Still confused on SMPTE Ruler Format

burchis13 wrote on 10/23/2012, 3:56 PM
My default ruler selection has always been SMPTE non-drop frame but I don't know why. Recently I read a suggestion to use drop frame format. This started me thinking again and I find myself still unable to fully understand what I should be using.

If my source footage is AVCHD 60i and my output will be either DVD or Bluray, what should I use as my ruler format?

Comments

farss wrote on 10/23/2012, 4:06 PM
It really doesn't matter, I mean if you're actually working with timecode it matters but it has no effect on playback or rendered output, you could set it to feet and frames or absolute frames, makes no difference.

Bob.
videoITguy wrote on 10/23/2012, 4:12 PM
Producing for Blu-ray or DVD - the timeline ruler has no real influence on editing -consider it just a reference of point A to B. The only use I make of the ruler is if I choose to look at absolute frames the way that I would on film-editing table..that mode is helpful.
Former user wrote on 10/23/2012, 4:52 PM
Using drop frame will give you the correct lengths of projects when reading the minutes and seconds. Some of the others will as well, but NON-drop will not be accurate for timing.

Dave T2
robwood wrote on 10/23/2012, 5:59 PM
for timecode drop vs non-drop is important
video used to be 30 fps, then it became 29.97 due to a tech issue. it's stayed 29.97 since.

DROP
compensates for the .03 difference by "dropping" a frame every thousand frames... so every once-in-a-while, a frame number is skipped.

NON-DROP
gives a specific number for every frame of video; it doesn't skip.

SIMILARITY
in terms of snapping-to-timeline there's no difference.
rs170a wrote on 10/23/2012, 6:15 PM
robwood, drop frame drops two frames (00 and 01) every minute except for the 10th minute.
If you're interested in learning the nitty gritty of it, here's an excellent white paper about it.
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/20488019/timecode.pdf

Mike
burchis13 wrote on 10/23/2012, 8:41 PM
Started as separate topic.
robwood wrote on 10/24/2012, 11:13 AM
non-drop is for timecode. that's good enough for me. :)
rs170a wrote on 10/24/2012, 11:34 AM
Time code can be drop or non-drop frame.
Realistically speaking, drop frame is only useful to someone producing for network shows as it's usually a requirement.

Mike
Chienworks wrote on 10/24/2012, 11:43 AM
I normally work in Time & Frames because that represents the way i think about the timing, and then the ruler indication is meaningful to me.

As others have indicated, it makes no difference in the output.
Former user wrote on 10/24/2012, 11:43 AM
Drop-frame is useful if you want accurate timings on any project over 1 minute long.

Dave T2
Former user wrote on 10/24/2012, 11:54 AM
Vegas does some weird things if you use the Time & Frames.

Set your timeline to start at 01:00:00.00.

Hit CTRL-G and enter the time of 01:01:00.00. Notice, it does not land on a frame boundary.

The Time & Frames is staying consistently at 30 frames per second, which is obviously incorrect for time markings.

edit: Okay, I see. They are just dropping frames at odd times. Set your ruler for time and frames and try to find frame time code 00:00:16.29 or 00:00:50.29


Dave T2