Sales and Support FAQ

Question

Answer

CatDV will read timecode from a number of types of media file:

• If you import a DV stream, or a DV movie recorded as a QuickTime .MOV or AVI file, then CatDV will read the original timecode embedded within the stream by the camera at the time of recording.
• If you import any other QuickTime movie which has a timecode track CatDV will use that. (Whether such a timecode track is present depends on the software that was originally used to capture or create the movie.)
• OMF media files include timecode which CatDV Professional Edition will read.
• Pinnacle Purple files use a file naming convention which specifies the timecode which CatDV will read.

It will also import various batch file formats and edit decision lists that support timecode.

CatDV does not currently read timecode over a RS422 serial interface. Because the serial control signal and the video signal reach the computer via different paths there are often minor frame inaccuracies involved in such captures. CatDV was designed from the outset specifically to take advantage of the DV format which has no such problems.

24/6/2005