Timeline...2 secs before 0min0sec

[Boe Larsen]

I'm scoring a TV spot.
I've done 2 negative bars at the start as a count in before bar with "Identify beat".
How do I do the same with Min:Secs. That is - at 120bpm I want 4 negative secs before 0min0secs.

In session settings I got my usual 1hrs session start time, so Im not trying to go into "yesterday"...

Boe

[studiostuff]

I use time code as my Main Locator scheme. Then I set the start of the session time to be 00:59:56:00 (if you want 4 seconds or 2 bars at 120 bpm). (Apple key + 2) Then I start the music at Bar 3, Beat 1 which will occur at TC 01:00:00:00. Obviously, if you are working at another tempo with your music, you start your session at the time location that will give you two bars before the band begins. I also set the timing so that if the track begins with pick-up notes before the down beat of bar three... the location of the first pick-up note is TC 01:00:00:00 when the spot begins.

Also, normally, I get spots with more than a 4 second pre-roll. Usually, a minute or so of pre-roll which will contain color bars, a slate containing spot #, director, post house info and etc. Finally, at ten seconds in front of the program start (at TC 00:59:50:00), there is some sort of count down display (10, 9, 8 etc...) Until at two seconds before the spot starts (TC 00:59:58:00) there is a 2-pop or white frame.

I usually also request a TC burn-in window which visually reinforces my PT settings.

Hope that helps.