Date/Time FAQ: Hi8 Sony Camcorders with DATA CODE function and RC Timecode (RCTC)

Here are answers to common questions about Date and Time features in Hi8 camcorder models including a brief glossary to define our most used technical terms. We list all Hi8 Sony PAL and NTSC models that support the Data Code and RC Time Code function.

• Which Sony Hi8 Camcorder features does Hi8DateTime Require?
• What is the definition of the Sony Hi8 Camcorder Data Code function?
• What is the definition of the Rewriteable Consumer Time Code, RCTC or RC Time Code?
• Which NTSC Sony Models feature Data Code and the Rewritable Consumer Time Code, RCTC or RC Time Code?
• Which PAL Sony Models feature Data Code and the Rewritable Consumer Time Code, RCTC or RC Time Code?
• Are there other Sony Models that feature Data Code and the RC Time Code?
   

Which Sony Hi8 Camcorder features does Hi8DateTime Require?

The following Hi8 Camcorder features, present on certain high end prosumer Hi8 Sony models, are used by Hi8DateTime:

• DATA CODE function. Camcorders with the DATA CODE function  record the date (YYMMDD) and time (HH:MM:SS) when video taping so that you can later optionally show the date or time during play back in VTR mode by pressing the Date or Time buttons (or DATA CODE button) on your camcorder.

• Rewritable Consumer Time Code (RCTC or RC Time Code). Rewritable Consumer Time Code, RCTC and RC Time Code all mean the same thing. The Rewriteable Consumer Time Code is a frame accurate tape counter that is written in CAMERA mode starting at 00:00:00.00 at the beginning of the tape.

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What is the Definition of the Sony Hi8 Camcorder Data Code function?

• The Data Code function. Camcorders with DATA CODE function record the date (YYMMDD) and time (HH:MM:SS) when video taping so that you can later optionally show the date and/or time during play back in VTR mode by pressing the Date or Time buttons (or DATA CODE button) on your camcorder. Sony  defines "Displaying the Recording Date or Time - Data Code Function" as:

"even if you didn't record date or time, you can display the recording date or time (data code) on the TV during playback or editing. You can also display the data code inside the viewfinder and in the display window at the same time. Each time you press DATA CODE on the Remote Commander, the display changes as follows: Date -> Time ->No indicator".

These high end camcorders (except the CCD-TR101) also have a Date Search and Date Scan mode defined by Sony as "Searching the boundaries of recorded date":

"You can search for the boundary between recording dates using the Date Code automatically recorded on the tape. There are two modes:

• Search for the beginning of a specific date, and playing back from there (Date Search)
• Searching for the beginning of all days, one after another, playing back about 10 seconds of each (Date Scan)"

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What is the Definition of the Rewriteable Consumer Time Code, RCTC or RC Time Code?

• Rewritable Consumer Time Code (RCTC or RC Time Code). The Rewriteable Consumer Time Code is a frame accurate tape counter that is written in CAMERA mode starting at 00:00:00.00 In this 8mm video tape format, the  Index, RC Time Code, and Data Code (i.e. Date and Time) are also multiplexed to the same area. Because this area is written before the video section of each diagonal helical scan, it can be independently rewritten without overwriting the video + audio (Hi-Fi Stereo) (Standard Track). See Page 9 of Sony's CCD-V801 Operating Instructions for more details.

  These high end Hi8 camcorders (except the CCD-TR101) also have two related RC Time Code features:

   

  • the ability to display either the Normal Counter or the Time Code Counter read from the tape on the Viewfinder, Display Screen and TV. The difference is that the "Normal Counter" can be reset to 0 at any time and has lower accuracy during multiple tape transport operations, but the Time Code Counter is written with each frame. The Display does not show the frame count. Sony documents this under "tape counter" and "COUNTER<NORMAL/TIME CODE>".
  • the ability to write the RC Time Code on a recorded tape in VTR mode by pressing the TIME CODE WRITE button. This feature is primarily useful for various tape to tape editing operations, however a note on writing the RC time code warns that "If you write RC Time Code on a Recorded Tape, the DATA Code is erased". Consequently, Hi8DateTime cannot capture or log the date or time where the DATA Code has been inadvertently erased by the use of the TIME CODE WRITE feature.

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Which NTSC Sony Models feature Data Code and Rewritable Consumer Time Code, RCTC or RC Time Code?

Hi8 NTSC camcorder models with Data Code and RC Time Code. Hi8DateTime can capture, extract and log the date, time and tape counter from the list of Hi8 NTSC camcorder models in the table below as these Hi8 models support Data Code and RC Time Code. Read more about Data Code and RC Time Code features by downloading one of the Operating Instructions or search for Sony manuals at Sony's American Support Site.

General Notes:

(1) Date is publication date of Operating Instructions

(2) XR Camcorders display the recording date, recording time or the recording date and time.

(3) To download under Windows, right click on file name and chose "Save Target As ..."

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Which PAL Sony Models feature Data Code and Rewritable Consumer Time Code, RCTC or RC Time Code?

Hi8 PAL camcorder models with Data Code and RC Time Code. Hi8DateTime can capture, extract and log the date, time and tape counter from the Hi8 camcorder models  listed in the table below as these Hi8 models support Data Code and RC Time Code. Read more about Data Code and RC Time Code features by downloading one of the Operating Instructions or search for Sony manuals at Sony's UK Support Site.

General Notes:

(2) XR Camcorders display the recording date, recording time or the recording date and time.

(3) To download under Windows, right click on file name and chose "Save Target As ..."

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Are there other Sony Models that feature Data Code and RC TimeCode?

Other Sony camcorder models with Data Code and RC Time Code. There may be other Hi8 models that also support Data Code and RC Time Code.If you have further information please contact us.

References:

(1) http://www.octochron.com

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