Going Insane! DF/NDF Tape Problem.

T

The Evil Mariachi

Well-known member
Hello Everyone,

Avid is driving me insane! Here's the deal: Every time I capture a tape in Composer, the capture tool will play and display as Non Drop Frame, the bin will show the NDF time code, but when it comes time to batch capture, the time code turns into Drop Frame and Avid refuses to capture!

I've looked all over the boards and while some suggest that creating a new tape does the trick, or popping in the tape and scrubbing through it before naming it works, none of that changes a thing for me. I've done all this plus restarting, with/without tape and yet nothing works!

It's just so damn bizarre--I mean, the footage is shot at 24pN with the original DVX which by default shoots NDF! You can't change it! Could it be my deck? I've been using a cheap panasonic camcorder to capture--but I've also tried with the DVX and still get the same problem.

This bug is seriously setting me back. I honestly hope I'm doing something wrong, otherwise it would mean that Avid hasn't been able to fix a bug that's been plaguing its software forever.

Thanks in advance for any help you guys can offer.
 
I've run into this before with the Adrenaline system at the office. Don't know what it is or why, but try entering a new tape name and then run your batch capture. That's worked for me.
 
What has worked for me is to select all of the clips in the bin, then go to the clip menu and the modify setting. This will let you change the offline clips back and forth between DF and NDF.

In our workflow we often log our tapes from dvd dubs with burned timecode. Sometimes the PA's or AP's specify the wrong timecode. Using the clip modify command has always worked for me to switch to the correct format for capture.
 
Another tip when working with original masters is to ensure:

That deck setting is set to NDF or DF default for the project type being used. 24p projects should default to DF but that might have gotten changed if settings were imported, etc.

Don't create a tape name when you put the tape in right away. Sometimes tapes have a second or two of material at the head that may be different than the source material - DF or NDF wise. I always play into the tape to recognized active material, then create the tape name.


Michael
 
The other biggie thats hosed me before is if the tape has been used before....while the tape is cue-ing it rewinds past the part of your "good" timecode and hits the crap that was already on the tape - which may be the opposite timecode format. 2 resolutions.... make your pre-roll shorter or cut into the shot a little and you should be set.

It is a pain, but can be worked around.... now go kick your shooter in the sack for re-using a tape and putting you thru this hell.
 
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