Sound Devices 788T - Manual (Page 79)

Jam Zeros
This menu selection resets the internal generator to zero.
Edit Value / Jam Value
The EDIT VALUE selection allows the user to set any valid time code value
(00:00:00:00–23:59:59:29) and the JAM VALUE selection jams the internal generator to that value.
The initial screen of the EDIT VALUE selection shows the currently set value as well as the current
time code setting of the 788T. Press the Rotary Switch or the enter key (tone key) to beginning edit-
ing the hour value. Once the hour is set, press the Rotary Switch to continue editing the rest of the
values. Use the JAM VALUE selection to jam the internal time code generator to this saved value.
User Bits
The 788T has seven user-selectable user bit modes. Time code user bits are a portion of the time code
data which can be set to a custom value. Commonly, user bits carry information such as the date,
take, sound roll, or camera roll number.
The 788T can automatically fi ll all - or a portion of - the user bit value automatically. To select the
format used for automatic user bit values, select Setup Menu option TIMECODE: USER BITS.
User-editable portions of the user bits are edited from the EDIT U-BIT selection in the jam menu. If
there are no user-editable portions of the selected user bit mode, “NO USER EDITS“ will appear in the
screen.
NTSC Standard Def Video Production
NTSC video uses a frame rate of 29.97 frames per second. Thit leaves 108 frames per hour unac-
counted. To keep 29.97 time code in sync with “clock” time, the concept of “drop frame” was de-
vised: Two frames are dropped at the beginning of each minute that is not divisible by 10 (54 x 2 =
108).
To sync the 788T time code to a video camera, fi rst determine if the camera is in drop or non-drop
frame mode. If unsure about what setting to use, check with post-production.
1. Set the 788T to either 29.97DF or 29.97 respectively. Video for NTSC broadcast is generally drop-
frame. Whether at drop or non-drop rates, all time code devices must be set to the same rate.
2. Jam the camera using a LEMO-5 to BNC (or XLR, depending on what connector the camera
uses) adapter cable connected to the time code input on the video camera.
3. Set the camera to free run time code. The 788T time code should appear in the time code
display on the camera.
4. Disconnect the time code cable.
The camera and recorder time code should now be running in sync. Check after roughly 5 minutes to
be certain synchronization is maintained.
Most video cameras will not maintain stable time code when shut down. Re-jam time code if the camer
has been powered down since the last time time code was jammed.
Sync
hronization and T
imecode
6
788T/788T-SSD User Guide and Technical Information
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