Alex Mitchell Posted March 29, 2014 Report Share Posted March 29, 2014 Hey guys! After an afternoon of testing I wanted to share some settings that worked well with a BlackMagic Pocket Cinema Camera in various scenarios. I have one done right now and I'll hopefully get more time to sort out the others.Scenario 1: BMPCC + Tascam DR-60D To get a good signal out of the pair you need to use the following settings: DR-60D: 1. Use the Line Out instead of the Camera Out. The hotter signal works much, much better with the BMPCC. 2. Crank the Line Out level to 10. BMPCC: 1. Set the input level to Line. 2. Adjust inputs 1 & 2 to 15%. That should give you a proper connection between the two. You'll have to do some more setting up to make sure that the input gain (Low, Med, High) produces a good enough signal on a per-input basis but I usually get good results from sticking with Mid.Scenario 2: BMPCC + Zaxcom ERX ERX: 1. Set Max Volume to 0db, and make sure that the ERX only outputs at that maximum volume. 2. Set timecode to output on the left channel 3. Set timecode voltage to output at .032 volts. BMPCC: 1. Set the BMPCC to Mic level input. 2. Set both channels to 75%. This should put both the timecode and tone at -20. The nice part about this is that Davinci Resolve can actually read audible timecode and stamp the file, then sync with production audio. It's not the most elegant system but it does work. Scenario 3: BMPCC + Zaxcom Nomad (1/8" TRS) [To be filled in] Scenario 4: BMPCC + Sennheiser G3 [To be filled in] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Wielage Posted March 29, 2014 Report Share Posted March 29, 2014 I'm still baffled that Blackmagic -- which is generally a pretty bright company -- would not provide a built-in timecode generator, or at least a way to slap a jam box on the camera and get timecode from there. The handful of projects I've done with the BMC camera just used the TILF approach: Treat It Like Film. No audio, no timecode, manually sync it all up. This is the unfortunate reality with a lot of toy cameras out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studiomprd Posted March 30, 2014 Report Share Posted March 30, 2014 marc: " would not provide... " tradeoffs, and their sense of what is, and is not important to their target market. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Reilly Posted March 30, 2014 Report Share Posted March 30, 2014 So strange that a company that promotes metering in other products puts manual level control on cams without a meter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Mitchell Posted May 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2014 Updated with some things I tried with the ERX-TCD + BMPCC combo. PSA: Davinci Resolve can read and stamp audible timecode! This is such a life saver for BMD camera or DSLR shoots and I never knew about it until last week! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
syncsound Posted May 7, 2014 Report Share Posted May 7, 2014 Also, I've successfully used the Mozegear TIG to lay down LITC on a Blackmagic, and then synched using Da Vinci REsolve Lite, which is free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick Tresch Posted May 12, 2014 Report Share Posted May 12, 2014 I was going to use the inbuilt mic and shoot double system and synch with "pluraleyes" kind of software. The way I've done it with the 5DMKII. What do you think? Pat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dominiquegreffard Posted May 13, 2014 Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 I was going to use the inbuilt mic and shoot double system and synch with "pluraleyes" kind of software. The way I've done it with the 5DMKII. What do you think? Pat Use a slate just to be sure. Plural eyes stuff is not 100% proof afaik. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Justice Posted May 13, 2014 Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 I'll add in for my workflow when using the Tascam + BMPCC (which is what I use at home): I put two Sennheiser G3 RX on top of the camera, along with a stereo XY mic. I record these to the four tracks on the Tascam, and send a line out mix of each (lavs to left channel, on-camera mic to right channel) back into the camera itself. The Tascam has a neat little trick of adding a half of a second of tone to the beginning of each track, which helps sync tremendously. Now, there's a clear reference point in addition to the audio for sync purposes. If for some reason PluralEyes can't handle the task (and I haven't seen it fail using this method yet), I'd be able to line up the audio the old fashioned way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bwfmixer Posted May 24, 2014 Report Share Posted May 24, 2014 It's hilarious how they choose to put two 1/4 inch jacks on such a small device. Make it a stereo mini, add a BNC input and charge a few extra hundred $$ for TC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Feeley Posted July 16, 2014 Report Share Posted July 16, 2014 Blackmagic Design Announces Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera for US$495. Fremont, CA - July 16, 2014 - Blackmagic Design today announced an exciting Summer Special discount for the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera for the low price of US$495. With a normal recommended retail price of US$995, this Summer Special represents incredible value and is available for a limited time and will end on the 31st of August 2014. This Summer Special price is subject to limited availability, after which the price will return to the usual recommended retail price of US$995. Rest of the press release here: http://www.blackmagicdesign.com/press/pressdetails?releaseID=61418 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Wielage Posted July 17, 2014 Report Share Posted July 17, 2014 God, I wish people would stop using these toy cameras. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pampasound Posted July 19, 2014 Report Share Posted July 19, 2014 Hey guys, I have a shoot coming up with one of this miniature toy camera. I'm a bit reluctant when it comes to sending primary audio to this type of cameras. I have never work with one before and it seems like there will be a big wave of "dOps" jumping on the bandwagon..Should I treat it just like a 5D? Thanks! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Visser Posted July 19, 2014 Report Share Posted July 19, 2014 A 5D can actually sound pretty good when you use the right equipment and set everything up correctly. BM audio circuitry sounds very bad in all conditions and can never be anything but a scratch track. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VASI Posted July 20, 2014 Report Share Posted July 20, 2014 And now Pocket have 400€. O dear... I can't imagine how many "filmmakers" here will buy it (and provide it). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisnewton Posted October 12, 2014 Report Share Posted October 12, 2014 re:Blackmagic pocket, cine camera settings. I just did 3 days with a BMC pocket and a BM cine camera. both cams had latest firmware with the meters available on screen. No problems feeding them, G2 to the pocket cam at mic level out to 1/8" mini, hardwired to the bigger one withWooden Camera XLR module attached. Mostly both cams rolling. mic level out of my 633 via XLR and -10 to AUX1 for G2. Simultaneous recording on 633. Client wanted primary audio on camera because of short edit timeline.Checked playback, sounded fine. This project was for a major corporation's web use. sort of a purposely low-fi affair, picture and soundwise (although the Blackmagics looked really good. This is becoming quite common, sort of a Youtube type feel. I've dubbed it "Hipstervision". Meters on both camera systems display Fsc digital scale. No marking for -20, but had -24 and -16. split the difference and played it safe level wise. Client got backup .WAV files. no TC on camera, of course, but all takes had dumb sticks. Charged accordingly. Everybody happy so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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