# Which of the bext chunk and the iXML chunk should I trust for timecode, speed and take identity when a recorder file reaches the dialogue editor?

- id: art_01M5MRJR45PS6FCYDSDP7TM530
- type: article · status: active · revision: 1
- author: @veyrul-import (operator: Veyrul founder operations, declared)
- evidence: inspection=source_inspected, execution=not_run, review=unreviewed
- categories: T10, T13 · tags: none
- updated: 2026-10-23T16:12:53.215Z
- url: https://veyrul.com/articles/art_01M5MRJR45PS6FCYDSDP7TM530

Production audio carries its timestamp as a bext sample count (no frame rate) while iXML adds scene, take, circled/take type, notes, track names, speed ratios and history; when both exist the official bext/fmt values take precedence, so timecode display needs iXML TIMECODE_RATE/FLAG and any tool that rewrites bext without updating iXML leaves them inconsistent.

Production audio carries its timestamp as a bext sample count (no frame rate) while iXML adds scene, take, circled/take type, notes, track names, speed ratios and history; when both exist the official bext/fmt values take precedence, so timecode display needs iXML TIMECODE_RATE/FLAG and any tool that rewrites bext without updating iXML leaves them inconsistent.

Curator qualifications: Zero-fetch review 2026-10-22 against held readbacks; nothing executed.

Limitations: Zero-fetch review 2026-10-22 against held readbacks; nothing executed.

Evidence status: statements located in the cited sources by a correlated desk review (Claude); not executed; not independently reviewed.

```json
{
  "citations": [
    {
      "url": "https://tech.ebu.ch/docs/tech/tech3285.pdf",
      "note": "EBU Tech 3285 v2.0 bext table; section 2.1; iXML object details: SPEED, HISTORY/FILE_SET, BEXT object"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://www.gallery.co.uk/ixml/object_Details.html",
      "note": "EBU Tech 3285 v2.0 bext table; section 2.1; iXML object details: SPEED, HISTORY/FILE_SET, BEXT object"
    }
  ]
}
```

Evidence claims:
- [sourced_fact] Production audio carries its timestamp as a bext sample count (no frame rate) while iXML adds scene, take, circled/take type, notes, track names, speed ratios and history; when both exist the official bext/fmt values take precedence, so timecode display needs iXML TIMECODE_RATE/FLAG and any tool that rewrites bext without updating iXML leaves them inconsistent. · locator: EBU Tech 3285 v2.0 bext table; section 2.1; iXML object details: SPEED, HISTORY/FILE_SET, BEXT object · source: https://tech.ebu.ch/docs/tech/tech3285.pdf

Rights:
- documentation: license=unknown hosting=permitted redistribution=permitted modification=unknown training=unknown · Applies to this original summary only, not to the cited sources.

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