• Apple Final Cut Pro Legacy

  Multi-cam timecode via firewire

  Posted by Bob Root on January 9, 2009 at 1:12 am

  Hi all,

  Hopefully I can provide enough info to what is probably a simple newbie question.

  I have a project coming up in which I will be using multi-cam. All of the tapes (DVCam) will be sync locked with time of day timecode and the media will be captured onto my system from a Sony DSR1500A deck.

  Since I haven’t done this before, my biggest concern is that the timecode to media relationship is consistent across all of the camera angles I will be bringing in to FCP.

  I have a Black Magic HD Extreme card if I decide to go the route of component or SDI input, but from what I’ve researched it seems like firewire is simpler and lossless. Please feel free to correct me on this point if I’ve been reading the wrong posts.

  Thanks in advance for any help, experiences or suggestions you may have to guide me.

  Regards (and a Happy and Successful New Year to all) ,

  Bob

  Bob Root replied 17 years, 4 months ago 3 Members · 4 Replies
• 4 Replies

• 

  Mark Raudonis

  January 9, 2009 at 4:26 am

  [Bob Root] “from what I’ve researched it seems like firewire is simpler and lossless.”

  maybe, but less accurate and prone to “slipping frames” compared to the RS-422 control on your BM card. We’ve done this both ways and regardless, you should NOT assume that it’s going to be 100% frame accurate. If you’re going in FULL RESOLUTION, then you’ll have to adjust your multiclips to compensate. If you’re doing the classic “off-line to on-line workflow”, then you’ll have bigger problems. Always compare the off-line to the on-line shot by shot for frame accuracy and adjust accordingly. Therefore, when you uprez, use 10 frame handles to give you the room to adjust as necessary.

  Frankly, unless your cameras are hardwired or using a “Lokit Box”, you’re going to experience timecode drift anyway. I’m not trying to be cynical, just realistic.

  So… my advice is: use the BM card, NOT firewire. Speak with your production folks and ask them what their plan is for maintaining “sync timecode”. If they say “we’re going to “jam sync” at the begining of the shoot”, ask to be paid by the hour… with overtime! You’ll get rich off of their stupidity!

  Good luck.

  Mark
• 

  Herb Sevush

  January 9, 2009 at 4:11 pm

  Bob –

  I cut multi-cam all the time on FCP. Both SDI and firewire work fine. I have heard some people complain about firewire sync issues, but they have to do with basic audio sync on a clip, not between cameras. I prefer the rs 422 control and stability of SDI input but you should be fine either way. If the cameras were set up properly you will have no problems. If the cameras weren’t sunk properly there’s no editing system in the world that can fix it automatically.

  Herb Sevush
  Zebra Productions
• 

  Bob Root

  January 9, 2009 at 10:48 pm

  Thanks Mark,

  Sync between the cameras shouldn’t be an issue. We cut a pilot a few weeks back on Autodesk Smoke and the timecode was accurate across the cameras.

  I’ll definitely be going with my BM card. Time permitting, I’ll try the firewire to see what comes up.

  Regards,

  Bob Root
• 

  Bob Root

  January 9, 2009 at 10:55 pm

  Thanks Herb,

  I’ll be going with RS 422 deck control.

  The deck I’m using may or may now have an SDI card installed (I think it’s an optional cost). Depending on what the client is willing to pay for, I may use the RGB connectors. If there’s too much loss in signal (vs. SDI), I’ll talk them into spending a little more money.

  Regards,

  Bob Root

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