TCG~Burnt in timecode JUMP/SKIPS

[shyamoliek]

Introduction:

I have been assisting on a feature film that is being edited in Adobe Premiere Pro 2018(recently updated to 2019 v13.1). The edit has been locked and reels were handed over to various departments(sound, bgm, vfx, etc), in the form of prores 422 LT exports. These reference exports were to go out with burnt in timecode, with which I have been facing unknown issues.

Both methods of generating a timecode- Transparent video with timecode as an effect as well as the timecode overlay (in the export settings) are giving a common error.

Problem:

The BURNT IN TIMECODE TENDS TO JUMP/SKIP frames, sometimes seconds, back and forth. Thus making it an inaccurate reference for effective communication in further post processes.

For instance, 01:12:05:12 is followed by 01:12:44:32, 01:12:44:33,....01:12:44:50 AND then it skips back to an earlier TC say 01:12:06:14, 01:12:06:15 and so on. It appears to arbitrarily skip back and forth.

In some cases, it does so at shots which have had speed changes, via speed/duration modifications, but it is not true to all the jumps.

What is the problem and is there a solution to it?

As per other forum discussions, users have been facing issues with the TCG as well, however I am unable to figure if it is the same issue.

Edit workflow notes:

- The actual problem arises while setting the offset value for a 24fps SMPTE TCG in the timecode effect applied to a transparent video AS WELL AS setting an offset value in the timecode overlay.

- Our two and a half hour edit was divided into 8 reels, first frame of the first shot of each reel was set to begin as Reel 1- 01:00:00:00, Reel 2- 02:00:00:00,...Reel 8- 08:00:00:00.

- We have been editing with transcoded Apple Prores 422 LT proxies, the footage was shot mostly on an ARRI,

- It is a 24fps timeline (shot at 24fps and edited with 24fps transcodes)

- Rendered timelines were put to export,

- The reference video exports are also in the prores 422 LT format,

- The video itself is accurate and does not skip frames or seconds,

- The issue is with the TCG,

- The software is up-to-date,

[shyamoliek]

FIX for the aforementioned issue:

1.1) Change project setting to Mercury Playback Only

1.2) Render full timeline

2.1) Export media through Premiere Pro (Adobe Media Encoder generates incorrect timecode offset)

The exports take longer than they do through AME and it involves project renders, which means more disk space is required.
BUT,

The generated TCG runs smoothly and begins at the desired time.

Still not sure why the problem arose in the first place, though.

[umut_editor]

Thanks, it works +1