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External audio recorders & Timecode
Hi —
This question involves integration of camera with an external audio recorder.
I’ve been shooting with an HVX-200 (PAL), focusing on music documentary work in India. I find a need to improve my audio gear, and am considering moving up to a high-resolution audio recorder. In reviewing current models and options, one issue I note is the possibility of synching up with a camera. For example, the Edirol Video R-4 Pro — see e.g. https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/R4Pro/ — boasts the ability so to synch, using SMPTE timecode received from a camera.
Question is — does the HVX-200 have ability to send out such time-signal?
I don’t have my camera with me (am in the US right now, camera is back in India), so can’t look at the thing and see if there’s any such “time-out” port. I don’t recall one . . . is it there somewhere?
If not — I assume there’s no way of doing what I’m suggesting . . . in which case, I can safely ignore these more-costly machines that offer that option, and just hope for the best, synch-wise. Correct?
Thanks for any input about this overall topic!
cheers,
d.i.david raphael israel
bhopal, india -
10 Replies
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[david raphael israel] “Question is — does the HVX-200 have ability to send out such time-signal?”
No… the HPX500 can do it, but not the HVX200.
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ah, thanks for the good clarification, Barry!
Alas — more interesting & costly possibilities for future.
cheers,
d.i.david raphael israel
bhopal, india -
This new question somewhat jumps off from my earlier one.
I’m planning to purchase a high-resolution audio recorder.
Since it has been established that my camera (the HVX-200) does not generate a time-signal I can send to such a recorder, I will forget about getting those (high-cost) recorders that accept such timecode. Instead, my plan now is to bet the new, interesting audio recorder made by Korg — the MR-1000 (that can record in several formats including so-called “one-bit”).I figure that since I will also always simultaneously be recording an audio track with my camera, there really should not be a major synch problem in editing — since it’s just a question of lining up the 2 WAV files (in my editor of choice) . . . true, the synch may not be 100% equal in a deep micro level, but in practice, I imagine it will not be discernably off — or not enough to to really matter.
Is this speculation reasonable?thanks!
d.i.david raphael israel
bhopal, india -
Totally reasonable. But instead of just trying to line up waveforms, I strongly suggest you get a clapper slate. It’s sooooo much easier to line up by the “clack” than to try to overlap waveforms. 🙂
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Ah excellent idea, Barry, thanks.
I’ve now put a nice (el cheapo) $10 clapper slate (with old-style chalkboard)
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/66812-REG/Delta_22910_Chalkboard_Production_Slate.htmlinto my B&H basket … along with a copy of your HVX Book, btw.
cheers,
d.i.david raphael israel
bhopal, india -
Hello:
A slightly more costly solution, which we’re using on an HVX feature right now — a Smart Slate that has visual timecode readout from the 4-track hard drive recorder. This allows us to have a visual reference when synching the BWAV files from the recorder, so even though it’s a manual synch job, it’s a bit faster than searching the audio file for the clap mark.
We did a synch test for a ten-minute run, and it was rock solid between the camera and recorder.
Hope this helps.
Best, JIM.
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Interesting, Jim. Probably not necessary for the sorts of things I anticipate doing in near-term — but a novel (to me) idea to be aware of.
At this point, since my camera (HVX200) can’t be electronically synched with an outside audio recorder, ergo I’m not aiming to buy a recorder that does time-synching. Far as I’ve seen, those are more costly — like I saw specs on a nice Editrol Pro model that can both send and receive timecode; but it costs about $2K.
The $1200 I’ll likely spend on the Korg MR-1000 is about as high as I want to go . . . I’m in “low budget” territory (relatively speaking).
If there are other solid-state recorders closer to the $1K mark, I’d be interested to know about them. (I like the Korg partly because it has a 40-gig HD — good for field recording situations — plus the intrigue of “1-bit” format, etc.)
I guess this is veering into audio gear territory now.At any rate, thanks for the good info.
cheers,
d.i.david raphael israel
bhopal, india -
Hi Barry
I have R4 & HPX171 & HXV202
but I am not able to output the audio from my R4 to my camera
can i do it with just an XLR cable or i need a AESEBU ? or there is another solution
thank you -
Hi Barry
I have an Edirol R-4Pro & HPX171 & HXV202
but I am not able to output the audio from my R4 to my camera
can i do it with just an XLR cable or i need a AESEBU ? or there is another solution
thank you -
can u explain please how can i sync Edirol R4 Pro with Hpx 500 ? i have both the voice recorder and camera but can’t use em without clap i’m looking for something like this: when i will sync the voice recorder with the camera and when i press Rec on cam the voice recorder must record voice automatic if its possible, please explain in detail which cable i need etc etc and where i need to connect the camera, i know only 1 way in camera the BNC cable must be in TC out and in Edirol R4 pro in TC in, im wrong i guess cause it was not worked :(( sorry for bad english
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