« Time Code Window for FCP »

Many times in my edit review screenings, I’ve had a need to pull up a timecode display quickly and easily in Final Cut Pro, so the producer can see where we are and make notes about the cut with at least rough TC. But unlike Avid editors who are used to being able to easily add timecode burn-in to their window in realtime, FCP’s Timecode Generator (or Reader) filter — while billed as “realtime preview” — is usually anything but, especially if you have any sort of filters or multiple layers in your project.

You don’t have the time to sit there and render out the Timecode Generator filter. So what do you do? Disappoint your producer? Play it out through an HDCAM deck?

No. What you do is go grab ARTIS Screen Loupe.

Screen Loupe is a simple tool that magnifies part of your screen. But unlike several other tools that purport to do the same thing, this one has a difference that’s critically important for our purpose: it updates the magnified image several times per second.

Simply, you’ll want to run Screen Loupe, and hover your cursor over the timecode display in the upper left corner of your Timeline window. You’ll notice that the magnified display follows your cursor around the screen; but once you’ve got the TC display in your sights, all you have to do is hit ⌘-L to lock the display to that part of the screen. I recommend setting the magnification to 8X; then your producer has a nice big TC display that they can quickly reference on your Mac’s display while they watch the video on the external broadcast display.

The functionality of Screen Loupe is now also part of The Iconfactory’s xScope (co-developed by ARTIS), so if you’re doing other design work, you might want to check out that handy multi-tool before you pay just for Screen Loupe.

Of course, Final Cut Pro 7 may finally come out in a month or two and make this tip obsolete, but in meantime it’s the best way to get a readable TC window up on the screen when you need it fast.

Update on Thu, 28 May 2009 by Mark

Thanks for the link from Scott Simmons over at ProVideoCoalition. He also pointed out another option, Big Time, which while it costs a lot more ($49 vs. free), certainly does look a lot cleaner, if your producer demands such things. Another free option is TimeCode from e-pocalypse.