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Color bars with burnt-in timecode

Burnt-in timecodeFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Burnt-in timecode (often abbreviated to BITC by analogy to

VITC) is a human-readable on-screen version of the timecode

information for a piece of material superimposed on a video

image. BITC is sometimes used in conjunction with "real"

machine-readable timecode, but more often used in copies of

original material on to a non-broadcast format such as VHS, so

that the VHS copies can be traced back to their master tape and

the original time codes easily located.

Many professional VTRs can "burn" (overlay) the tape timecode

onto one of their composite outputs. This output (which usually

also displays the setup menu or on-screen display) is known as

thesuper outormonitor out. The characterswitch or menu

item turns this behaviour on or off. The characterfunction is also used to display the timecode on the

preview monitors in linear editing suites.

Videotapes that are recorded with timecode numbers overlaid on the video are referred to as window dubs,

named after the "window" that displays the burnt-in timecode on-screen.

Timecode can also be superimposed on video using a dedicated overlay device, often called a "window dub

inserter". This inputs a video signal and its separate timecode audio signal, reads the timecode, superimposes

the timecode display over the video, and outputs the combined display (usually via composite), all in real

time. Stand-alone timecode generator / readers often have the window dub function built-in.

Some consumer cameras, in particular DV cameras, can "burn" (overlay) the tape timecode onto the

composite output. This output typically is semi-transparent and may include other tape information. It isusually activated by turning on the 'display' info in one of the camera's sub-menus. While not as

'professional' as an overlay as created by a professional VCRs, it is a cheap alternative that is just as

accurate.

Timecode is stored in the metadata areas of captured DV AVI files, and some software is able to "burn"

(overlay) this into the video frames. For example, DVMP Pro[1] is able to "burn" timecode or other items of

DV metadata (such as date and time, iris, shutter speed, gain, white balance mode, etc.) into DV AVI files.

Some modern editing systems can use OCR techniques to read BITC in situations where other forms of

timecode are not available.

BITC can also be referred to as Viz-Code.[citation needed]

See also

Linear timecode

Vertical interval timecode

SMPTE time code

MIDI timecode

CTL timecodeAES-EBU embedded timecode

Rewritable consumer timecode

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References

^ DVMP Pro (http://www.dvmp.co.uk/dv-media-player-pro.htm) - Software for burning in timecode and other

items of metadata for DV AVI files.

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Categories: Timecodes Film and video technology

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