Zack Posted December 5, 2010 Report Share Posted December 5, 2010 Got a 3 cam shoot (2x EX3's, and some consumer type for effect). They said they wanted TC for all three during interviews for transcription purposes. I'm thinking using a TS-3 would be the best approach. I'm not too familiar with what editors need for "transcription" exactly.... Should this be adequate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Hoppe Posted December 5, 2010 Report Share Posted December 5, 2010 They usually want TC recorded on one audio channel with a mono mix down on the other channel in 128kbps stereo mp3 format. It's best to deal with the transcription house directly to determine their specs. Good luck. Marc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zack Posted December 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2010 They usually want TC recorded on one audio channel with a mono mix down on the other channel in 128kbps stereo mp3 format. It's best to deal with the transcription house directly to determine their specs. Good luck. Marc Per camera, or are you saying as the delivery? I've been trying to ask their post or transcription people the last few days, but no response so far. Appreciate your input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Blankenship Posted December 5, 2010 Report Share Posted December 5, 2010 Most companies want a duplicate copy of the program recorded onto a separate MP3 recorder, so the files can be FTP'd promptly to the transcription house. Otherwise they'd need to copy the time code and program from the master files or tapes and converted to MP3s before they can send them. You want the time code on the cameras to match what the time code is on whichever channel the transcription house prefers for the MP3 (program on the other channel). Any of the little recorders that we often discuss here will work well for this. If you don't have adapter cables with proper attenuation for the time code channel, then a recorder that has separate channel level adjustments is your best choice. John B., CAS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zack Posted December 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2010 Most companies want a duplicate copy of the program recorded onto a separate MP3 recorder, so the files can be FTP'd promptly to the transcription house. Otherwise they'd need to copy the time code and program from the master files or tapes and converted to MP3s before they can send them. You want the time code on the cameras to match what the time code is on whichever channel the transcription house prefers for the MP3 (program on the other channel). Any of the little recorders that we often discuss here will work well for this. If you don't have adapter cables with proper attenuation for the time code channel, then a recorder that has separate channel level adjustments is your best choice. John B., CAS Thanks John, so now I'm thinking sending TC via Comteks to each camera, while recording on my Fusion a TC channel and Mono Mix. I would just have to convert the two to .mp3 on my Mac at the end of day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean McCormick Posted December 5, 2010 Report Share Posted December 5, 2010 If you have time to do the convert that should be fine. I currently tote a Zoom H2 solely for quick mp3 deliverables. I also acquired a BNC attenuator to knock down the incoming TC level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Gilbert Posted December 5, 2010 Report Share Posted December 5, 2010 I use a Tascam DR-1 for quick non timecode MP3 transcriptions, or my 744t files if timecode is required, it's a long time since I recorded one audio and one timecode track, I think it was back in the mini disc days. I was thinking of buy BWF Widget pro to convert the 744t files to MP3's with the timecode still embedded, has anyone used this with any success? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmassey Posted December 5, 2010 Report Share Posted December 5, 2010 It's a matter of checking with the establishment that will be doing the transcription. They ALL have different requirements...I basically deal with one place, and they have no problem with embedded TC, 64kps recording and the upload of the mp3 are very fast on their www site. my .02 cleve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zack Posted December 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2010 I forgot that I had a MicrotrackII in my closet, I guess that would work for quick record to .mp3. Will TC stamped to a .wav file carry through correctly when converted to .mp3 (I never tried it)? If so, why the need for a separate TC track if you're able to stamp the mono mix? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmassey Posted December 5, 2010 Report Share Posted December 5, 2010 EXACTLY...if you have a recorder t hat will time stamp, no need for the extra recorder and TC to the left and audio to the right. Although if the client wants the files uploaded soon after recording, you might not have time to take out the laptop and convert to mp3! The workflow came about BEFORE there were recorders that would timestamp, well at least recorders that were practical and not too expensive. So the TC to left track was how it was done. I for one wait for the day there is a small recorder with TC that will do mp3 and BWF. So when I do need to upload in a hurry, I can after recording in mp3 or push a button and have a two track BWF recorder when I need it. the ZFR machines come close, but having to convert from .zax to mp3 is often something I don't have the time to do. cleve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Radlauer Posted December 6, 2010 Report Share Posted December 6, 2010 Its seems you might be over thinking this... You have a 3 camera shoot and the client wants mp3 transcription with TC... First accomplish your TC sync with the 2 ex3 cameras...Then take TC out of the last camera and feed that to ch 1 of your recorder, then a mono mix on ch 2. You arent syncing your MP3 recorder, you are simply recording the TC as outputted audio for the transcription how to to read. YES you can jam sync your recorder if it has that option, but there is no need for discreet audio in this particular case. Keep it simple. You will want to record your audio as MP3. Dont start as a WAV and crunch it down...The transcription softwares will choke on that. Your microtrack II should work just fine in this case. You will need to pad down the TC signal or it will bleed to ch2. By the way...I'm sure you know, but most consumer rated cameras do not have TC let alone TC in/out..so you will need to use a clapboard or something to sync that 3rd camera. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Wielage Posted December 6, 2010 Report Share Posted December 6, 2010 BWF-Widget Pro (Windows only) will convert a BWF file to MP3 with timecode on the fly. I don't think it hurts the transcription software if you keep it at a high enough level (like 256kbps). Very highly recommended. --Marc W. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zack Posted December 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2010 BWF-Widget Pro (Windows only) will convert a BWF file to MP3 with timecode on the fly. I don't think it hurts the transcription software if you keep it at a high enough level (like 256kbps). Very highly recommended. --Marc W. I would imagine Audacity would be fine too? << OSX users. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Gilbert Posted December 6, 2010 Report Share Posted December 6, 2010 Audacity doesn't work with timecode does it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zack Posted December 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2010 Audacity doesn't work with timecode does it? Pretty sure it does, but I'll do a test and post to clarify.....unless someone beats me to it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PTA Posted December 6, 2010 Report Share Posted December 6, 2010 I thought the 552 can record both MP3 files and WAV files.? I haven't experimented with the 552 MP3 file setting yet yet, but I know it also timecode stamps or replaces left/right audio with a timecode track. Your choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Mayer Posted December 7, 2010 Report Share Posted December 7, 2010 I thought the 552 can record both MP3 files and WAV files.? I haven't experimented with the 552 MP3 file setting yet yet, but I know it also timecode stamps or replaces left/right audio with a timecode track. Your choice. Yep, the 552 will do 4 MP3 bitrates, 64, 128, 192 and 302k. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ao Posted December 7, 2010 Report Share Posted December 7, 2010 Pretty sure it does, but I'll do a test and post to clarify.....unless someone beats me to it Audacity does not support embedded timecode. I have used it in the past this way: program material on track one (WAV), timecode on track two (WAV), convert to mp3 with Audacity. Since it is a sound editor, it is easy to lop off material from a false start, or camera battery change. It is open source and it could be updated sometime in the future. ao Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Gilbert Posted December 7, 2010 Report Share Posted December 7, 2010 Thanks for confirming that, I use Audacity a lot for other things and would have kicked myself if it had been able to deal with embedded TC, looks like I might have to buy BWF widget pro after all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Wielage Posted December 8, 2010 Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 BWF-Widget Pro is a good program and well-worth the money. --Marc W. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zack Posted December 8, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 Thanks ao Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
André Boisvert Posted December 9, 2010 Report Share Posted December 9, 2010 Some tools for transcription purposes; http://www.turneraudio.com/peterenght2timecodetranscriptcable.aspx http://www.pro-sound.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=PSS&Product_Code=SRTTC&Category_Code=PROGEAR There's also a Peter Engh transcode box on Ebay; http://cgi.ebay.com/Peter-Engh-Transcode-Perfect-cables-directions-/190476080777?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c59425689 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audio Daddyo Posted December 9, 2010 Report Share Posted December 9, 2010 Or if you're handy with a soldering gun for around $15 at radio shack you can buy a gain pot & connectors to attenuate the Timecode. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zack Posted December 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2010 About the program deal... are there any MAC programs that will do what BWF Widget does? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkgross Posted December 11, 2010 Report Share Posted December 11, 2010 Zack..I scoured all over to try and find a Mac based program that's comparable to the BWF-Convert..nothing exists..Even the Sound Devices Wave Agent won't. I wonder if it's a Lame MP3 Licensing issue... That cable from Turner Audio looks pretty cool tho! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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