A fifth analog audio track is available for cueing, and a linear timecode track is also used on the tape.

Linear timecode (LTC)

The sound of linear timecode is a jarring and distinctive noise and has been used as a sound-effects shorthand to imply 'telemetry' or 'computers'.

Three longitudinal audio tracks are recorded on the tape as well: two audio and one Linear timecode (LTC) track.

The advantage of both VITC and CTL timecode is that a precious audio track does not have to be sacrificed for linear timecode.

A special bit in the linear timecode frame, the 'biphase mark correction' bit, ensures that there are an even number of AC transitions in each timecode frame.

As a practical matter, VITC can be more 'frame-accurate' than Linear timecode (LTC), particularly at very slow tape speeds on analog formats.

Linear timecode, a.k.a. "longitudinal timecode" and "LTC" (pronounced "lit-see"): suitable to be recorded on an audio channel, or by audio wires.

VITC contains the same payload as SMPTE linear timecode frame embedded in a new frame structure with extra synchronization bits and an error-detection checksum.

In general it is not possible to know the linear timecode (LTC) of the current frame until the frame has already gone by, by which time it is too late to make an edit.

The RC timecode is a different technology than the SMPTE timecode, Linear timecode (LTC), and Vertical interval timecode (VITC).