Time Code
Timecode support lets a digital tape machine use a coded position reference to synchronize with film, video or other equipment.
SMPTE/EBU or IEC timecode identifies positions according to a defined timing system. It supports coordinated operation beyond ordinary programme navigation. The supported formats and whether facilities are built in or require an option determine practical compatibility.
Time Code — Digital Tape Recorder
Timecode facilities allow a recorder to participate in a synchronized production system. A generator, reader and timecode input or output perform different roles, so the exact provision matters. An optional board may supply capabilities absent from the standard machine.
Compare the required code format, frame-rate support and recording or reading functions with the rest of the system. Confirm that any option is installed. Absolute time stored in tape subcode is a different position reference and does not establish SMPTE/EBU or IEC compatibility. A time display alone likewise does not prove synchronization capability or specify its accuracy.