Apple Final Cut Pro 7 - Manual (Page 1646)

The following information provides an overview of the film editing process, identifying
the parts played by Final Cut Pro and Cinema Tools.
About the Telecine Process
During a telecine session, sections of film rolls are transferred to videotape or directly to
a hard disk. A computer file, known as a telecine log, keeps track of which film frames are
transferred to video.
In addition to keeping track of the film frame-to-video frame relationship, the telecine
log also contains scene and take number information, film format and speed, and, if the
audio is synchronized to the video during the telecine process, the audio timecode from
the master audio source.
About Edge Code
Both film and video record frames and produce large numbers of frames over time. Editors
and editing machines need to find frames efficiently and reliably, so film and video both
have ways to uniquely count and identify frames. Film uses edge code, which can be
KeyKode (developed by Kodak and also known as keycode) or ink numbers printed on
the edge of the film. Video uses timecode, stored in a timecode track.
Both edge code and timecode are based on simple frame counters: each time a frame
advances, the frame counter increases by one. But the similarity ends there. Edge code
equates frames with film length, so a certain number of frames equals a foot (thus the
origin of the word footage). Timecode equates frames with time—for example, in PAL
video, 25 frames equals one second.
Edge code looks like this:
KJ 29 1234 5678+02
The first eight characters (KJ 29 1234) identify the film manufacturer and include an
identification number for the film roll. The final six numbers (5678+02) actually identify
specific frame numbers. The first four numbers (5678) are the footage count (the number
of feet of film), with the last two numbers (+02) counting the frames for that foot of film
(16 frames with 4-perf 35mm, the most common film format).
Timecode looks like this:
01:24:08:14
Timecode numbers represent hours, minutes, seconds, and frames, respectively.
1646 Chapter 99 Working with Film and Cinema Tools