User Guide

42 Chapter 2 Working With DVCPRO HD
About 720p DVCPRO HD Timecode
Although 720p HD formats can record at video frame rates of 60 fps or 59.94 fps (for
NTSC compatibility), the timecode recorded on tape is always 30 fps, even when you
record using an alternate frame rate. How can 30 fps timecode account for every frame
when the video frame rate is 60 or 59.94 fps? Every two frames are represented by one
timecode number, and the second frame in the pair is uniquely flagged so it can be
differentiated in the timecode count. For example, the first two timecode numbers of
a 720p60 tape are indicated by the timecode numbers :00 and :00*, where the asterisk
indicates the second frame. Using this method, 60 frames can be uniquely addressed
using only 30 timecode numbers per second.
Important: Drop frame timecode is not supported when capturing 720p DVCPRO HD.
When recording 720p DVCPRO HD footage, you should only use non-drop frame timecode.
About 720p DVCPRO HD Device Control
When you log, capture, or output 720p DVCPRO HD, the remote device control displays
the tape timecode, which is always 30 fps. This means that you can only set In and Out
points with 30 fps timecode accuracy, even though the video frame rate is 60 or
59.94 fps. Despite this minor restriction, you can still edit with 60 fps frame accuracy
once you capture your footage.
When you capture 720p DVCPRO HD media, Final Cut Pro converts the 30 fps timecode
on the source tape to a 60 fps timecode track within the QuickTime media file. This
timecode can be used to accurately recapture your media at a later time.
For more information about 60 fps timecode, see “Choosing Timecode Display Options
for 720p DVCPRO HD Media” on page 43.