Countdowns and Leaders

[Dexter Gregoire]

If Timeline starts at 59:00:00:00
and
First picture starts at 1:00:00:00
then
What is the proper standard time used for SMPTE bars and Slate?

I understand the proper order is SMPTE Bars, Slate, Countdown is 8 seconds long with filler then first picture starts at 1:00:00:00.

How long should SMPTE Bars be?
How long should Slate be?

I understand Countdown is 8 seconds long with filler.

This project is exactly 24 frames per second.

By the way, I found THIS really nice countdown I would like to share.

 

[Ryan Sims]

Here's a spec I got from a distributor today:

30 seconds of Bars and Tone followed by slate.

Slate to list Title, Running Time, Audio Specs, any additional footage noted with specific time codes (textless footage, music video, trailer, etc).

Begin feature at time code 01:00:00

If a dub requires multiple tapes, start following tape at next hour


Hope this helps.

 

[Marc Wielage]

Every distributor is different, so watch out. Typical specs for HDCam and HDCam-SR are as follows:

00:57:00:00 tape begins (black)

00:58:30:00 75% SMPTE bars + 1K tone (sometimes 100% bars)

00:59:30:00 black

00:59:40:00 slate (with title, runtime, version, audio assignments, etc.)

00:59:50:00 black

01:00:00:00 first frame of program

This would be for the delivery tape of the final project (film, TV episode, etc.). No countdown. The only tapes I would put countdown on would be for submasters and archival copies, not a delivery tape for network or home video.

Again, distributors can be extremely picky and demanding on these specifications, so get them in writing and double-check that everything is perfect -- including the labels on the videotape.

BTW, note that almost all deliverable tapes for North America are at 23.98fps and 23.98 timecode, not 24.00. Double-check with your post house to make sure this is compatible with their workflow.

 

[Brandon Kraemer]

00:58:30:00 start of tape, black
00:58:40:00 bars and tone (1 min)
00:59:40:00 black
00:59:50:00 start of slate and 10 sec count down, "10 beep"
00:59:55:00 "5 beep"
00:59:58:00 "2 beep" and visual sync for 2 frames
00:59:58:02 black
01:00:00:00 start of program


The above is widely used as a standard for commercial broadcast leader when mastering to tape. As previously suggested, everyone has their own standards. Check with the dub house/vendor etc on their standards.

 

[Marc Wielage]

I've never seen a 5-beep or 10-beep in 31 years of post in LA. But that's just me. And no countdown for a deliverable master. (In fact, I seem to recall that Disney demands :60 seconds of black and silence prior to program; I think Miramax did the same thing for their HD masters, but that was in the D5 days.)

2-pop, sometimes. (Different in 25-frame PAL and 25-frame HD.) But only 1 frame, never 2. This is specified in a lot of tech specs for different distributors, because they don't want to risk a rubbery frame that goes too over. But that would only be for a master tape getting a layback; once the final track is down, any countdown prior to program is wiped.

I do agree that every distributor is different, there's a dozen different standards out there, and I would advise the O.P. to get the specs first in writing. When in doubt, ask your post house (video and sound) for their internal standards and go with that as an interim. Technicolor and Ascent Media would be good places to start; HBO used to have their specs on-line, but I don't have the current link. The post houses can also provide you with various kinds of digital countdown at no charge if you want them.