Thomas Beach Posted July 31, 2014 Report Share Posted July 31, 2014 I'm having a helluva difficult time trying to understand how to properly use the ACL-204 and would like to ask for some help. I have an Alexa shoot coming up this weekend and would appreciate knowing what the menu settings in each of the menus should be ( GEN, SYNC, TC, SYS, ACN). All I need to do is continuously jam Time Code to the camera and would prefer that my 664 be the Master and the Alexa be the slave. Not worried about the Genlock signal. I would be very grateful for some help here as soon as someone can lend it. Best, Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bash Posted July 31, 2014 Report Share Posted July 31, 2014 Choose a TC rate Turn the sync signal off (saves battery power) Dont worry about ACN Apols - mine are in storage so not here and I cant remember any more. It is quite logical though. Kindest, sb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Beach Posted August 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 Thanks, SB. Will try that. The other issue I've had is that the Alexa only prefers to be the slave when the SYNC signal is active with one of the numerous selections available. When the SYNC signal is 'OFF' it then wants to act only as the master, instead jamming the ACL204 and not the other way around. While I agree that the use of the ACL204 seems logical enough, the manual is horribly written. Best, Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDirckze Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 Make sure you check your cables too, Alexa didn't like the two way cable I had and would jam the Lockit box... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Beach Posted August 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 Thanks, Jason. That's clearly the issue I've been having as well. I am using a Sound Devices 5-LEMO > 5-LEMO coiled TC cable. What were you using? And what did you find finally worked for you? Also, I've only tried the B: TC/ACN LEMO output. Would using the A: TC/TUNE output be a possible workaround? Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDirckze Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 (edited) The one I was using sounds the same as yours. TC wasn't crucial for that shoot I was on so I gave up quickly, so I never had a chance to test out a different cable. I do have a couple of other one way cables to try in the future... Edited August 1, 2014 by JDirckze Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Constantin Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 Make sure you connect the Lemo TC cable the right way around. The have and 'IN' and an 'OUT'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studiomprd Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 TB: " use the ACL-204 and would like to ask for some help. " you could PM Timo from Ambient, or email him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Burgette Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 In the Jam sub-menu, choose "manual/once". Jam the Lockit from your Sound Devices. This way, no matter what cable you use the Alexa won't be able to re-jam the ACL-204. You'll hafta power the Lockit down before re-jamming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Beach Posted August 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 Thanks Mike and Matt. Greatly appreciated. So it sounds like the issue of the ACL204 taking jam from my 664 but being re-jammed by the Alexa will be overcome by choosing manual/once in the Jam TC sub menu. But after jamming the ACL204 in manual/once, the Alexa will definitely take the jam from the 204, correct? Thanks Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimoK Posted August 14, 2014 Report Share Posted August 14, 2014 Thanks Mike and Matt. Greatly appreciated. So it sounds like the issue of the ACL204 taking jam from my 664 but being re-jammed by the Alexa will be overcome by choosing manual/once in the Jam TC sub menu. But after jamming the ACL204 in manual/once, the Alexa will definitely take the jam from the 204, correct? Thanks Tom Hi Tom, yes, set the ACL204 to manual/ once when working with a bidirectional cable and set the Alexa to regenerate. Only in this mode the cam will continously take the external time code and not jam once and continou counting up with the internal generator. Btw. the ALEX does not own a sync input but syncs internally to the incoming tc rythm. (If set to regenerate mode) Best Timo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Zecca Posted August 14, 2014 Report Share Posted August 14, 2014 Hi Timo Will the Alexa Jam timecode without cables on the AmbiantTimecode Network sent from a Master Lockit? Thanks -John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
osa Posted August 14, 2014 Report Share Posted August 14, 2014 Hi Tom, yes, set the ACL204 to manual/ once when working with a bidirectional cable and set the Alexa to regenerate. Only in this mode the cam will continously take the external time code and not jam once and continou counting up with the internal generator. Btw. the ALEX does not own a sync input but syncs internally to the incoming tc rythm. (If set to regenerate mode) Best Timo Off topic and maybe i am way off in general - does this issue have anything to do with the alexa issues with erx's mentioned in other threads? Is this possibly a similar fix? I realize tho the wrx and acl's are different beasts Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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