Timecode Management
CENSOR EX preserves the timecode information associated with the incoming media, allowing operators to maintain accurate synchronization between the delayed content and the original live signal.
The Timecode is used throughout the censorship workflow for media synchronization, timeline navigation, and editing operations.
Timecode Sources
The system supports the following timecode sources:
• Embedded Timecode: The preferred method, where the timecode is embedded directly in the incoming video signal.
• System Timecode: When an embedded timecode is not available, the system can generate a timecode based on the workstation system clock.
Note → Using an embedded timecode is recommended whenever available, as it provides greater synchronization accuracy throughout the censorship workflow.
Embedded Timecode
When the incoming source provides embedded timecode, the Time Delay Service automatically preserves this information while recording the media.
The Live Censorship Service and the CENSOR EX desktop application use the recorded timecode to maintain synchronization between the delayed media, the editing timeline, and the final on-air output.
System-Generated Timecode
If the incoming source does not provide embedded timecode, CENSOR EX can operate using a timecode generated from the workstation system clock.
Although this method allows normal system operation, its accuracy depends on the synchronization of the workstation clock. For this reason, it is recommended to synchronize all workstations using a reliable time source, such as an NTP server.
Best Practices
For reliable operation, Etere recommends:
• Using embedded timecode whenever it is available.
• Synchronizing all CENSOR EX workstations with the same time source.
• Verifying that the detected timecode is consistent throughout the acquisition and censorship workflow before starting live operations.