The Wireless PRO is the first RØDE product that can generate SMPTE Standard Timecode. SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers) and Timecode LTC (Linear Timecode) are both methods used in the entertainment industry to synchronize and timestamp audio and video recordings. However, they are different in their technical implementations and applications:
SMPTE Timecode
- The implementation of SMPTE timecode is a digital method of timecode synchronization. It is typically encoded as a series of numeric values (e.g., 01:02:03:04, where 01 is hours, 02 is minutes, 03 is seconds, and 04 is frames) in a binary format.
- SMPTE timecode can be recorded directly on a digital video or audio track, or it can be embedded in digital file formats. It's widely used in modern digital audio and video production, including film, television, and digital post-production workflows.
- Using SMPTE timecode can be more accurate and reliable than LTC, and it's less susceptible to signal degradation.
Timecode LTC (Linear Timecode)
- LTC is an analogue method of timecode synchronization. It is often recorded as an audio signal on a separate track alongside the audio or video content.
- Furthermore, the LTC timecode consists of a continuous series of audio tones (usually in the range of 50 to 60 Hz) that represent the time in hours, minutes, seconds, and frames. Each frame of video or audio content corresponds to a unique LTC timecode value.
- LTC is widely used in analogue tape-based recording systems and some older digital systems.
For more information about the Wireless PRO, please see our Wireless PRO User Guide.