timecode reader

I'm having troubles with the timecode reader effect. The Read TC from Source box is checked, but it only reads TC from the timeline. When I hit Open in Timeline, it shows me my original timecode. Am I missing something? thx

I'm going to assume some things here. It will always read the Timeline time code. If you open a clip from the Browser it is reading only its own time code in its own timeline, as will the filter. Actually, the generator is reading the timeline time code, it just happens to be the same time code as the individual clip you opened into the timeline.

When you drop multiple clips into a timeline, the generator will read that timelines time code, which is not the individual clip timecode.

So it is doing the exact same thing in both timelines.

So when it says Read TC from Source, I'm not sure what that means. When I look at the source clip's timecode, it is 18:00:02 or whatever and the same clip on the timeline reads wherever TC is on the timeline. How is Source different from the timeline?

That is a label used in Motion and it carries over into FCP X. The "Source" in FCP X is the Timeline, not the clip itself.

So if you deselect Read TC from Source, it stays frozen at zero. Why do they offer the choice? Does that mean that there's no way to burn in the TC on clips you bring into fcpx? That makes it more of a TC generator than a reader, no?

We all wish for an effect that allows for keyframing, timeline, or clip timecode.

Un-checking Read From Source is there is so you can keyframe your own counter with custom timecode. In which case it is a "generator".

Reading from Source, reads from the Timeline, which is a "reader".

Yes, it is very limited. To get TC for individual clips, you'll need to "Open In Timeilne" for each clip, apply the TC generator inside of there. Copy it, and paste as you open each individual clip.

Hopefully someone will have a free effect or Apple will include one in the next update that actually does what we need.

I tried opening in timeline and applying the filter, but it doesn't do it there either. Not that big a deal - I can work around it, but it does call into question the utility of having camera-generated timecode in the first place with this system. Does it matter to X at all what your original TC was?