How to display internal MPEG file timecode

[MrVideo]

Here is a snippet from a log file:

2007-03-04 17:47:37 AC3 (Unpacked) Audio Frame Error 1 at: 01:22:44.08
2007-03-04 17:47:37 AC3 (Unpacked) Audio Frame Error 2 at: 01:22:44.16
2007-03-04 17:47:37 Resync: removed 7 video frames, at video 00:23:44.18, original (01:22:44.09), sync changed from -123.70 to -16.77

The time value that a user sees is 00:23:44.18. But, I need to be able to see, somehow, the time that embedded in the MPEG file, i.e., 01:22:44.09.

The reason is trying to communicate the exact location in a file to another person who also recorded the same material. Because we both did not start capturing the file at exactly the same time, the 00:23:44.18 time value is useless as a reference. But, since the 01:22:44.09 would also be in his captured copy, it would help to be able to display that value, say in the upper-right corner, like the IPB info is displayed in the upper-left corner.

If there is an option to turn that on, I didn't find it.

[DanR]

There's no option to display the original timecode. VRD offsets all timecodes from the timecode found at the first GOP of the file.

[qz3fwd]

Maybe you can give them the timecode from some known reference time frame, such as the start/intro of the program. Seek to the nearest I Frame and export the frame and send them the bmp/png and an offset. There are many ways to do it.

Or even easier is to have them export a short segment on I Frame boundaries containing the error frames.

Are embedded mpeg timecodes identical around the country?

[MrVideo]

There's no option to display the original timecode. VRD offsets all timecodes from the timecode found at the first GOP of the file.

OK, so display that. You use it in the log file, so it should be displayable in real time.

Because we both captured the same program, the internal timecode was the same. But because we didn't start the captures at the time (virtually impossible to do that), my 0 value is not in the same place as his 0 value.

It would have been so much easier to use the value given in the log.

[MrVideo]

Maybe you can give them the timecode from some known reference time frame, such as the start/intro of the program. Seek to the nearest I Frame and export the frame and send them the bmp/png and an offset. There are many ways to do it.

A common location was referenced. He did the math wrong in figuring out the difference between his time at that location and mine.

Or even easier is to have them export a short segment on I Frame boundaries containing the error frames.

Ultimately ended up doing something like that. All that time have been saved if VRD was able to display the internal timecode.

Another method is to allow the user to pick a location and zero reference it (Like Adobe Premiere allows one to do). By each of us 0 referencing the same location, getting to the same location would be a snap.

Are embedded mpeg timecodes identical around the country?

For OTA material, probably not (especially in two different cities). As mentioned, this was a feed (DVB-S feed), so the material received by both of us was from the same source.