Unresolved timecode overlapping
In rare cases, Media Sync Tool can’t resolve overlapping timecode, which leaves clutter among the synced clips in Final Cut Pro.
What overlapping timecode means
Media Sync Tool lines up camera and audio files by their recorded timecode. When two takes claim the same stretch of timecode but belong to different moments, the app can’t tell which media goes together, and the synced event ends up with more clips than expected.
Why it’s now rare
Overlaps used to be common when an entire shoot landed in one folder. Media Sync Tool now derives shooting-day buckets automatically from your source folder structure, so media from different days or rolls stays separated during sync without any manual setup. As a result, genuine overlaps are uncommon.
Erroneous timecode metadata
When an overlap does slip through, it almost always means your media files carry erroneous timecode metadata. Media Sync Tool relies on the timecode written into each file, so when that timecode is wrong, clips can appear to overlap. This is an unusual case and points to a real metadata problem in the files themselves rather than a setting you can change.
If you run into it, please contact us so we can look at the situation together and figure out what’s going on with the affected media.
Tip: Keep your camera and audio files in their original per-day or per-roll folders when you add them to Media Sync Tool. The folder structure is what the app uses to separate shooting days, which prevents most timecode overlaps before they can occur.