Multi-cam TC drift

[Chris Bierlein]

I shot a series last year for 4 months straight using 2 SDX900’s, and we had constant time code issues. In the end we had to use a wireless system to send TC from one camera to the other. We tried all kinds of solutions including changing the internal batteries, and nothing worked. It drove the editors crazy!

Chris B.

http://www.chrisbierlein.com

[John Sharaf]

Dale,

I have four Varicams and I use them together all the time with no TC problems; but I go genlock them with proper Tri Level Sync. If I’m going more ENG style I jam sync to TOD and then drop the cable because without proper genlock leaving the cable connected can lead to problems. The other thing with the TC wire daisychained from camera to camera is that the master camera must roll first, otherwise the slaved cameras will not latch up. I suspect this is the origon of most of the reported problems!

JS

[Edward Chick]

I second John’s suggestion. I recently worked on a 4 camera HVX900 shoot, I jam synced all the cameras the way John described, had zero problems with drift.

[Chris Bierlein]

My issue occured while jam syncing time of day The wireless method (essentially hardwiring) was the only solution we could find that worked consistently. It was puzzling. This was the only time I’ve had the problem, but it was continuous over about 1 month until we finally resorted to the transmitter/receiver. The editors were going berserk.

CB

http://www.chrisbierlein.com

[Edward Chick]

Chris,
I was using TOD when I jam synced my cameras. Hardwired though. Go to the RAMPS chat site. Wireless timecode send and receive issues are thoroughly covered there.

[Dale West]

Yeah we always have hard wired A to B to C etc and it has worked fine
with A rolling first and stopping last. The tri level sync is another matter. Does anyone know of an affordable sync generator? Haven’t spent my allowance this month.
thanks to all

Dale West
Dale West Video
12225 NE 13th Court
North Miami, FL 33161
305-892-1201

[John Sharaf]

Evertz is the way to go. The big descision is how to frame it up, based on other needs and expansion possibilities, namely single, three slot or fifteen slots!

JS

[Brooks Moore]

Chris,
I was using TOD when I jam synced my cameras. Hardwired though. Go to the RAMPS chat site. Wireless timecode send and receive issues are thoroughly covered there.

Sorry for the ignorance but where is the RAMPS chat site.
Thanks

[John Sharaf]

I don’t know how I missed it, but AJA has announced a Trilevel sync box for under $400! It’s supposed to be available this summer and provides a very reasonable way to provide sync for multicam shoots and edit suites. It should be very popular.

JS