Bad Robot Posted October 2 Report Posted October 2 Recently purchased a Deity TC1 kit of 3 TC1's. This comes with three cables, TRS to TRS, TRS to BNC and TRS to Lemo5p. My question is a general on about directionality of the supplied cables. I think, from testing continuity on the pins, that the TRS to Lemo is one direction only and that is TRS to LEMO. If I want to use my SD888 as master generator, I would need to get a bi-directional cable? If I want to feed timecode to an UltraSync (for Atomus Ninja's etc) would any TRS to DIN1.0/2.3 plug be suitable? In that this type of cable is bidirectional by default. Quote
Tim Norris Posted October 2 Report Posted October 2 An AI source suggests the TRS/Lemo is a bi-directional cable. When testing, does your SD888 send time code to your Deity TC1? Same question for feeding the Ultrasynch. I have been using the TC1 to generate TC to my Scorpio or MP10 kits, mostly because it's just so quick to set TC using my iPhone. I am generally using continuous run TOD for news. A Deity TC1 lives permanently on each of my bags, ready to go as needed. When the Deity battery is dead because I failed to turn it off at the end of the day, it powers up and works because I have it plugged into my power distribution system. Cheers, Tim Quote
The Documentary Sound Guy Posted October 3 Report Posted October 3 TRS/Lemo is defininely NOT bi-directional. The most common Lemo pinouts use different pins for TC in and TC out. Not to mention, there's a few different Lemos used for timecode, so it depends which one you mean. But the 5-pin Lemo that is supplied by Deity isn't bi-directional. The last time I checked, Deity sells different input / output cables under different SKUs. But there's nothing special about Deity's cables; it's just how Lemo is wired. Please don't use AI sources unless you can verify it's true. Otherwise you are giving bad answers that live here forever. I *think* the SD888 uses BNC as the TC output? In that case, you should have no problems using the included cable; The TRS-BNC cable is bidirectional. Worth noting that the TC-1 doesn't accept continuous sync; you have to jam it twice a day, and it's a somewhat clumsy process to do so. But it does work. Quote
The Immoral Mr Teas Posted October 3 Report Posted October 3 41 minutes ago, The Documentary Sound Guy said: TRS/Lemo is defininely NOT bi-directional. The most common Lemo pinouts use different pins for TC in and TC out. Ha, I was wondering what the hell is a bi-directional cable (or, rather, what is NOT a bi-directional cable)? Thanks for answering it in terms of what it connects to! 42 minutes ago, The Documentary Sound Guy said: Please don't use AI sources unless you can verify it's true. Otherwise you are giving bad answers that live here forever. +1 J Quote
Bouke Posted October 3 Report Posted October 3 13 minutes ago, The Immoral Mr Teas said: what is NOT a bi-directional cable) A power line is not bi-directional. The connectors take care of that, being male and female. In sound, over here we have a company that has modified all machines so all chassis parts are male and all cables are female, but that is 'strange'. In power, no-one would even think about making a a male connector hot. Quote
Bad Robot Posted October 3 Author Report Posted October 3 4 hours ago, The Documentary Sound Guy said: TRS/Lemo is defininely NOT bi-directional. The most common Lemo pinouts use different pins for TC in and TC out. Not to mention, there's a few different Lemos used for timecode, so it depends which one you mean. But the 5-pin Lemo that is supplied by Deity isn't bi-directional. The last time I checked, Deity sells different input / output cables under different SKUs. But there's nothing special about Deity's cables; it's just how Lemo is wired. Please don't use AI sources unless you can verify it's true. Otherwise you are giving bad answers that live here forever. I *think* the SD888 uses BNC as the TC output? In that case, you should have no problems using the included cable; The TRS-BNC cable is bidirectional. Worth noting that the TC-1 doesn't accept continuous sync; you have to jam it twice a day, and it's a somewhat clumsy process to do so. But it does work. In answer to your reply, the SD888 uses a 5pin Lemo, the pin outs have separate pins for in/out timecode. Looking at the Deity cable, it 'appears' to be the type that can be adjusted, allowing the cable direction to be moved in relation to the plug. Have you tried this out? On 10/2/2026 at 6:40 PM, Tim Norris said: An AI source suggests the TRS/Lemo is a bi-directional cable. When testing, does your SD888 send time code to your Deity TC1? Same question for feeding the Ultrasynch. I have been using the TC1 to generate TC to my Scorpio or MP10 kits, mostly because it's just so quick to set TC using my iPhone. I am generally using continuous run TOD for news. A Deity TC1 lives permanently on each of my bags, ready to go as needed. When the Deity battery is dead because I failed to turn it off at the end of the day, it powers up and works because I have it plugged into my power distribution system. Cheers, Tim I want to use the TC1 to feed timecode to my SD888, but at first glance the angle of the cable interferes with the headphone jack. Looking at the plug, it seems like it might be the adjustable kind, do you know if this is correct? If that's the case, it could be moved to avoid the headphone plug. Quote
The Documentary Sound Guy Posted October 3 Report Posted October 3 Looking at it in person, it does seem like the Right Angle should be adjustable (it has some play rotationally, and something is locking it in place at the angle it's set to), but even after unscrewing the collar, I haven't cracked the code to adjust it. There's a nut on the barrel that looks like it could probably loosened with the right tool. So I'd say "probably" but that doesn't really tell you any more than you already know. Sorry, guess I can't answer your question. Also, I apparently own Deity's TC output cables, but my 5P Lemo input cable is a custom build from elsewhere, so I can't actually speak for Deity's input cable. If I recall correctly, the TC-1 uses tip for both input and output, so a true 'bidirectional' cable probably doesn't exist (it would end up shorting the Lemo input and output pins). I've seen custom builds with an input and and output cable from the same 5P Lemo (Remote Audio probably makes one?), but not a 'true' bidirectional cable for TRS-Lemo5P. Maybe there's a TC box that accepts input on ring? There's no conventions or defined standards here; everyone seems to do something different for TC. Quote
Conor Posted October 6 Report Posted October 6 The only way a TRS - Lemo cable could be bidirectional would be if you built some sort of switch into the cable or connector, as the Lemo uses different pins for in/out as noted above. A TRS - BNC cable is bidirectional, because there is only one hot pin on each side (no one ever seems to use the Ring on the TRS). Therefore the devices determine the signal flow, not the cable itself. Quote
Mullet Posted October 6 Report Posted October 6 On 10/3/2026 at 11:24 PM, The Documentary Sound Guy said: I've seen custom builds with an input and and output cable from the same 5P Lemo (Remote Audio probably makes one?), but not a 'true' bidirectional cable for TRS-Lemo5P. Got this one from Kortwich in Berlin. https://www.shop-ftt.de/de/tentacle-tc-in-out-kabel Works fine, but not a real bang for the Buck and i think I paid much less a few years back. Quote
drpro Posted October 6 Report Posted October 6 Some of the better bi-directional cables I have used are made by Mogami and Canare. YMMV Quote
OB1 Posted October 6 Report Posted October 6 Been using chinese amazon timecode cables for over 5+ years for tentancle, denecke, and ambient with absolutely no issues. It's not the cable that matters anymore, it's the quality of the termination. And today the field is chock full of good products. Quote
The Documentary Sound Guy Posted October 7 Report Posted October 7 I think you missed the joke... Quote
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