Burnt-in timecode

BITC is sometimes used in conjunction with "real" machine-readable timecode but more often used in copies of original material onto a nonbroadcast format such as VHS so that the VHS copies can be traced back to their master tape and the original timecodes easily located.

The character function also displays the timecode on the preview monitors in linear editing suites.

Timecode can also be superimposed on video using a dedicated overlay device, often called a "window dub inserter".

Timecode is stored in the metadata areas of captured DV AVI files, and some software is able to "burn" (overlay) this into the video frames.

For example, DVMP Pro[1] is able to "burn" timecode or other items of DV metadata (such as date and time, iris, shutter speed, gain, white balance mode, etc.)