Model 5010 Time Code Master Manual
Page 1-4
Revision
3.1.1
OVERVIEW
1.1.
HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL
This manual is organized into 6 chapters: Overview, Installation, Technical Specifications, Operation,
Serial Remote Control and Technical Description. There is also an appendix showing the time zone
encoding for SMPTE 309M dates.
Certain sections of the manual pertain only to the model 5010-VITC or 5010-24 models. These
sections are noted clearly. Throughout the remainder of the manual references to the model 5010 are
applicable to all versions of the unit.
"
Items of special note are indicated with a double box like this.
1.2. DEFINITIONS
LINEAR TIME CODE:
A digital code used for timing and control purposes on video tape and
associated audio tape machines. It is recorded on a longitudinal track with audio
characteristics and is referred to as LTC (sometimes this code is also referred to
as longitudinal code or SMPTE). Each 80 bit code word is associated with one
television frame, and consists of 26 time bits, 6 flag bits, 32 user bits and 16 sync
bits.
VERTICAL INTERVAL TIME CODE:
A digital code used for timing and control purposes on
video tape recorded in the vertical blanking interval of the video picture, and is
referred to as VITC. Each 90 bit code word is associated with one television
field, and consists of 26 time bits, 6 flag bits, 32 user bits, 18 sync bits, and an 8
bit error check (CRC) code.
USER BITS:
32 bits in the time code are user assignable. They typically are used to contain
reel numbers, scene and take numbers, or other user-oriented data.
DROP FRAME:
In NTSC systems, where the frame rate is 29.97002618 frames per second, the
drop frame mode permits time of day indexing of the frame numbers by dropping
certain frame numbers. Specifically, frames 0, and 1 at the beginning of each
minute except minutes 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, & 50, are omitted, to compensate for an
approximate timing error of 108 frames (3 seconds 18 frames) per hour. A flag
bit is set in the time code to signal when the drop frame mode is in effect.
COLOUR FRAME:
If the generator is locked to an RS-170A or 8 field PAL video signal, and an
intentional relationship between the video colour frame sequence and the time
code is desired, the code is said to be colour framed. A flag bit is set in the code
to indicate this mode. The COLOUR FRAME item on the Generator menu
selects this mode of operation for the generator.
JAM SYNC:
Refers to the operation of slaving the generator to data coming from the reader.
Jam sync should be used when dubbing time code from one tape to another, as
the quality of the time code signal deteriorates with each generation, and will
become unusable after the third generation. Several jam sync modes can be
invoked in the 5010.
