Can I add a running timestamp to the time lapse movie ?

vladn wrote on 10/11/2013, 6:06 PM

I am making a time lapse move (a scientific experiment illustration). I want to add a running timestamp to the movie that indicates the real time passed in the experiment. My camera does not have the timestamp option in the video mode. Can this be done in the MEP somehow (without annotating every frame by hand) ?

Comments

terrypin wrote on 10/12/2013, 3:35 AM

Hi,

 

You don't say what version of MEP you're using, nor the scale of your time lapse (minutes? weeks?). But all recent versions have a feature that might offer a work around.

 

Or for better quality: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4019461/MEP-AddingDateTime-1.jpg

 

If all or most of the movie covered an unbroken continuous period, you might be able to semi-automate it by using a spreadsheet to create the text. A start and end time (with dates if it covers more than 24 hours) would generate all intervening times to the required precision. And then a macro or script could place those at the appropriate places on your timeline.

 

Or you could just carefully position a digital date/time clock in front of the camera!

 

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

 

 

Last changed by terrypin on 10/12/2013, 3:35 AM, changed a total of 1 times.

Terry, East Grinstead, UK. PC: i7 6700K, 4.0 GHz, 32GB with Win 10 pro. Used many earlier versions of MEPP, currently mainly MEPP 2016 & 2017 (Using scores of macro scripts to add functionality, tailored to these versions.)

terrypin wrote on 10/12/2013, 7:24 AM

I was hoping there is a dynamic timestamp feature hidden somwhere...

 

But how would MEP get the time in your case?

 

Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Last changed by terrypin on 10/12/2013, 7:24 AM, changed a total of 1 times.

Terry, East Grinstead, UK. PC: i7 6700K, 4.0 GHz, 32GB with Win 10 pro. Used many earlier versions of MEPP, currently mainly MEPP 2016 & 2017 (Using scores of macro scripts to add functionality, tailored to these versions.)

yvon-robert wrote on 10/12/2013, 7:41 AM

Hi,

You can create your own timelapse using a green background and iPad. iPad has a beautifull chronometer plus a timelapse also you can use some device for cooking or a Gralab chronometer use in photographic or laboratory equipment.

Also plugin like newblueFx have this.

Regards,

YR

johnebaker wrote on 10/12/2013, 7:59 AM

Hi

. . . . . Digital clock would be the easiest workaround. . . . .

An analogue clock will be better - if you include the digital clock in the scene while videoing this may not be ideal due to strobing ie parts of the digits will be missing as shown in this grab image of a digital sign - you will have to test this.

 

. . . . so it should have all the information in the file . . .

Only if your camcorder records timecode data into the video, however even if it does MEP cannot extract the timecode data

John

Last changed by johnebaker on 10/12/2013, 7:59 AM, changed a total of 1 times.

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cpc000cpc wrote on 10/12/2013, 7:50 PM

vland et al,

What about the new timecode option in MEP 2014? A right click in the preview window used to bring up an option for displaying running time but only for your information while editing -- it didn't appear in any export. In the 2014 version the 'Time Display' menu entry opens a new 'Timecode' section under the 'Title' tab.

I've not got opportunity to test much on how it works with time code stamped video but a clip off the net is displaying a plausible 2011 year of shooting and the shadows are in agreement with an approximately noon time stamp! At the very least you could export just the running time of a blank video and then bring it in as a new clip and speed it up x15 as you did with your shoot.

Added: Size and position including angle are adjustable but it seems no control of font. :-( ...and typically no info in the help file or pdf manual! :-( 

Regards,

Carl

terrypin wrote on 10/13/2013, 11:14 AM

That MEP 2014 Timecode facility doesn't let me display data in my MOV (QT) files. Yet I regularly use other programs (such as Bulk Rename Utility) which use it correctly to access date and time.

 

 

Nor with my AVI (MJPEG) clips from my older Ixus.

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Last changed by terrypin on 10/13/2013, 11:26 AM, changed a total of 4 times.

Terry, East Grinstead, UK. PC: i7 6700K, 4.0 GHz, 32GB with Win 10 pro. Used many earlier versions of MEPP, currently mainly MEPP 2016 & 2017 (Using scores of macro scripts to add functionality, tailored to these versions.)

vladn wrote on 10/13/2013, 2:06 PM

At least they are moving in the right direction :)

Not sure about the MEP upgrade policy. This feature alone (and partially implemented) is not enough for me to spend $ for the upgrade. I guess I'll wait for 2015 :)

cpc000cpc wrote on 10/13/2013, 6:14 PM

Additional observations of movement 'in the right direction'...

When I USB connect my waterproof Kodak Playsport while MEP 2014 is running, I get the AVCHD import window even though the clips are .MOV. This window shows the correct date and time of filming, but the object's right click properties window displays a blank for the date.

Similarly with a tiny pocket key ring spy cam, though the import window is not automatic, I had to click on the red record button.

The correct dates for these .AVI files are also shown in the object's properties window, and on the clips themselves but the time stamp is out by hours.

So how about the new 'Time Display'?

It is showing yesterday's date and movie running time!

Note, if you haven't already, that the 'AVCHD" import window has under 'Advanced settings...' the option to bulk rename a group of imports.

Regards,

Carl