Denecke TS-3 to Sound Devices 664 issue

[lightsofjuarez]

Hi guys, 

 

I have a shoot coming up and the production wants to use the Denecke TS-3 smart slate and I'm trying to jam it using my Sound Devices 664 but I'm have issues.  

 

I've used the TS-C slate before and jammed using a lemo cable and everything worked great but this is the first time I've used the TS-3.  

 

 

I've set the TS-3's slate rotary knob to 23 frames per second and put it in the read mode but when I power cycle it trying to jam from my 664 the screen just goes blank after it says rEAd. I have a feeling it has to do with my settings on the 664 which I have set to:

 

Sync Reference: Internal

Timecode Mode: Free Run

Frame Rate: 23.976

Hold Off: 0.0s

Set Generator TC: 00:00:00:00

Set Ubits: 07:28:2013 

 

If anyone could offer any ideas or solutions it would be a huge help and relief on my part! 

 

 

[ccsnd]

Have you tried reading the manual?  I'm willing to bet the answer to the question "How do I use this?" lies there...

[lightsofjuarez]

Read both the 664 manual  as well as the Denecke manual and checking the 664 forums, the Denecke site, watching their "how to use video" too and yet...still no luck.   

 

Thus, why I'm asking here.

[soundslikejustin]

Check your cable from the 664 to the slate is wired correctly. Generally, TC cables are wired one-way - you may be attempting to send TC using a receive cable.

[audio911]

You'll need a BNC to 1/4" Tip/Sleeve cable. Output the TC from the 664 to the BNC split cable for Timecode I/O, put a BNC barrel adapter on the TC out portion, and connect your BNC to 1/4" Tip/Sleeve to the slate. Make sure your jam button is switched to "OFF" before plugging in the 1/4". You should see numbers moving. Switch jam button on slate to "ON" and unplug the 1/4" cable. Works for me...

 

Steve Wytas

www.audio911.com

[audio911]

Uh, I'm using a TS2 slate with the TS3 guts...

 

SW

[RPSharman]

I set my SD machines on 24hr run - it sets TC at time of day.

TC out needs to go to tip of 1/4" mono to jam the TS3. There is a toggle switch on the TS3. Flip it the other way (run instead of read).

[Marc Wielage]

Ah, if the TS3 comes up in REad, then the switch inside the battery compartment may be set the wrong way. It should just jam automatically if the TC source and slate are both in 23.98 mode. Make sure that switch is set to Run, not Read:

 

 

You want position #4, then the Run/Read switch to Run. You can also call Denecke (new number: 661-607-0206) and they can talk you through it.

[Matt Mayer]

As Mark said, if the display shows rEAd, your TS-3 is set to read an incoming signal, not jam to it.

 

If the slate doesn't show running numbers in this mode with the sticks open, something is wrong with your input cable.

[John Blankenship]

Yep, what Marc and Matt said.  Read is not for jamming, it is for things like reading continuous incoming time code such as when you're doing playback for a music video. 

[lightsofjuarez]

Thanks for all the responses.  

 

Unfortunately,  I believe it's the bnc to 1/4 I'm trying to use.  After switching the slate to the "run" mode, I'm no longer getting the rEAd error and the slate is set to the right frame rate but it just isn't jamming automatically to the 664's TC like it should.

 

It keeps starting at 00:58:30:01 everytime. I'm guessing the cable I'm using is just wired the wrong direction. 

[John Blankenship]

If you have everything set properly (frame rates, drop/non-drop, etc.) and have the slate set to "run" and are jamming with proper procedure (turn slate off, plug in jam cable, turn slate on and let it boot up fully), then I'd definitely suspect the cable.

[studiomprd]

Both Denecke and SD are open now...

though it really reads like the Denecke is not seeing TC from the SD...that would suggest: troubleshooting 101

[RPSharman]

Yup. TC cable is probably wired the other way.

[Marc Wielage]

I always carry a spare TC cable in the slate box. Haven't had to use it yet, but crap can happen. I'm not a fan of those Y-connector cables that have Lemo -> XLR male & XLR female (which I see widely used), so I had a custom Lemo out -> 1/4" plug cable made so there's absolutely no chance I'll grab the wrong end. The Lemo's are a connector I'm not competent enough to wire myself, so those I have to get done for me.

 

When in doubt, I always carry a little powered speaker for test purposes so I can run TC out and just momentarily check that there is a signal there. Troubleshooting stuff like this, especially in fast-paced situations, is really important. 

[John Blankenship]

I agree with Marc.  Backups and preparedness are among the hallmarks of a pro.

[soundslikejustin]

I agree with Marc.  Backups and preparedness are among the hallmarks of a pro.

Unless you're McGyver.

[John Blankenship]

Unless you're McGyver.

   

I'm guessing that's what the chewing gum's for (In another thread).

[Ze Frias]

I'm guessing that's what the chewing gum's for (In another thread).

 

I chuckled.. hard.. good use of cross-referencing!

[Pinkie]

Hi folks. My TC3 is accepting code form the 664, but it drifts.  I get an error code Sync 23 wqhen I first jam it, but then it accepts the code and no other erros come up.  The code just slowly drift.  Any ideas?

[Johnny Karlsson]

1. What is the frame rate setting on the slate? 
 

2. What is the frame rate setting on the 664?  
 

 

9 hours ago, Pinkie said:

Hi folks. My TC3 is accepting code form the 664, but it drifts.  I get an error code Sync 23 wqhen I first jam it, but then it accepts the code and no other erros come up.  The code just slowly drift.  Any ideas?

 

[edward chick]

If frame rates on both the 664 and the TC 3 are the same, the crystal for the Timecode generator on the slate may need to be aligned. Denecke recommends an annual check up on the crystal if the slate gets a lot of use or takes a good fall or drop. Turn around is quick from their service dept.