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Alexa Mini TC sync


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I'm starting a movie in a week that is shooting on the Alexa Mini.  I'm going to be using my ERXs for TC sync/ scratch audio.  Does anyone have experience with the TC clock on the Mini?  There are a lot of Movi shots they are trying to do and wanted to know if they needed the sync box.  I told them yes for now, but if the TC clock is the same as the Alexa, then it shouldn't be much of an issue.

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Hi Jesse. I just worked with an Alexa Mini a couple of weeks ago. It took a jam from my 664 no problem and held it through out the day. I only have 1 sync box and that went on the primary camera. Production did not want to pay for another, so I jammed it direct.  Checked it periodically throughout the day and rejammed after power  down for lunch. It was rock solid. Menu structure is not as easily accessible as the Alexa standard, but it is easy to figure out. 

 

 

 

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Hello, shooting with Alexa mini yesterday on a Movi (Stab one). Due to the stupid placement of the TC connector, it was impossible to keep the TC box plugged. The TC connector is exactly in front of the rig, so with a straight LEMO, the plug is touching the rig. So I jam on each battery change. No return yet from the post production. For the sound, the input is lemo plug. Lockable but not usual.

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Does anyone know the part number of 5 pin Lemo connector for Alexa mini's audio input?

Can't find it anywhere even in Arri's website, neither the pin-out map. 

my friend in camera dept. told me that 5pin plug for audio is different to TC plug on the Alexa mini.

S__3244055.jpg

Edited by Bloomdidogoe
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Hi Jesse

just wrapped a 5 weeks shoot with the mini. cant comment on how well it is holding the timecode internally, i went the tentacle route (one always on my deva, one always on the mini). these boxes are perfect for the small alexa mini rigs and they hold timecode incredibly well ( less than 0.1 frames drift after a 12 hours day ...). as mentioned, the tc connector on the mini is placed less than ideally, i had to make a small profile, right angled lemo plug. all in all a breeze with this setup.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi Bloomdidogoe,

I am 99% certain the connector Karl has linked to above is not the correct mini Lemo 5 pin for the Alexa Mini audio input, just have not had  any time wit them Mini's in our retail department check outs or new units delivered to clients to say for sure.

I am working with Steven R at Remote Audio to have cables made up for the Alexa Mini and his research indicated that this is a smaller than normal 5PIN Lemo that is not even listed in Lemo USA's catalogue and is currently only available in Europe.

Stephen has ordered the connectors but there is a crazy over demand VS supply situation on them right now.

There are only two options right now for getting Line Level audio into the Alexa Mini:

Arri does a have a part,   That has the connector and a bare Pigtail end that we at AbelCine or Arri can provide, I am working with one of our service technicians on getting a pin out diagragram from Arri service in Blauvelt and will post it ASAP.

Alexa Mini Audio connector with Cable,$70, K2.0006171

The second option is Wooden Cameras A-Box solution, 207700, you have to mount the A-Box but Ryan S was very smart and got a bunch of the smaller Lemos from a european supplier, $250.

http://woodencamera.com/ARRI/ARRI-Alexa-Mini-Accessory-Kits/A-Box-Alexa-Mini.html

Lists them as being in stock, not sure if they have any in stock in their new LA store.

Hopefully Remote Audio's cables will be more cost effective when they are available.

 

Best,
 
Andrew Finkel
Technical Specialist 
 
AbelCine   609 Greenwich St   NYC 10014
888.223.1599  |  212.462.0107  |  f 212.462.0199
 
Canon Expo 2015 is coming up on September 10-11 in NYC! Register now with AbelCine's special code: IGAC4FTT 
 

 

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Okay,

Thanks to Jenna Cuningham in our service department here at Abelcine NYC,  audio and TC Pinouts are below and attached as well. 

 

image.tiff

image.tiff
 
 
 
 
 
Best,
 
Andrew Finkel
Technical Specialist 
 
AbelCine   609 Greenwich St   NYC 10014
888.223.1599  |  212.462.0107  |  f 212.462.0199
 
Canon Expo 2015 is coming up on September 10-11 in NYC! Register now with AbelCine's special code: IGAC4FTT 

 

ALEXA_Mini_Pinout.pdf

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Do a work flow test before day 1. I just did a 2 day gig with the mini and the camera never did take the code. The DIT had to hand/eye sync the files. The issue was with their camera. It had to go back to Arri. I doubt you will have this issue but anything is possible.

CrewC

hello Crew 

I had a mixer who had this issue with one Alexa Mini, that cam just didn't take the tc code in but did output tc, so my frd's solution was using that camera as the main TC source. 

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Just had my first shoot with the Alexa Mini today. Jammed off Ambient ACL203 Lockit from a SD788T and held TC well, even through battery changes. Was mounted with the Amira eyepiece/LCD Monitor so shared the same menu system. Received my Custom Lemo audio cable today (from an Aus Cable Tech) so will get to try it out tomorrow morning.

Little confused by some of the comments as the TC port (at least on this one) is on the rear of the body? The Lemo port up front is audio in.

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Okay,

Thanks to Jenna Cuningham in our service department here at Abelcine NYC,  audio and TC Pinouts are below and attached as well. 

 

image.tiff

image.tiff
 
 
 
 
 
Best,
 
Andrew Finkel
Technical Specialist 
 
AbelCine   609 Greenwich St   NYC 10014
888.223.1599  |  212.462.0107  |  f 212.462.0199
 
Canon Expo 2015 is coming up on September 10-11 in NYC! Register now with AbelCine's special code: IGAC4FTT 

 

ALEXA_Mini_Pinout.pdf

Hi Andrew, 

Much appreciation for the detailed pinout and Lemo connector part number on Alexa Mini. Very useful for finding out matched Lemo plugs.

According to the pdf, the Lemo plug for audio input should be 00 series, which is the same size as 4pin sync/TC input on rear side of Red epic/dragon/scarllet. I got a straight plugs from a local dealer in Taiwan, part number FGG.00.305.CLAD35Z w/ cable relief. I will arrange a test with the camera in next week to see if this plug fits.

Unfortunately, it seems that there is no right angle ( FPG ) plugs for 5pin inserts in 00 series. Only straight plug fits the small size connector. Maybe a CLAD35 without cable relief will be better for mounting IFB RX on the camera.

Thanks for the pdf again.

 

And I am now 100% sure that Andrew is right about that, having walked over and examined the connector and mount myself. Sorry for the misinformation.

Karl Wasserman

NYC

Hi Karl, 

no problem, any information is welcome when the situation is unknown.

Thank you too.

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  • 1 month later...

Has anyone successfully fed audio to the Alexa Mini yet? anything to know? Looks like TC is standard Lemo 5 pin sized. 

Aside from the special audio Lemo cable, any other worries? I *might* have a job with one coming up. I would only be looking to send mono scratch audio to it (via ERX). 

Edited by johnpaul215
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I sent a scratch track to one the other day. As usual a rushed setup, all was familiar from working with Amira's. But for the life of me I couldnt find a headphone out. Not sure if they have one. But if you have worked with an Amira, you should be fine.

The camera came with an output cable that went from the lemo to 5 pin as on Alexa. Probably worth checking what the cable will be.

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I sent a scratch track to one the other day. As usual a rushed setup, all was familiar from working with Amira's. But for the life of me I couldnt find a headphone out. Not sure if they have one. But if you have worked with an Amira, you should be fine.

The camera came with an output cable that went from the lemo to 5 pin as on Alexa. Probably worth checking what the cable will be.

AFAIK there isn't a headphone output. The camera was designed for highly mobile applications (stabilizer rigs, drones, etc) where a hardline for headphones would be impractical. Of course, this isn't stopping DPs from putting it on a dolly for interior work, as in my experience with it.

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  • 5 weeks later...

Does anyone know the part number of 5 pin Lemo connector for Alexa mini's audio input?

Can't find it anywhere even in Arri's website, neither the pin-out map. 

my friend in camera dept. told me that 5pin plug for audio is different to TC plug on the Alexa mini.

S__3244055.jpg

hello there, anyone know where the pin 1 it is situated?  In picture sign is between two pins.  I soldered pin from right and next up one and I have buzz noise on camera. 

Best regards

Edited by nneagu
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If the production wants audio on the camera and it uses nonstandard connections I say the camera department and production should sort out the adapter. 

A-box looks great for this. If it's an owner/operator they seem to love owning/purchasing the AKS so let them foot the bill. If it's from a rental house then it should be included in the rental.

If the camera department gets in touch with you ahead of time and says hey we want to make this rig as small and compact as possible what do you think? Then maybe that's the time to figure out a custom cable situation. And bill production for the cost.

Just my opinion of course. There has to be a limit to expectations when there's a new camera every 6 months with a new connector.

On the flip side, I can understand and appreciate wanting to be able to solve every audio related issue in advance. I just think this one is best handled by the camera department.

Curious to hear what others think about it.

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