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Timecode for DSLR options


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No doubt this has been covered before? I couldn't seem to find anything though?

What my options for TC to DSLR, in my world these have become the Pro Camera for most shoots?

However re-syncing audio, or syncing multiple camera's is a pain.

 

Im thinking of adding a Lockit Buddy http://www.lockitbuddy.com to my kit? is there any other options I should look at ?

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You really want TC?

Your options are a TC slate or display in front of camera, or TC printed to one of the audio tracks on board - which makes it impossible to listen to anything back on the shoot day, and also requires a plugin to convert audio TC to LTC before syncing.

I recommend using waveform sync (eg Pluraleyes) and sending a decent quality guide track instead (I use a sennheiser g3).

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I normally run a wireless audio 'Guide Track' to the DSLR and record 'Double System' utilising a jammed 'Timecode Slate'.

 

That is the best and most reliable option for post production, of course there are other cheaper ways but they are not always reliable.

 

Personally, I think that if Production is going to insist on this level of camera then they need to accept the limitations that come with it.

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I'm going to be blunt: You seriously couldn't find anything on this forum or anywhere else regarding timecode and DSLR cameras?

Production Sound Mixing for Television, Film, and Commercials.

www.matthewfreed.com

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B36iie1JhhiTbFVDdFExUmUyQm8/edit?usp=sharing

 

no 

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You really want TC?

Your options are a TC slate or display in front of camera, or TC printed to one of the audio tracks on board - which makes it impossible to listen to anything back on the shoot day, and also requires a plugin to convert audio TC to LTC before syncing.

I recommend using waveform sync (eg Pluraleyes) and sending a decent quality guide track instead (I use a sennheiser g3).

I did a job recently where I re synced about 6 hours of interviews, I did the job in Protools, I had a few drift issues, so I used elastic audio to re-stretch the audio to match the camera, It was pretty  easy.. Im actually testing dual eyes

 at the moment 

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I normally run a wireless audio 'Guide Track' to the DSLR and record 'Double System' utilising a jammed 'Timecode Slate'.

 

That is the best and most reliable option for post production, of course there are other cheaper ways but they are not always reliable.

 

Personally, I think that if Production is going to insist on this level of camera then they need to accept the limitations that come with it.

Nailed it.

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Yep, timecode that you can't really do anything with.

As mentioned by learned community - double system and two sync options. My last Doco using two 5Ds I suggested to post they try plural eyes; they did and liked it. And as primary sync I used a jammed Tc display on front of my kit; most of the time the camera guys remembered to head or tail slate. If they missed it there was plural eyes as a backup. I wouldn't bother sending a scratch track to the camera - the camera guys didn't want the extra bits hanging off their rigs - and it's really only good enough as a sync track.

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"I wouldn't bother sending a scratch track to the camera - the camera guys didn't want the extra bits hanging off their rigs - and it's really only good enough as a sync track."

 

That's true Chris, except that I have found more often than not, the Producer and / or Director wants to either see a 'Playback' of a take straight from the camera or wants to do a 'Paper Edit' later using the files on a laptop and it is therefore useful to have sync sound on camera.

 

Of course, if that's what they want I let them break it to the Camera Operator !!!

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most camera guys are cool with sending a scratch feed to the camera.

I would prefer it to, I spend the majority of time in audio post and you would be surprised how often they never bother to use the Audio from the Audio Recorder....  I usually have to chase it up.. I don't always have time though sometimes I have to live with the scratch feed.

 

I think Plural eyes works better when using scratch audio.

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Most of the times, Camera Ops are cool with me hanging a a receiver on the shoe mount of the DSLR. They rarely use it, and its out the way. The receiver doesn't weigh much, so I get not complaints. The only (rare) times we've had issues is when they need to mount an LED light or some other item that requires the use of the shoe mount, at which point we have to improvise on how to get the receiver on the DSLR. I've been able to strap it securely to the one of the handles.

 

I still think that guide/scratch track is a must in DSLR shoots.

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I've always just sent TC as an audio track to the camera from a padded down clockit and used a TC slate.

If you send a scratch track my fear is that they will use it and at some point they will.

 

That's how we've dealt with the 3 seasons of Wilfred through 5Ds and then Nikon D800s and it works well. The first part of season 1 we fed audio and post much preferred the TC version tracked as audio.

 

Scott

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If you use a MAXX or Nomad they contain the visual time code slate. The Nomad will Transmit TC and scratch track audio to the ERX2TCD receiver that mounts to the camera.

 

Nomad and ERX2TCD are a complete recording TC sync solution for DSLR.

 

Glenn

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And the connection from the ERX to the camera should be very easy, as it's both 1/8" jack. But is it possible to set up the camera so that it will only play back the left or right channel, but not both? Even through its own speaker? If so, the ERX would be really brilliant for this.

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And the connection from the ERX to the camera should be very easy, as it's both 1/8" jack. But is it possible to set up the camera so that it will only play back the left or right channel, but not both? Even through its own speaker? If so, the ERX would be really brilliant for this.

I don t think it can do that. An alternative solution would be to play it back in a computer with panned audio setting or have a cable with one side muted to play a x mini type speaker straight off camera.

One thing for sure is that if you can t monitor return you should always use a slate because if something goes wrong with audio tc or scratch feed you re screwed.

Also manually set camera time to match your timecode as close as you can and match your recorder timecode to the drop or non drop setting of the camera (if it s a mark 3).

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" I couldn't seem to find anything though? "

" You seriously couldn't find anything on this forum or anywhere else regarding timecode and DSLR cameras? "

one more time:

the site search is lame, so Google, with the first search term: 'jwsoundgroup.net' is preferred...

the lack of information also suggests that SMPTE TC with dSLR is not a popular combination...

even a limited amount of experience would indicate the potential of shooting a TC slate, and all the dSLR workflow discussions offer plenty of resource as to what is being done...

and also the importance of workflow testing, as it is not just about what production sound can do, but about what post can deal with.

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I did a shoot last week where i rolled my nomad recorder 29.97nd and later during the day i realised camera was rolling 29.97df.. It was a mistake that i didn t check the timecode setting on the mark iii. And to be honest i did nt know that the markiii could do drop frame. I i won t do this mistake again for sure but for now what would you reccommend that post do to sync?

I reccomended post to do a pull down on sound to correct the drift. They edit on avid.

Thanks!

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a DF / NDF mismatch can be a bear to deal with...

and it was probably a camera mistake to use DF...

a workflow test would have been appropriate...

of course they can use the old fashioned slate/clap... uh-oh...another shoulda' woulda' coulda'...

they could use plural eyes.... er... nevermind.

 

" do a pull down on sound to correct the drift. "

what drift ??

they are both at the same speed... it is the counting that is screwed up, --on the pic's

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