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- TCWindow - Time Code Window Program
- -----------------------------------
- Preliminary Demo Version 0.1 12/3/86
-
- Mike Berro
- BCS Software
- 13432 Lochrin lane
- Sylmar, CA 91342
- (818) 362-6031
- CIS: 73267,3361
-
- Introduction
- ------------
- TCWindow allows you to create a window dub, or video with visible time
- code. The time code can be reset or preset, frozen, and moved around.
- Both Drop and Non-drop modes allowed. Settings can be saved onto disk.
- This is a preliminary demo. Future versions (if there is interest)
- will include reading time code through the serial port or reading it
- directly through mouse port #2 (already done).
- Future versions will also have a nicer font, variable font size and
- color, and who knows what all else. I would appreciate any comments.
-
- Menu Commands
- -------------
- There are three menus: Project, Options and Disk Access. The Project
- commands may also be accessed by simply pressing the associated command
- key; pressing the right-Amiga key is optional.
-
- Project Menu
- ------------
- > Freeze the Display [F]: This command freezes and unfreezes the display.
- Pressing the space bar always unfreezes the
- display. Other commands still function when
- the display is frozen.
- > Set the Time [S]: This command allows you to set the time to any value.
- After selecting this command, the "set pointer" will
- become visible. Point at the digit to change and press
- the left mouse button. Press the right mouse button or
- any key to exit this mode. The value you have set will
- be stored in the "preset buffer" (see Preset below).
- > Preset the Time [P]: This command sets the current time to the value
- stored in the "preset buffer".
- > Move the Time [M]: This command allows you to move the time code display
- to another position on the screen. After selecting
- this command, the "move pointer" will become visible.
- Point to the desired location of the upper-left
- corner of the display and press the left mouse button.
- Press the right mouse button or any key to exit
- this mode.
- > Hide the Pointer [H]: Does just that. Press the left mouse button to
- make it visible.
-
- Options Menu
- ------------
- > Drop or Non-drop Frame:
- Non-drop frame time code is continuous. Drop frame code skips two
- frames every minute, except every ten minutes. Non-drop frame accurately
- counts the number of frames, Drop frame code more accurately measures the
- duration.
- The reason is that video is not running exactly at 30 frames per
- second, but at 29.97. Therefore, instead of 1800 frames per minute
- you actually have about 1802 frames.
- Which code you use depends upon what the code is for. If you are using
- it to edit tape, use Non-drop frame code. Many inexpensive editing
- systems will choke on drop frame code. If you are using it to simply
- measure the duration of events, use drop frame code.
- > Interlace or Non-Interlace:
- Interlaced video produces better recordings, but is somewhat annoying
- to watch. In this instance it does not give you better resolution. The
- program does not reset the interlace mode upon startup or exit.
-
- Disk Access Menu
- ----------------
- The parameters stored are the current time, the "preset buffer", the
- display position, the drop frame mode and the interlace mode. They are
- stored in a file called TCW.data.
-
- Miscellaneous
- -------------
- Pressing Z zeroes the time code.
- Activating the menu will cause a "glitch" in the time code, causing it
- to miss several frames. Use the keyboard to avoid this.
- Running other programs at the same time could also cause inaccuracies,
- unless you set the priority of this program very high.
-
-