HORITA TCP-50 User manual

HORITA TCP-50
SMPTE TIME CODE PROCESSOR
USER MANUAL
For Models TCP-50, RM-50/TCP, SR-50/TCP
And AO-50/TCP
Doc. 073144-00
Rev. B
(C) Copyright 2014
P.O. Box 3993, Mission Viejo, CA 92690 [phone] www.horit .com

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COPYRIGHT
(C) 2014 HORITA Co. Inc., All rights reserved
No part of this document may be copied or reproduced in any form or by any means without prior
written consent of HORITA Co. INC., P.O. Box 3993, Mission Viejo, CA 92690.
HORITA Co. INC. makes no warranties with respect to this documentation and disclaims any
warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
HORITA, its logo, and TCP-50 are trademarks of HORITA Co., Inc.

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Table Of Contents
1 GENERAL 5
1-1 Word and Acronym Definitions 5
2 FEATURES 6
3 CONNECTING 7
3.1 Connecting Power 7
3.2 Operating From Battery Power 8
3.3 Connecting Video IN and OUT 8
Figure 3-1, Basic TCP-50 Hookup 8
3.4 Connecting Time Code IN and OUT 8
4 OPERATING 8
4.1 Front Panel Switches 8
4.2 POWER Switch 8
4.3 MODE Switch 8
4.4 POSITION Switch 9
4.5 CHAR Switch 9
4.6 TCP-50 Mode Flow Diagram Explanation 9
Figure 4-1, TCP-50 Mode Flow Diagram 9
4.7 LED Operation 9
Table 4-1, TCP-50 LED Operation 9
4.8 Entering and Exiting the Setup Menus 10
4.9 Selecting Different Setup Menu Items 10
4.10 Changing the Selected Menu Item 10
4.11 "DISPLAY SETUP" Menu 10
4.12 "TIMECODE SETUP" Menu 11
4.13 "TCR ERR ANALYZER" Menu 13
4.14 "USERBIT SETUP" Menu 14
4.15 Selecting Local Titling Mode and 15
4.16 Character Selection 15
Table 4-2, Character Set 15
4.17 Inserting Spaces and Deleting Characters 16
4.18 Centering a Line of Text 16
4.19 Turning the Display Off and On 16
4.20 Time Code Jam and Genlock Operations 17
4.21 "Jamming" 17
4.22 "Genlock" 17
4.23 AUT SET JAM/LOK Mode Operation 18
Table 4-3, TCP-Auto Jam/Tolerance/Genlock
Settings 18
4.24 Time Code Frame Rate Translation 18
4.25 Time Code Offset 18
4.26 Time Code Backup or Repair 19
4.27 Time Code User Bit Substitution 19
4-28 Time Code "Start/Stop" Operation 19
4.29 Time Code Error Analyzer 20
4.30 SIGNAL INPUT Error 20
4.31 SYNC PAT Error 20
4.32 FPS Error 20
4.33 DROP/N-DROP Error 20
4.34 VALID TIME Error 20
4.35 VALID SEQUENCE Error 21

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5 MAINTENANCE 21
5.1 Cleaning 21
5.2 Service and Troubleshooting 21
5.3 Adjustments 21
Figure 5-1, Adjustment Locations 21
5.4 Horizontal Size Adjustment 21
5.5 Video Level & Equalization Adjustment 21
6-SPECIFICATIONS 22

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1 GENERAL
This manual provides instructions for installing and operating the HORITA TCP-50 Time Code Processor.
The TCP-50 is intended for use in field, studio, editing, engineering, and post production situations where it is desired to
translate between time code frame rates, add an offset to an existing time code value, repair a time code signal, evaluate
time code signal integrity, or provide a seamless switchover to a backup time code signal should a master time code signal
fail.
The TCP-50 consists of a SMPTE longitudinal Time Code Reader (TCR) and a SMPTE longitudinal Time Code Generator
(TCG) which operate together to perform the various translation functions. The TCP-50 has a time code input for the TCR
and a time code output from the TCG. There is also a composite video input to lock the TCG time code to a video reference
("genlock"), and to overlay the video with the TCR and TCG time code numbers or various TCP-50 operational setup
menus.
The TCP-50 also allows user entry up to 9 lines of 20 characters each of source ID or other alphanumeric titling
information.
All of the TCP-50 setup information, operating mode selection, and titling information is saved in a battery backed up, non-
volatile memory, and restored at power up.
1.1 Word and Acronym Definitions
Word and acronym definitions used in this manual are defined below:
DF Drop Frame time code - A 30FPS time code numbering system consisting of hours, minutes, seconds, and
frames (HR:MN:SC:FR) running at the slightly slower frame rate of 29.97FPS rate causes the "real" time
indicated by the numbers to also run slightly slower, gradually falling behind real time to accumulate an
error of about 3 1/2 seconds an hour.
To correct this error in real time, some frame numbers are "skipped" or "dropped" from the expected
numbering sequence. The formula is that at the start of each minute, except for a new tens of minute, the
frame number sequence progresses from frame number 29 to frame number 02, rather than from frame
number 29 to frame number 00. This skipping ahead by 2 frame numbers a minute causes the time code
time to match that of real time.
EBU European Broadcast Union - European standards setting organization.
FPS Frames-Per-Second of video, film, or time code.
23.976FPS - video "film" camera frame rate proportionally slowed to match 29.97FPS video rate
24FPS - film speed frame rate.
25FPS - European PAL television frame rate.
29.97FPS US NTSC color television frame rate.
29.97DF - "Drop frame" time code that matches US television frame rate as well as real time.
29.97NDF - "Non-drop frame time code that matches US television frame rate but whose time value runs
slower than real time.
30FPS - US television BW frame rate.
Freerun Not locked to a reference.
Genlock To lock signals together such that one is a timing reference for the other. For example, to lock time code
generation to a video reference so that each frame of time code is generated in exact synchronism with
each video frame.
Jam, jamming, To preset a time code generator to the same time as a time jammed code reader to cause the
generated time code to be the same as the read time code.
LTC Longitudinal (or Linear) Time Code - time code that has a frequency range that allows it to be recorded
on an audio recorder or the audio track of a video recorder. Generally, longitudinal refers to being

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recorded on a continuous path along the length of the tape, rather than on "tracks" via a spinning head as
video is recorded.
See "TC"
NDF Non-Drop Frame time code - time code that does not skip frame numbers 00 and 01 at the start of each
minute, but then whose time does not match that of real time.
NTSC National Television Systems Committee - US standards setting organization.
SMPTE Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers - US standards setting organization.
TC Time Code - An electronic timing signal consisting of two audio tones that represent binary ones and
zeros which are then in turn used to encode a unique number for a each frame of video or film.
Instead of simply numbering the frames starting from 1 and proceeding on up, the frames are numbered
with an hours, minutes, seconds, frame value. This is so that, as long as there are an exact number of
frames in a second (no fractional number of frames in a second), the resulting frame number is also a
number that matches real time. This is convenient for editing television and film.
See "LTC"
TCR Time Code Reader - reads and decodes SMPTE longitudinal time code.
TCG Time Code Generator - generates SMPTE longitudinal time code.
UB User Bits - Extra "user" information embedded within the hours, minutes, and seconds of the actual time
code numbers.
2 FEATURES
•Four separate setup screens containing five menus for DISPLAY, TIMECODE, TCR ERR ANALYZER, USERBIT,
and SYSTEM setup provide simple and easy user selection of character attributes such as size, position, black/white,
etc., time code and user bit values, translation modes, monitoring of time code reading errors, and selection of video
standard.
•Time Code Reader (TCR) portion of the TCP-50 reads SMPTE/EBU Longitudinal Time Code (LTC) at frame rates of
23.976FPS (Frames-Per-Second) 24FPS, 25FPS, drop and non-drop frame 29.97FPS, and 30FPS, at play speed +/-
20%.
•TCR "Auto FPS" detect mode automatically detects 24, 25, 29.97 drop frame and 30FPS frame rates. Other frame
rates can be manually set.
•TCR can display a video overlay of the time code and/or user bit numbers.
•TCR "Error Analyzer" displays six 4-digit counter values for time code reading errors due to loss of the TCR input
signal, a bad time code "sync" pattern, a bad FPS value, a drop/non-drop frame error, an invalid time code number, or
an invalid time code sequence.
•TCR Error Analyzer also features a time code/video phase meter display which shows the timing relationship between
the TCR time code signal input and the video signal input. This is useful to determine if and at what point the time
code is locked to the incoming video or if the time code is free-running.
•TCG can video overlay display the SMPTE/EBU Longitudinal Time Code (LTC) output.
•TCG can generate time code at 23.976FPS, 24FPS, 25FPS, 29.97FPS DF (Drop Frame), 29.97FPS Non-Drop Frame,
and 30FPS (non-drop frame), with a freerun accuracy of +/- 1 frame-per-hour.
•TCG can manually or automatically "Jam" (preset) to the TCR time code input value.

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•A TCG automatic Jam can be set to take place if the time difference between the TCR and TCG time code values
exceeds a user settable value of from zero seconds and frames to over 59 seconds and 29 frames.
•TCG can be set to "freerun" or to "genlock" (phase lock) the generated time code to incoming video or to the TCR time
code input.
•When transcoding between any combination of frame rates of 24FPS, 25FPS, and 30FPS, or between 23.976 and
29.97 non-drop frame, the TCG can be set to genlock to the TCR time code so that although the frame rates are
different, each second of the time codes occur at the same time.
•TCG can be set to run continuously after once being started, or to start and stop in response to the input time code
being read.
•A special TCG Auto Jam/Genlock setup mode automatically sets up the TCP-50 for an optimum Jam type, Jam error
tolerance, and genlock mode according to the TCR and TCG frame rate selections.
•TCG time code output can be offset from the TCR input time code by positive or negative values from 1-frame up to a
23:59:59:29 time value.
•The TCG "user bit" portion of the generated time code can be set to match that of the TCR input or can be set to
substitute manually entered values for each of the eight (8) "nibbles" of the generated user bits.
•TCR and TCG Video overlay displays can be set as black or white characters, with or without a background, with size
selectable between four horizontal and four vertical values.
•The nine lines of the video overlay display can be automatically numbered (and unnumbered) from 1-9 for easier
placing of time code or source ID information on the screen.
•Front panel LED blinks to indicate time code is being read and video is present.
•Operates from a small AC power adapter, which is included, or can be operated in the field from 9-to-14 volts DC
battery power.
•Available in desktop (TCP-50), Rackmount (RM-50/TCP), Rackmount Add On (AO-50/TCP) or Shortrack (SR-
50/TCP) models.
3 CONNECTING
3.1 Connecting Power
Included with your TCP-50 is an AC power adapter that provides a 9 volt, 500 milliamperes DC output. This adapter is
equipped with a miniature phone plug with the "+" (positive) voltage output connected to the front tip of the plug.
Insert the power plug into the TCP-50 "+9V POWER" connector and plug the adapter into 110-120 volt, 60-Hz AC power.
WARNING:
ELECTRICALLY OPERATED PRODUCT
As with all electrical products, precautions should be observed during handling and use to prevent electrical shock.
NOTE:
Make sure the plug is inserted all the way into the power connector or else damage to the power adapter may result. The
TCP-50 has internal protection circuitry to prevent it from being damaged should the wrong polarity of power be applied.
However, do not use an adapter of more than 9 volts at 500 milliamperes or damage to the TCP-50 may result.

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3.2 Operating From Battery Power
You can operate your TCP-50 from battery power in order to use it in the field to process time code or add source Id or
other titling information.
The TCP-50 can be operated from 9-to-14 volts DC, obtained either from a conventional 12 volt video camera battery or
other DC source.
3.3 Connecting Video IN and OUT
Figure 3-1 shows a basic hookup for the TCP-50 when used with a typical video source and a video recorder or monitor.
Video OUT IN Video
IN Video
SOURCE TCP-50 VIDEO REC.VIDEO/TC
OR MONITOR
Video OUT
IN TC
IN TC
TC OUT
TC OUT
Figure 3-1, Basic TCP-50 Hookup
Connect video from the video source to the BNC connector labeled VIDEO IN on the TCP-50. Connect VIDEO OUT from
the TCP-50 to downstream video equipment such as video monitors or video recorders, as desired.
When the TCP-50 is powered up, the VIDEO IN input is terminated at 75 Ohms. When powered off, video is looped
directly from VIDEO IN to VIDEO OUT, bypassing the TCP-50.
3.4 Connecting Time Code IN and OUT
Connect time code from the time code source to the RCA connector labeled TC IN on the TCP-50. Connect TC OUT from
the TCP-50 to the downstream equipment as desired.
4 OPERATING
To operate the TCP-50, connect video and time code in and out, apply power, and set the POWER switch to ON. A red
LED above the power switch lights steady on or begins flashing when the TCP-50 is powered up.
When the TCP-50 is first powered up, its operation returns to that which was selected when the TCP-50 was last powered
down. The POSITION and CHAR switches operate to provide quick and convenient control of the horizontal and vertical
position of the display, without going through any "menu" operations.
4.1 Front Panel Switches
There are four toggle type switches on the front panel, labeled POWER, MODE, POSITION, and CHAR. Operation of
each of these switches is described in the following paragraphs.
4.2 POWER Switch
The power switch turns TCP-50 power on and off. A red LED located above the power switch lights to indicate power is on
and also blinks at different rates to indicate presence of the time code and video inputs as described in more detail in later
paragraphs.
4.3 MODE Switch
The MODE switch is a three position momentary action switch used to select and control the basic operate/setup modes of
the TCP. The center position of the switch is off and the switch can be actuated to either DISPLAY or SETUP positions.
When the MODE switch is first actuated to SETUP, the TCP-50 switches into SETUP mode and the previously selected
setup menu and menu item are displayed. Thereafter, each time SETUP is selected the TCP-50 selects a different setup
menu.

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There are four setup screens and five setup menus titled: DISPLAY SETUP, TIMECODE SETUP, TCR ERR
ANALYZER, USERBIT SETUP, and SYSTEM SETUP.
When actuated to DISPLAY from SETUP, the TCP-50 displays a video overlay of the TCR and TCG time code times
and/or user bit values, if enabled via an associated menu selection, as well as any source ID information entered for display.
4.4 POSITION Switch
The POSITION switch is a three position momentary action switch labeled with left/right and up/down arrows. This switch
is used to select various menu items when the TCP-50 is in SETUP mode, or to select the screen position for a character
when entering data in DISPLAY mode.
4.5 CHAR Switch
The CHAR (character) switch is a three position momentary action switch labeled PREV/NEXT and is used to change a
selected menu item's value when in SETUP mode, for example Y/N, ON/OFF, etc., or to select a specific character when
entering data in DISPLAY mode.
4.6 TCP-50 Mode Flow Diagram Explanation
Figure 4-1 shows how operation of the TCP-50 changes as the MODE switch is actuated between DISPLAY and SETUP.
The down arrow means that the MODE switch is actuated down to SETUP, the up arrow means that the switch is actuated
up to DISPLAY.
The diagram shows that, for example, if the TCP-50 was displaying source ID information, actuating the MODE switch to
SETUP would cause the TCP-50 to display a SETUP menu, while actuating the switch to DISPLAY would cause the
display to turn off.
UP arrow = DISPLAY
DOWN arrow = SETUP
Insert/Del Spaces
Enter Title Information
Title Display OFF (DOWN arrow)
Title Display ON
Setup Menu Display ON
(Auto return to SETUP display)
Next SETUP Menu
Figure 4-1, TCP-50 Mode Flow Diagram
4.7 LED Operation
The front panel LED blinks at different rates to provide indication of TCP-50 operation. This is shown in Table 4-1.
LED Condition Meaning
OFF Power off
Steady ON Video present, no time code
Slow blink, 1-sec. ON/OFF No video present
Fast blink ON/OFF Reading time code
Combination Slow/Fast blink Reading time code, no video
Table 4-1, TCP-50 LED Operation

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4.8 Entering and Exiting the Setup Menus
The setup menus allow selection of various display and character attributes, operating modes and functions, entering user
bit data, and error monitoring.
To display the setup menus, toggle the MODE switch to SETUP and release. Depending on the actual mode that the TCP-
50 is operating in, you may have to toggle the switch a few times to enter a setup menu.
The selected item on the setup menu is indicated by it "flashing" on and off, and the POSITION and CHAR switches now
serve to select and change the flashing menu item.
To exit the setup mode, actuate the MODE switch to DISPLAY and release.
4.9 Selecting Different Setup Menu Items
Menu items are selected via the POSITION switch. Flashing of the menu selection moves on to the next item each time the
POSITION switch is actuated and released. Actuating the switch down causes the selection to move to the right and down,
actuating the switch up causes the reverse action. Holding the POSITION switch actuated causes quick scanning through
the menu items.
Generally, user selectable and changeable items are preceded by a colon “:” character. Menu items or values that result
from internal TCP-50 calculations or automatically selected items are preceded by an equal “=” character.
4.10 Changing the Selected Menu Item
This section contains a detailed description of each setup menu, each setup menu item, and the specific operation of the
TCP-50 for each item selection option.
After a menu item is selected, the choices available for that item are accessed via the CHAR switch. Actuating the CHAR
switch down or up scans forward or backward through the choices available. Holding the switch actuated causes automatic
scanning through the choices.
4.11 "DISPLAY SETUP" Menu
A typical DISPLAY SETUP menu appears on the TCP-50 screen as follows:
*DISPLAY SETUP*
CHAR:WHT BACK: ON
SIZE H:1X V:2X
POSITION H:17 V:30
CLR SCR:N SYS RST:N
NUMBER LINES 1-9: N
TCR/TCG SELECT: TCR
TC DSP: ON POS:L8
UB DSP:OFF POS:L6
The following paragraphs provide a detailed explanation of each of the DISPLAY SETUP menu items.
ITEM FUNCTION SELECTIONS
CHAR Selects character “color” . WHT = white characters
BLK = black characters
BACK Selects character ON = background is on
background. OFF = background is off
SIZE Character Horizontal
and Vertical size.
H (Horizontal) 1X = 1 time (1.0 H pixels)
2X = 2 times (2.0 H pixels)
3X = 3 times (3.0 H pixels)
4X = 4 times (4.0 H pixels)
V (Vertical) 1X = 1 time (7 H lines)