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Syncing up two cameras with FREE RUN TIMECODE
Hi.
So does anyone know the best way to sync up two cameras with Free Run timecode.
I would prefer not to use multiclip, I would like to have the two cams on V1 and V2
also the cameras cut throughout the shoot so will they just scatter across the sequence but keeping in sync because of the free run tc
Thanks
Dylan
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8 Replies
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yeah but is there any other way with using the TC and not sound
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The cameras need to be capable of jam syncing and your sound recorder also needs to jam sync and record broadcast wav files. Then you have a common timecode reference for syncing multiple sources.
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The recording is not the problem, the cameras are synced with free run timecode.. the problem is in FCP trying to sync them up easily on the timeline
Thanks
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OK. Start a sequence and set the start timecode to where the first free run timecode starts. Match the clip timecode to the sequence code. Do that for each camera angle and sound bed. Put camera one on track one and camera two on track two.
As long as the first frame timecode of each clip is identical to the sequence master timecode, you will create a timeline with all elements in sync and split by camera, as long as all sources were properly jam synced to free run timecode
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thanks for that Michael.
my only problem is that the cameras cut and started at different times..
will that not mess everything up?
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No because every new camera start you match the clips first frame to the same timecode in the sequence. With jam synced free run this will keep sync
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In my experience, every camera’s internal clock will run at a slightly different speed. This means that as the day progresses the cameras’ time codes will drift further apart – just like no two digital watches always keep the exact same time.
If your cameras stop and start constantly you can use the free-run time code as reference to get you in the ball park, but probably the most hassle free way of syncing all this up is to purchases pluraleyes.
The only foolproof way to keep time code in sync is to jam the time code to each camera with a BNC cable. You don’t necessarily need a stand-alone generator. You can use one camera as the time code generator and then loop from camera to camera with these cameras set to external time code.
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