SMPTE Time Code – Virtually Unchanged After Almost 50 Years
On November 5, 2014
- TV History
New Richard Wirth Article…The SMPTE Time Code
This is a perfect detailed follow up to the Smith Block and video editing stories I posted. Here’s the story of how the time code came to be and, having been around for almost half a century, how it has withstood the test of time.
Some of the most interesting parts of this are the rare videos he found while doing the research – like the CMX600 promotional film that gives a detailed demonstration of the first nonlinear editor in detail by taking you through the editing of a musical piece. Thanks to our friend Richard Wirth for composing this very interesting article. Enjoy and share! -Bobby Ellerbee
Another wonderful article.
I recall recording time code onto audio channel 1 of U-matic videotapes to be able to achieve frame-accurate editing with them. Also, the high-pitched sound of time code often could be heard on the air during silent passages of program material. T.C. was prone to leaking into program audio.
Many years ago I was a 1″ VTR field engineer. We had to interface our machines to many different editing systems. Often times when there was a problem, it turned out to be something odd with the time code recorded on the tape. As you can see from the photo of the front and back of the book, I just about wore out my “Time Code Handbook” from carrying it around all those years. The copyright date of this book is 1982. If my memory is correct, I bought it at the NAB store, probably in 1983 or 1984.