M-AUDIO MIDISPORT 8x8/s - Manual (Page 42)

white (30 non-drop) and color (30 drop) video have different frame rates. While
in Europe and all “PAL” countries, black and white and color video have the
same frame rate of 25 frames per second.
What Frame Rate and Settings Should You Use?
The following table summarizes the frame rates that we recommend you use
when striping SMPTE:
Application Frame Rate
Audio Only 30 non-drop
Video - Color U.S. 30 drop*; 29.97
Video - B/W U.S. 30 non-drop
Video - Color Europe 25
Video - B/W Europe 25
** Note: If you are in the U.S. and using a MIDISPORT 8x8/s to do
audio scoring or MIDI sequencing for your own video, then we
suggest you use 30 non-drop instead of 30 drop. This is because
drop-frame is harder to work with, since time calculations are more
complicated. Non-drop will allow you to sync just as well as drop-
frame; drop-frame is really only a necessity for broadcast
purposes.
SMPTE and MTC User Bits
The SMPTE and MTC standards provide a means for users to “stamp” their
media with reference numbers of their own choosing. This is accomplished by
setting aside some spare data (32 bits) within the time code message to be used
as “User Bits.” SMPTE and MTC allow you to encode these User Bits into the
time code message without affecting the time code itself.
Because there are 32 User Bits available, they can be further subdivided into 8
nibbles (one nibble = 4 bits), each of which can represent a binary-coded decimal
(BCD) digit. A typical set of User Bits might look like this:
0 4 1 9 0 3 1 2
This could be interpreted as April 19, shot 03, take 12. Although this is one
method of encoding user bit information, you may designate the digits in any
way that you desire.
Many inexpensive sync boxes ignore User Bits because they have no way to set
them or read them. The MIDISPORT 8x8/s User Bits can be set via the Remote
Control software and may be displayed with some outboard device such as the
MIDIMAN SMPTE Time Window. The User Bits are also transmitted via MIDI
message to the MIDI application that you are using. If your sequencer is capable
of displaying User Bits information, then you may read the User Bits there as
well.
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