How to Add a SMPTE Timecode Track to Your Show Audio File

This document is designed to assist you in integrating a SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers) timecode track into your show audio file. Utilizing Audacity, a free and user-friendly audio editing software, this support article will guide you through modifying your audio file.

Transforming a Stereo Track into Mono and Placing it on the Left Channel

1. Open Your Stereo Track in Audacity:

   • Launch Audacity.
   • Drag and drop your stereo audio file into the Audacity window, or use File > Open to locate and open the file.

2. Split the Stereo Track:

   • Click on the name of the track to open the drop-down menu.
   • Select Split Stereo to Mono. This will split your stereo track into two separate mono tracks.

3. Delete the Right Channel:

   • Identify the right channel track (usually the bottom one).
   • Click the X on the top left corner of the track to delete it, leaving only the left channel.

4. Change the Remaining Mono Track to Play on the Left Channel:

   • Click on the name of the remaining track to open the drop-down menu.
   • Select Mono Left Channel.

Adding a SMPTE Timecode Track on the Right Channel

1. Import or Generate SMPTE Timecode:

   • If you have a SMPTE timecode audio file, import it using File > Import > Audio.
   • If you need to generate a SMPTE timecode, you can use a timecode generator software or the SMPTE template file and then import the generated file into Audacity. COBRA supports the 30FPS SMPTE format.

2. Set the SMPTE Track to Play on the Right Channel:

   • Click on the name of the SMPTE track to open the drop-down menu.
   • Select Mono Right Channel.

3. Aligning Tracks (Optional):

   • Use the Time Shift tool (two arrows icon) to align the start of both tracks if needed.

Exporting Your Audio

1. Select Both Tracks:

   • Hold down Shift and click on both tracks to select them.

2. Export the Combined Track:

   • Go to File > Export > Export as WAV (or your preferred format).
   • Choose your file destination and click Save.

3. Finalize the Export:

   • Fill in any metadata if needed and click OK.

Conclusion

The result is a single audio file where the original mono audio plays on the left channel, and the SMPTE timecode track plays on the right channel. If you need any further assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to our support team.