Canon 5D Mk II Clap-Board Audio Sync Issue

[David Michael]

Without using the in camera audio track it is the same as you would match for any other camera. Most people match from when the slate closes to the beginning of the audio clap.

Personally, I match to the blurry slate arm frame (one frame before) if there is one. But that doesn’t mean I’m correct.

-David

[Justin Cordes]

David,

Thank you SO much for such a speedy response. I really appreciate it. I’m totally under a crunch an none of the peeps I personally know are getting back to me.

FYI, the footage I’m working with was shot on the Canon T2i, and has the SAME exact issue that original post on this thread talked about. The visual clapper makes contact 1-3 frames after the audio clap.

Also, here’s a cool post going deep into the nuances of clapper syncing. https://splicenow.com/2011/01/12/syncing-dailies/

Thanks again Dave and others. You rock.

-Justin

[Joel Ninmann]

Justin,

I think the link you posted accurately sums up what you should do when a slate is blurred. Personally, I am with David — I sync to the last blurred frame of the slate. This doesn’t mean we are right, though.

Thanks for letting us know you’re seeing the same issue with a Canon T2i. This means we now have 3 HDSLR cameras that all see this issue — the 5D Mark II, 7D, and T2i. Anyone seeing this issue with a Nikon HDSLR?

Another question, given that Final Cut Pro X was released today:

Does the automatic audio syncing on import option in FCPX sync HDSLR on-board audio correctly, or do we still see the same 2-3 frame sync issue? Could someone with FCPX installed test this out by importing some footage from any of the 3 above cameras and let us know? As soon as outside forces permit, I will do so myself, but that may be a few days or weeks. I’m sure lots of people on this board would appreciate someone else being able to do so sooner.

I’m glad more and more people are stumbling upon and waking up to this issue. 2-3 frames is completely unacceptable, and I STILL shudder to think about the thousands of HDSLR shooters out there syncing via software like Pluraleyes that are missing this issue with ALL their footage on a daily basis.

[Alex Cordiner]

I too am pleased that I am not the only one going nuts on this. I am an amateur film maker but quickly noticed the sync issues. Does anybody know if there is a way to create a custom Compressor setting that could shift the audio by the 2 frames?

[David Michael]

A custom compressor setting would be nice, but I use a workaround that is almost as useful, though a bit more tedious.

Convert the stuff to prores, drop all the prores files (if there are a TON do them in batches) into your sequence. Unlink everything select all the audio track, move them back 2 frames, relink, and drag everything back into the browser. Good as new.

[Alex Cordiner]

Thanks for the reply David. What editor are you using?

[David Michael]

Ah, yes, I am using Final Cut Pro 7.

[Alex Cordiner]

Thanks! I have been using Premier Pro CS5 but have just bought FCP X which I have a feeling does not have the capability of adding resync’d clips back into a bin.

[Martin Jangaard]

Yep, been getting that problem over here both at 25 FPS & 30 FPS on Canon 5D Mk II. Really noticed this about March this year – maybe a Canon Firmware issue. Anyway, always seems to be out about 2 Frames – audio early – it must be something to do with the video codec processing and data writing etc that produces the delay. This is definitely a camera problem as this delay shows up when clips are played in QuickTime Player 7 etc.

So, always worked around this by syncing external audio clap to the video – difficult on some of the material as it was ‘synced’ on location with a hand clap, which was often blurry. Haven’t bothered with Plura Eyes in FCP 7 yet, as I’ve just done it the old fashioned way manually.

Tried with FCP X and it syncs up the external audio all automatically and really quickly. As expected the new sun clip is also 2 frames out, but i simply used the “break apart clip items to show the external audio and then selected ‘detach audio’ to separate out the original linked camera guide audio from the video. The V key then enables or disables the tracks – like mute/make visible tc. Then a simple two frame nudge with the ‘period’ ky and evything is in perfect sync. BTW, if you didn’t know already the ‘period’ or ‘full-stop’ (UK) key nudges the selected clip one frame forward and the ‘comma’ key one frame back.

It’d be really good if this frame offset could be entered numerically as an option in the synchronisation settings of FCP X. At the moment it’s just a global command without any parameters Is it an option in Plural Eyes for FCP 7?

Hope this helps.

[Martin Jangaard]

Joel,

Yep, been getting that problem over here both at 25 FPS & 30 FPS on Canon 5D Mk II. Really noticed this about March this year – maybe a Canon Firmware issue. Anyway, always seems to be out about 2 Frames – audio early – it must be something to do with the video codec processing and data writing etc that produces the delay.

So, always worked around this by syncing external audio clap to the video – difficult on some of the material as it was ‘synced’ on location with a hand clap, which was often blurry. Haven’t bothered with Plura Eyes in FCP 7 yet, as I’ve just done it the old fashioned way manually.

Tried with FCP X and it syncs up the external audio all automatically and really quickly. As expected the new sun clip is also 2 frames out, but i simply used the “break apart clip items to show the external audio and then selected ‘detach audio’ to separate out the original linked camera guide audio from the video. The V key then enables or disables the tracks – like mute/make visible tc. Then a simple two frame nudge with the ‘period’ ky and evything is in perfect sync. BTW, if you didn’t know already the ‘period’ or ‘full-stop’ (UK) key nudges the selected clip one frame forward and the ‘comma’ key one frame back.

It’d be really good if this frame offset could be entered numerically as an option in the synchronisation settings of FCP X. At the moment it’s just a global command without any parameters Is it an option in Plural Eyes for FCP 7?

Hope this helps.

Hope this helps