Timecode support? Davinci Resolve integration?

provanguard · November 24, 2024, 8:51pm

I have wav files recorded using Røde Wireless Pro microphones. The files contain timecode information stored as metadata. I would like to edit the wav files in SpectraLayers and then be able to save the files while retaining the timecode metadata. How to do it?

I use Davinci Resolve Studio to edit video+audio. The integration with SpectraLayers is currently broken, so the only way for me to use SpectraLayers would be to edit the wav files prior to editing the video+audio. And for this, I need the timecode to be preserved.

Here is the full metadata for my wav files, exported using exiftool:

---- ExifTool ----
ExifTool Version Number : 12.97
---- File ----
File Name : 00001_WP1.WAV
Directory : .
File Size : 19 MB
File Modification Date/Time : 2024:11:19 19:42:42+01:00
File Access Date/Time : 2024:11:24 22:02:08+01:00
File Creation Date/Time : 2024:11:24 17:42:12+01:00
File Permissions : -rw-rw-rw-
File Type : WAV
File Type Extension : wav
MIME Type : audio/x-wav
---- RIFF ----
Encoding : Microsoft IEEE float
Num Channels : 1
Sample Rate : 48000
Avg Bytes Per Sec : 192000
Bits Per Sample : 32
Description : rFWVER=1.3.1…rSPEED=029.970-ND…
Originator : RODE Wireless PRO
Originator Reference :
Date/Time Original : 0024:11:19 19:41:07
Time Reference : 3404935899
BWF Version : 1
BWF UMID : 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Cue Points : (Binary data 4 bytes, use -b option to extract)
---- XML ----
Bwfxml Ixml Version : 1.52
Bwfxml Speed Master Speed : 29.97002997003
Bwfxml Speed Current Speed : 29.97002997003
Bwfxml Speed Timecode Flag : NDF
Bwfxml Speed Timecode Rate : 29.97002997003
Bwfxml Speed File Sample Rate : 48000
Bwfxml Speed Audio Bit Depth : 32
Bwfxml Speed Digitizer Sample Rate: 48000
Bwfxml Speed Timestamp Samples Since Midnight Hi: 0
Bwfxml Speed Timestamp Samples Since Midnight Lo: 3404935899
Bwfxml Speed Timestamp Sample Rate: 48000
Bwfxml Bext Bwf Description : rFWVER=1.3.1…rSPEED=029.970-ND…
Bwfxml Bext Bwf Originator : RODE Wireless PRO
Bwfxml Bext Bwf Originator Reference:
Bwfxml Bext Bwf Origination Date: 0024-11-19
Bwfxml Bext Bwf Origination Time: 19:41:07
Bwfxml Bext Bwf Time Reference Low: 3404935899
Bwfxml Bext Bwf Time Reference High: 0
Bwfxml Bext Bwf Version : 1.0
---- Composite ----
Duration : 0:01:37

provanguard · November 25, 2024, 7:04pm

Is there anyone who can reply to my question/case?

Joey_Kapish · November 25, 2024, 9:15pm

Under the project tab you can use either Time markers and Regions or Spectral Markers and Regions. Then right click (anywhere on the spectragraph/spectrogram and select Snap to Grid and Markers.

See reply above!

provanguard · November 25, 2024, 9:31pm

I don’t understand how the options you described solve the issue I reported.
I open a wav file in SpectraLayers which contains timecode metadata (see my first post). I would like to edit the file and save it with the original timecode metadata.

Joey_Kapish · November 25, 2024, 9:43pm

@provanguard

Yes! I use Davinchi too but the integration between Spectralayers and Davinchi is simply horrible so I offered to help with an alternative.

You might have to manually save the time markers as a project and that will be an alternative way of achieving what you want.

provanguard · November 25, 2024, 9:54pm

My knowledge in SpectraLayers is still limited. Could you tell me more how the time markers can be used in this use case?

Joey_Kapish · November 26, 2024, 11:00am

@provanguard

Because this is one of those particular cases where all parties involved(Steingberg, Blackmagic) are at fault, I’ll let @Robin_Lobel explain further.

Robin_Lobel · November 26, 2024, 4:22pm

Hi @provanguard Davinci Resolve not updating files edited by SpectraLayers is a known issue, I have sent messages to the Davinci Resolve team to explain the issue in hope they will fix it (Resolve does no check the modification date of the file, instead it check for changes in the creation date, which is a mistake).

Regarding loading/saving time code metadata, it’s coming with patch 5 of SpectraLayers in 2 weeks. NB: timecode will be saved through the standard ISMP RIFF tag, since SL can’t write BWF metadata yet.

ctreitzell · November 26, 2024, 4:23pm

fantastic!

provanguard · November 26, 2024, 5:53pm

@Robin_Lobel
It is great news about the timecode. Will this other method you mentioned be recognizable in Resolve the same way like with the metadata method I pasted in the first post?
Are the current discounts going to continue for some time, or are they only for this week?

Puma0382 · November 26, 2024, 6:33pm

SB website says the current ‘Cyber Deals’ end on Dec 11th 2024… Is that what you were referring to.?

Robin_Lobel · November 28, 2024, 3:56pm

@provanguard After some tests I just changed it so that the timecode metadata in patch 5 is now properly saved as BWF metadata, so it’s compatible with DaVinci Resolve, Nuendo, Cubase, WaveLab and others.

provanguard · November 29, 2024, 2:22pm

@Robin_Lobel Will you share some hints how to save the wav files after editing to maintain the original timecode metadata?

Robin_Lobel · November 29, 2024, 3:05pm

It’s automatic, you don’t have to do anything.
When SpectraLayers (11.0.50) loads a wav file that contains a timecode, that timecode is stored in the project metadata, which you can see in Project > Metadata. The timecode is the value at the end called “Time Reference”:

That time reference value is the number of audio samples since midnight before the actual audio starts. So a project at 48Khz starting 1 second after midnight will have a value of 48000.
When you save the wav file, that Time Reference metadata will be stored as well in the wav file, along with the other metadata.
And that value is read and converted accordingly by Nuendo, Cubase, Resolve, and other applications.

provanguard · November 29, 2024, 3:26pm

@Robin_Lobel
Will the metadata be included in both Export Mixdown and Export Layers?

If I export a time slice from within the original file, will the exported metadata be adjusted to match the start time of the slice?

provanguard · November 29, 2024, 3:31pm

In Acoustica, they show the timecode information on the bottom and the timeline at the top is starting from the start of the timecode. This is neat.

But, for some reason they don’t export the timecode. So with the upcoming patch you are getting a nice competitive advantage right there

provanguard · November 29, 2024, 3:34pm

@Robin_Lobel
For completeness, below I include the metadata from my newly acquired Tascam FR-AV2 recorder. I hope it will work the same way like for the Røde.

---- ExifTool ----
ExifTool Version Number : 13.03
---- File ----
File Name : 241126_0005-1.wav
Directory : .
File Size : 898 MB
File Modification Date/Time : 2024:11:26 16:15:02+01:00
File Access Date/Time : 2024:11:29 16:32:25+01:00
File Creation Date/Time : 2024:11:27 22:48:10+01:00
File Permissions : -rw-rw-rw-
File Type : WAV
File Type Extension : wav
MIME Type : audio/x-wav
---- RIFF ----
Description :
Originator : TASCAM PCM Recoder FR-AV2
Originator Reference :
Date/Time Original : 2024:11:26 16:15:02
Time Reference : 9536170
BWF Version : 1
BWF UMID : 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Coding History :
Cue Points : (Binary data 2380 bytes, use -b option to extract)
Cue Point Label : 1
Cue Point Label : 2
Cue Point Label : 3
Cue Point Label : 4
Cue Point Label : 5
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Cue Point Label : 95
Cue Point Label : 96
Cue Point Label : 97
Cue Point Label : 98
Cue Point Label : 99
Encoding : Microsoft IEEE float
Num Channels : 1
Sample Rate : 96000
Avg Bytes Per Sec : 384000
Bits Per Sample : 32
---- XML ----
Bwfxml Ixml Version : 1.5
Bwfxml Project :
Bwfxml Scene : 241126
Bwfxml Take : 0005
Bwfxml Tape : 20241126
Bwfxml Circled : FALSE
Bwfxml File Uid : TASAV22024112616150202100000001
Bwfxml Ubits : 00000000
Bwfxml Note :
Bwfxml User : Recorder : FR-AV2 1.02 build 0069
Bwfxml Speed Timecode Flag : NDF
Bwfxml Speed Timecode Rate : 29.97002997003
Bwfxml Speed File Sample Rate : 96000
Bwfxml Speed Audio Bit Depth : 32
Bwfxml Speed Digitizer Sample Rate: 96000
Bwfxml Speed Timestamp Samples Since Midnight Hi: 0
Bwfxml Speed Timestamp Samples Since Midnight Lo: 9536170
Bwfxml Speed Timestamp Sample Rate: 96000
Bwfxml Track List Track Count : 1
Bwfxml Track List Track Channel Index: 1
Bwfxml Track List Track Interleave Index: 1
Bwfxml Track List Track Name :
Bwfxml History Original Filename: 241126_0005-1.wav
Bwfxml File Set Total Files : 1
Bwfxml File Set Family Uid : TASAV2202411261615020210000
Bwfxml File Set File Set Index : 1
---- Composite ----
Duration : 0:38:58

Robin_Lobel · November 29, 2024, 5:14pm

Both Export Mixdown, Export Layers and any other action that would output a wav file will embed that metadata yes.

No it’s just basic time reference load/save, there’s no timecode adjustment mechanism yet. But I’m taking note of that request (might be for SL12 though, so that feature is properly planned and integrated).