Apple Final Cut Pro 6 User Manual
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About 24 @ 25 Timecode
Conforming 25 fps video to 24 fps does not alter the 25 fps timecode of your PAL
footage, so this command creates an unusual media format in which the video rate is
24 fps (the original rate of the film) and the timecode rate is 25 fps (the original
timecode numbers from your PAL videotape). When you conform 25 fps media files to
24 fps, the media file timecode rate is defined as 24 @ 25. You can verify the timecode
rate for a clip in the TC Rate Browser column or in the Item Properties window.
24 @ 25 timecode makes it easy to work at 24 fps but retain 25 fps timecode throughout
your edit. You can then export a 25 fps EDL that matches your PAL video footage and
therefore can be matched by a negative cutter to the original film edge code.
Note: Because the editing timebase and playback are based on 24 fps, the 25 fps
timecode no longer accurately represents the true passage of time. For example,
38 seconds of video (as defined by its 25 fps–based timecode) will actually take
40 seconds to play.
Creating 24 @ 25 Sequences and Easy Setups
To properly edit 24 @ 25 clips, you need to create a sequence with an editing timebase
of 24 fps and set the timecode rate of this sequence to the special 24 @ 25 option. This
option displays 25 fps timecode in your sequence as though you were editing PAL
video, but the sequence plays back at 24 fps.
There are two sequence presets designed for 24 fps PAL video:
 DV PAL 48 kHz - 24 @ 25: This preset uses a 24 fps editing timebase and 25 fps
timecode. When you export an EDL from a sequence with this sequence preset,
25 fps timecode values are used. This method is more common and should be used
when you intend to export a 25 fps EDL for the negative cutter, instead of a cut list.
 DV PAL 48 kHz - 24: This preset does not support 24 @ 25 editing. Instead, both the
editing timebase and the sequence timecode are 24 fps. This method should only be
used when you intend to export a cut list from your 24 fps PAL project.
You can use the DV PAL 24 @ 25 Easy Setup included with Final Cut Pro, or you can create
your own 24 @ 25 sequence preset if you are working with a format other than DV.