Timecode missing on MP4 transcoding

[Hans]

Hi Steinar,

we found an issue with transcoding MP4 files (AVC codec) to XDCAM HD or AVC-Intra with AVID project structure setting.
The starting timecode is set to 00:00:00:00 on transcoded files.
The workflow is very simple: Watching folder - XDCAM HD Encoder (or AVC Intra) - Delivery Folder
Setting of Encoder: AVID Project structure enabled / Audio same as source / full transcoding
All other settings are preset.
We test this with several versions 0.94 / 1.0.0 / 1.1.0
The result is always the same.

Here is the ffmpeg info of the source file:

libavutil 55. 29.100 / 55. 29.100
libavcodec 57. 55.101 / 57. 55.101
libavformat 57. 48.103 / 57. 48.103
libavdevice 57. 0.102 / 57. 0.102
libavfilter 6. 61.100 / 6. 61.100
libswscale 4. 1.100 / 4. 1.100
libswresample 2. 1.100 / 2. 1.100
libpostproc 54. 0.100 / 54. 0.100
Guessed Channel Layout for Input Stream #0.1 : stereo
Input #0, mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2, from 'A:\200906\EB Material\11V_0609_01\M4ROOT\CLIP\C0001.MP4':
Metadata:
major_brand : XAVC
minor_version : 16785407
compatible_brands: XAVCmp42iso2
creation_time : 2020-09-06T09:12:00.000000Z
Duration: 00:00:45.12, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 51084 kb/s
Stream #0:0(und): Video: h264 (High) (avc1 / 0x31637661), yuv420p(tv), 1920x1080 [SAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], 49342 kb/s, 25 fps, 25 tbr, 25k tbn, 50 tbc (default)
Metadata:
creation_time : 2020-09-06T09:12:00.000000Z
handler_name : Video Media Handler
encoder : AVC Coding
Stream #0:1(und): Audio: pcm_s16be (twos / 0x736F7774), 48000 Hz, 2 channels, s16, 1536 kb/s (default)
Metadata:
creation_time : 2020-09-06T09:12:00.000000Z
handler_name : Sound Media Handler
Stream #0:2(und): Data: none (rtmd / 0x646D7472), 204 kb/s (default)
Metadata:
creation_time : 2020-09-06T09:12:00.000000Z
handler_name : Timed Metadata Media Handler
timecode : 11:12:11:16

And this is the ffmpeg info of the destination video file:

libavutil 55. 29.100 / 55. 29.100
libavcodec 57. 55.101 / 57. 55.101
libavformat 57. 48.103 / 57. 48.103
libavdevice 57. 0.102 / 57. 0.102
libavfilter 6. 61.100 / 6. 61.100
libswscale 4. 1.100 / 4. 1.100
libswresample 2. 1.100 / 2. 1.100
libpostproc 54. 0.100 / 54. 0.100
Input #0, mxf, from 'C:\Avid MediaFiles\MXF\1\C0003_v1.mxf':
Metadata:
project_name : Test
uid : fedc9959-af67-45ef-9a9a-7bc512ef1739
generation_uid : 3ad0c484-0d66-4d17-a466-b61104171974
modification_date: 2020-09-29T13:09:02.000000Z
company_name : BBC
product_name : bmx
product_version : 0.1.3 (scm snap1708)
product_uid : b8604d31-2e15-4799-a3c6-047ed0e6f9a1
application_platform: libMXF (Win32)
material_package_umid: 0x060A2B340101010101010F00130000005F7331EEBECC013F060E2B347F7F2A80
material_package_name: C0003
Duration: 00:00:24.96, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 50164 kb/s
Stream #0:0: Video: mpeg2video (4:2:2), yuv422p(tv, bt709), 1920x1080 [SAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], 50000 kb/s, 25 fps, 25 tbr, 25 tbn, 50 tbc
Metadata:
file_package_umid: 0x060A2B340101010101010F00130000005F7331EEBECE013F060E2B347F7F2A80
reel_umid : 0x060A2B340101010101010F00130000005F7331EEBECD013F060E2B347F7F2A80
reel_name : 200907
timecode : 00:00:00:00


If you need more informations I will provide them to you.

Thank you

[Hans]

Sorry,

the ffmpeg infos are not from the same file.
Source C0001 --- Destination C0003.
But behavior is the same.

Sorry for the confusion.

Thank you for your help

[admin]

Hi Hans,

I'm looking at this right now and I need some more info cause when I try the same I get timecode in the video track. Output from ffmpeg:

Metadata:
operational_pattern_ul: 060e2b34.04010102.0d010201.10030000
project_name : Untitled
uid : 0b7353f2-c8bf-4062-8649-803a28ebcda6
generation_uid : 2fa06621-6f53-4286-a53d-ee84332115fc
modification_date: 2020-09-30T06:36:32.172000Z
company_name : BBC
product_name : bmx
product_version : 0.1.3 (scm snap1708-84-g9480bde)
product_uid : b8604d31-2e15-4799-a3c6-047ed0e6f9a1
application_platform: libMXF (Win64)
material_package_umid: 0x060A2B340101010501010F20130000009868C4615A144561BDCEDF45C05976C0
material_package_name: 00002
Duration: 00:00:28.32, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 50137 kb/s
Stream #0:0: Video: mpeg2video (4:2:2), yuv422p(tv, bt709, top first), 1920x1080 [SAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], 50000 kb/s, 25 fps, 25 tbr, 25 tbn, 50 tbc
Metadata:
file_package_umid: 0x060A2B340101010501010F201300000070BE5809201140F18E7B293358B03D5F
track_name : V1
reel_umid : 0x060A2B340101010501010F2013000000802D5B6AC98841D3AA092F70BCA5B7D5
reel_name : FFAStrans TestFiles
timecode : 00:07:21:17

As you can see the timecode is present in the video stream. However, it's not present in any other streams. But both Avid and for example Premiere are able to read the correct time code.
So it might be that FFAStrans is not able to read the timecode from your source. In that case I need a sample. But this is easy to test: Just create a regular MXF op1a XDCAM-HD file and see if the tc is present.

-steinar

[Hans]

Hi Steinar,

I try the OP1a encoding with the same result.
The source files are recorded by a SONY Alpha7.
I can send you an example file, but the smallest file I found is 32MB.
How can I send it to you?

Thank you

[admin]

Oh, sorry for the late reply. Could you use some kind of sharing service like yousendit, wetransfer, filemail or similar?

-steinar

[Hans]

Hi,

I send a message to you with a wetransfer link.

Thank you

[admin]

Hi Hans,

I found the error with reading the TC and it has been fixed for the next release. Thanks for the file!

-steinar

[Hans]

Hi Steinar,

do you have an idea when you will release 1.1.0.3?
I´m looking forward to it each day

Thank you

[momocampo]

Hello Hans,

The next release will arrive soon and it will be the 1.1.1.0.
Please, still a little patience.


B.

[Hans]

Solved:

Thank you all for the new version 1.2.0.7
Timecode is now passed through.