has been resolved - we made MOTU aware of this.))
+  * the [[https://kiss-box.nl/product-archive/tc2tr-ltc-mtcmidi-tranceiver/|Kissbox TC2TR]]
+This list will never be complete. I believe I used a Fostex or Roland interface many years ago but I don't know for sure - this market is in constant movement.