Using Equipment That Displays a Timecode Window
Professional VTRs (for example, Digital Betacam, Beta SP, and some DV decks) have an
option to display a timecode window superimposed over the video. More expensive
VTRs often have a separate output, labeled super (for superimpose) or monitor,
dedicated to timecode display. Less expensive decks may have only one video output
and a switch or menu option to turn the timecode window on or off.
Some VTRs are very expensive, and since watching your original footage can cause
wear and tear on your tapes, it often makes the most sense to make copies of your
footage onto a more affordable format, such as VHS or DV. You can then log your
footage using the copies, noting reel name and timecode In and Out points (Media
Start and Media End) for each clip on the tape. You can add as much additional logging
information as you want.
Differences Between Batch Lists and Edit Decision Lists
An Edit Decision List, or EDL, describes an entire edited sequence. After you import
an EDL into Final Cut Pro, the sequence described in the EDL is automatically created.
A batch list is a simpler list that describes only the clips used in your project, not any
chronological order or applied effects. After you import a batch list in Final Cut Pro,
your project contains a series of offline clips, one for each entry in the batch list. You
then need to recapture or relink the clips to use the media.
Chapter 19
Working with Batch Lists
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IV