[Now released]: Linear timecode support

[Fergus H]

Linear timecode (LTC) support is now available in Premiere Pro Beta. LTC is encoding of timecode data in an audio signal. It is useful for ensuring accurate synchronization of multiple video and audio sources. 

Two Premiere Pro operations benefit from LTC support: creating multi-camera source sequences and synchronizing clips. 

In the Clips > Create Multi-Camera Source Sequence dialog, we have added an “Other Timecode” popup menu, with the option to choose LTC. Choosing this option will synchronize the clips using the timecode in the audio track of the clip. 

In the Clips > Synchronize dialog, we have not yet added an option to directly choose LTC. To use LTC with Clip > Synchronize, you must first select the clips you want to synchronize, then select Clip > Modify > Timecode > Linear Timecode (LTC). With that done, select the clips on the timeline, then go to Clip > Synchronize > Timecode and click on Ok. Note that the display of the timecode in the Synchronize dialog is not accurate; this will be fixed in a future beta. However, the synchronization process will use the correct timecode and your clips will be accurate aligned. 

We’d love to get your feedback on this feature! We’re also interested to know what hardware devices you’re using to generate linear timecode. 

Regards,

Fergus

[jannich10029087]

Finally. I'm using Deity TC1s. will check it out soon. 

[Chris Spiegl]

This is excellent news! Thank you for informing us.

I'll still say: this took far too long to implement. But at last.

We'll be testing this feature on our next shoots and see if it all works as expected.

[timothym2116]

Just tested it with a video file from a Canon XC10 using a Deity TC-1 to provide LTC and a Zoom F6 for audio with it's internal Timecode jammed to the Deity TC-1 as the master.  Modified the video to LTC as described above (left the audio unchanged) and the clip and audio synced up perfectly.

[Yannic38174166cvz1]

Amazing! Been waiting for that 👌 using Lockit Timecode by Ambient 

[dachatz82]

Thank you! This is really good news! 

I already had the chance to test it and it seems to be working very fast.

We are using Deity TC1s and Tentacles for the syncing and the video is recorded in 50p along with the audio in 25p.

With my preliminary testing i found that the sync seems to be working very fast but although the timecode seems to be correct there is a drift of about 10-12 frames and the video and audio seem to not align properly. 

I will be testing it with 25p video and 25p audio next.

And, could it be, that Media Encoder automatically detects the LTC Timecode and writes in into the file when a transcode is beeing made?

[Fotodesign-Wieboldt]

My test with Pr-Beta: TC-Output signal from a Sony FX6 recorded as audio signal on a Sony A7M4. Try to create a Multi-Camera Source Sequence with "Other Timecode + LTC", but it did not work. It should sync the TC from the FX6 with the recorded LTC on the audio track of the A7M4. What did I misunderstood? (btw. same with "Other Timecode + Sound-Timecode")

[Fergus H]

@Fotodesign-Wieboldt I'm not quite following. I think you're saying that you've got:

1. One clip from the Sony a7 IV that's using LTC that was generated by the FX6.

2. Another clip from the FX6, where the timecode is part of the video file.

Is that correct? If so, are you able to hear the timecode on the a7 IV track? If you cannot, check to make sure that the TC IN/OUT select switch on the FX6 is set to OUT. 

If you are able to hear the timecode on the a7 IV track, perhaps you could share with me both clips. 

Regards,

Fergus

[Fotodesign-Wieboldt]

Hey Fergus,

Thanks for your answer.

1. One clip from the Sony a7 IV that's using LTC that was generated by the FX6.
2. Another clip from the FX6, where the timecode is part of the video file.

 Is that correct? If so, are you able to hear the timecode on the a7 IV track? If you cannot, check to make sure that the TC IN/OUT select switch on the FX6 is set to OUT. 

 If you are able to hear the timecode on the a7 IV track, perhaps you could share with me both clips. 

You are right (1, 2) and I can hear the timecode sound on the A7 IV track.

I sent both clips by WeTransfer as they were to big for an email: https://we.tl/t-NqkwEKcHZl

This mixed configuration is typically for my work. The TC generator can be the FX6 or a voice recorder Zoom F6. If the F6 is part of the scenario, the Sony FX6 is set to read TC (via input TC).

In that case, FX6 and F6 provide TC in the video file and one or more cameras like the A7 IV provide TC as LTC on audio track. This scenario will be typical for many pro user…

Kind Regrds,

Christoph

[Fergus H]

@Fotodesign-Wieboldt thanks for the info!

What you're asking for - that we automatically use the LTC from one clip and the file timecode from another - is not possible. Instead, you need to pick a timecode that the tracks have in common and sync with that. Fortunately, that's very simple:

1. With both clips imported, select A7M4-20240621_0070.MP4 and go to Clip > Modify > Timecode. 

2. Select "Linear Timecode (LTC)" and click Ok

3. Create the multi-camera source sequence, picking the "Timecode" option - the 3rd choice from the top of the dialog. 

That will create a multi-cam sequence with the clips correctly in sync. 

Regards,

Fergus

[Fotodesign-Wieboldt]

I allready have had the same idea - but unfortunately, this is not possible:

The item  "Linear Timecode (LTC)" is not "activ" (it is grey)!  in Pr-Beta V24.6 - German Version

Did you get a different result with my sended file? 

[Fotodesign-Wieboldt]

Sorry, I was wrong and found my problem: The loudness of the LTC-Sound is critical! If it is too loud, it can't be interpreted as LTC.  Sound shoud be significant under the limit, then it works. As well with multi-camera, as well  synchronising two tracks in one clip.
But in both ways, the LTC-Clip is synchronised one frame ahead of the original TC-file!

Regards,

Christoph

[seanmcnally98]

EDIT: Please disregard this comment, it was made due to a misunderstanding of the post.  See my update below to see that, in fact, this is how it works.  My original comment below, left for posterity:

~~~~~~~

Having LTC be limited to just these two options is...well, a bit limiting. To me, it would make a lot more sense to just be able to replace the clip's metadata timecode within Premiere with the press of a button. Something like, right click clip, timecode, "Replace current timecode with LTC timecode."  That way, you can adapt the LTC timecode to whatever workflow you need. 

[MediaSpecialist8416]

Agreed!  Just had a B-camera recording sent to me with LTC on the audio track while the A camera uses native TC.  The audio engineer obviously thought this was a reasonable professional setup, so it stands to reason that Adobe should be prepared for that workflow.

[Fergus H]

@seanmcnally98 You said: "To me, it would make a lot more sense to just be able to replace the clip's metadata timecode within Premiere with the press of a button."

That's exactly how it does work. On a clip with LTC, going to Clip > Modify > Timecode, then clicking on the "Linear Timecode (LTC)" option does update the clip so that it uses the timecode from the audio track. After doing that, any operation in Premiere Pro that uses or displays timecode will be using the timecode that was originally in the audio track. 

Regards,

Fergus

[Fotodesign-Wieboldt]

Indeed, it would make sense to offer the updating of all LTC-files when importing in the General Project Settings. Like "Auto Detect Log Video Color Space". 
-> J/N   "Auto updating all imported files with a valid LTC signal to TC" 
even better, with a sub question -> J/N   "Mute the LTC track"    (as the LTC-Sound is no more necessary)  
That would be great, Fergus!

[Chris Spiegl]

I second this. That would be a great addition and simplification for this workflow.

[seanmcnally98]

I apologize, Fergus!  I skimmed your post a bit too quickly, and wrote my comment before getting a chance to try the feature for myself.  I had wrongly assumed LTC was limited exclusively to the "Two Premiere Pro operations" you mentioned in your second paragraph.  But, indeed, LTC support does work the way I had proposed it should in my earlier comment.  Screenshot attached of the current beta build (24.6.0 Build 63) as of July 18th, 2024.  As someone who has been waiting for this for a long time, a sincere thanks to you and your team for implementing this!

[MediaSpecialist8416]

Hi Fergus,

Excited at this new feature - perfect timing for me!  Any insight into why I'm not getting this option?

I have a clip (mp4, stereo audio) with regular audio on track 1 and LTC on track 2. 

Alternate Timecode is greyed out.

Thank you!

Jesse

[seanmcnally98]

Are you definitely on the beta build? What's your version number

[MediaSpecialist8416]

Version 24.6 BETA (Build 4)

[seanmcnally98]

Hm, I'm on build 64. I'm also on Windows, maybe it's not ready for Mac yet?

[Fergus H]

@seanmcnally98 The feature shipped into beta on Mac and Windows at the same time.

@MediaSpecialist8416 Make sure you're on the latest version of the beta. As of today (July 22), it is 24.6, build 72. 

Regards,

Fergus

[Fotodesign-Wieboldt]

After some testing, I found out this: LTC has to be on the LEFT (!) channel! It does not work on the right channel. And it does not help to change the channels in Modify>Audio Chanels.
Jesse, if you can exchange your channels, LTC  and Alternate TC will no longer be greyed out.  But be sure, you opened the Beta Application (green arrow in attached Screenshot), not the normal one (red arrow).
But again, my warning from before: Sound level of LTC is critical to be overdrived. This will cause that the LTC  and ATC can not be recognized as valid and the options are grayed out!  Input of the camera is mostly for Mic Level, while LTC Output is normally (e.g Sony FX6, Zoom F6) Line Level.
I had same problems with the LTC signal from a Zoom F6, where the signal was on RIGHT channel. Best way for me to solve both problems was to build an adapter cable that convert to Mono Signal plus reduce sound level. (see attached note "LTC-Adapter Cable")  

[Fergus H]

@Fotodesign-Wieboldt Thanks! That is great feedback. Would you be willing to share with us a file that has its LTC recorded on the right channel? 

Regards,

Fergus