Add Timestamp to Video

[rschildt]

I'm search for an easy way to add a timestamp (Date/Time) to some video taken with a GoPro Hero4 Silver. I'm used to being able to turn this option "on" by going into the cameras settings/menu and enabling the feature. But the GoPro's don't have this as an option. So I need to find a way to do this externally during processing. I've heard the full Adobe Premiere has this as a Video Effect, but I guess it's not available in PrE. I then found a plug-in that works to do this called DVdate. However, I can't get it to work in PrE 13 (it does work in 12 - see attached screen capture), but it only works with AVI's brought in that came from DV tapes. I tried it on the MP4 from the GoPro, and although I could manually set the time (don't think the date will work) it doesn't automatically grab the date/time info from the files metadata (even though mediainfo shows the correct "Shot Date").

Any ideas how to easily accomplish this? I'd like to use PrE 11/12/13, since I have those at my disposal, but would also be willing to look at other options.

[Steve Grisetti]

Premiere Elements doesn't have a tool to do this.

However you may want to look into a program called DV Date, which I believe can add data to your video.
http://paul.glagla.free.fr/dvdate_en.htm

Also, FWIW, CyberLink PowerDirector Ultra has a built-in tool for adding time stamps to video.

[Chuck Engels]

DVDate works great, I've used it lots of times

[Chuck Engels]

I was sure that you could export an AVI file that just contained date/time. Export the timecode AVI and add it to your video as a separate video overlay. Unless it is something else I'm thinking about?

I did find some timecode files you can download http://www.mediacollege.com/downloads/video/timecode/

I'm sure that I've used some kind of timecode generator in the past, just can't think of what ...

[Chuck Engels]

I do remember using the timecode generator from this site. Exports a AVI file of various types of timecode that you can add to any video.

http://www.2writers.com/download.htm

[Chuck Engels]

I tried the frame generator from 2writers.com again and can't get it to produce a readable AVI file. Not sure if it is a Windows 7 problem or something else. I'm sure there are other timecode generators out there.

[rschildt]

Thanks for all the suggestions so far. I'll look at these standalone programs & external sites.

The DVdate plug-in I found (as opposed to the dvdate program Steve mentioned) is from:

http://www.dvdate.ru

This plugin is everything I want, but only works on media read in from DV tape (like my old Canon video camera). I e-mailed the author to see if he's planning to update this for PrE 13. Currently it's supported in Premiere Pro CS5, CS5.5 & CS6 and Premiere Elements 2,3,4,7,9,10,11 & 12. But if I can't get it to work in PrE 13 and work with other file formats (by reading the shot date in the metadata), then I'll have to look at something else.

I was sure that you could export an AVI file that just contained date/time. Export the timecode AVI and add it to your video as a separate video overlay. Unless it is something else I'm thinking about?

Chuck....This sounds interesting. Can you try to remember what / how you do this? This would work perfect if it could be done inside PrE.

[Chuck Engels]

I am sure it was the Timecode Frame Generator from this site http://www.2writers.com/download.htm
Tried to get it to work yesterday but may have a problem with Windows 7, last time I used it was on an XP machine. Give it a try and see if it will work for you. Will need to crop the resulting AVI and Key out the background color. It is a very simple program and should only take a few minutes to see if it will work for you or not.

[Dave McElderry]

I used the Timecode Frame Generator in a project a few years ago with Windows 7 so I went back to see if I could still get it to work, which it does. Here's the little test project I created, with some screen captures to help you get started. If this works then you can adjust as necessary for your project and needs.

Size and frame rate. I used 8 bit, but for simple colors 4 bit would probably work and save a little on file size.

Frame Properties.jpg

Output format, start value and position:

SMPTE Properties.jpg

Background color:

Background color.jpg

Font style and color:

Font Properties.jpg

Timecode type:

Timecode type selection.jpg

Export settings. Note that this is where you set how long you want it to run:

Export Settings.jpg

A screen capture of the file running in Windows Media Player:

Output to AVI.jpg

[Chuck Engels]

Thanks Dave, good to know it is still working. Not sure what the problem is with mine ...