Sad update on Timecode Reader effect in FCPX
Unfortunately I have to admit that my previous article about DIY TimecodeReader effect wasn’t 100% correct. There is a serious bug which spoils everything. (Huge thanks to Mark Spencer for pointing this out to me).
Here’s the problem, Final Cut Pro X deals good with situations when clip frame rate matches project frame rate, but when it comes to mixed timeline, it doesn’t work (displays wrong timecode).
For example, if you have a 29.97fps clip inside 29.97fps project, it works fine. But if you happened to mix 29.97fps and, say, 25fps clips inside 25fps project, TC effect will still runs at 25fps, even if it manually set to 29.97. Moreover, pay attention to the TC mode. It actually was set to be DropFrame!
Afaik, no workarounds here (yet?)
ok: 29.97 clip inside 29.97 project
Wrong: 29.97 clip inside 25 project
The only thing that occurs to me is to change the frame rate of each clip to a single standard. Work around? Yes. Optimum? Far from it.
Agree. The only thing we can do is to wait for the 10.1, right?
I haven’t played with Motion 5 yet, but can’t you set the TimeCode time base in Motion? Your original post mentioned this was a setting. If that is the case, just make 7 ‘effects’
29.97 DF
29.97 NDF
23.98
24 (never really used)
59.98 DF
59.98 NDF
60 (never really used)
Sure you can. But it means that you’ll have to change your custom filter to an every frame rate you have in your project. Or keep a whole bunch of TC filters for every frame rate. Not the best idea.