Enabling Varispeed Audio?

[Kip Hewitt]

Is it even possible to record a standard 24fps audio channel while simultaneously recording Varispeed video? And I mean with a firmware upgrade/not a hardware upgrade?

I can see how this may present some real technical hurdles for the RED team, especially on the post end, but if this is in fact possible... let me be the (first?) to shout-out-loud a big plead for it's existence.

This is absolutely one of those "better-to-have-and-not-need-then-need-and-not-have" features. As a former Varicam user I can say that Having the audio running along side 48/60fps footage saved my ass many, many times.

The thing is that you can always speed up the footage if you decide you need the sound to be lip synced. Or you can slow down the audio to "underscore the drama" so to speak. But if you never have the audio at all...

Anyway, sorry to add yet another Feature Request, but as far as making the audio portion of this camera "game changing," I think this feature ranks pretty high.

Thank you.
-99

 

[Kip Hewitt]

Crickets...

 

[Dylan Reeve]

I experimented with Canopus Edius for a while. It is the only app that can capture at 25fps from Varicam via Firewire - and more interestingly, in doing so (with offspeed footage) it capture sync sound... Capturing footage we'd shot at 50fps yielded a lovely slow motion image, and great slow motion sound right along with it.

I have no idea how it did it, but it did.

I do think having some sort of audio could be helpful with RED, but probably not essential, but you're right, if it's possible no harm in putting it there, right?

 

[Zach Hilton]

This is something I personally would love to see. Even if it was limited to once channel.

 

[Dominic Jones]

Just curious, but since clearly it's not going to be sync sound, what's wrong with recording to a DAT or some other off-board device?

You just thinking of keeping extra kit to a minimum?

 

[Jeff Kieffer]

I could find some use in that Slo-mo sound added when in varicam mod.

Especially in action sports where the rider can't redo the stunt for sound and where you don't want to add a sound equipment only for "in the case of" witness sound, that could (and will) save your ass in post!

Jeff

 

[Kip Hewitt]

Just curious, but since clearly it's not going to be sync sound, what's wrong with recording to a DAT or some other off-board device?

You just thinking of keeping extra kit to a minimum?

Yes, DAT recording is technically an option, but if the subject matter or budget dictate a minimal crew, you may not have the luxury of a soundman. Plus, when you are working without a script, you never REALLY know what the hell is going to work best for the finished piece. You may walk into the job thinking 24fps is fine, only to discover 36fps is so much better. Do you really want to have to base that decision on whether or not the talent will be available for ADR later down the road?

Plus there is always the risk of human error and the DAT may not be recording while the camera IS recording (this has happened to me on a couple of occasions).

And on and on and on...

Anyway there's a million reasons why I think this is ridiculously useful, but the most important question -- Is it Possible? -- has yet to be answered.

Does anyone know if this is even possible?

Red team???

 

[Stuart English]

No audio in varispeed

No audio in varispeed

I am agoing to guess.

If you want to make a comparison to the HVX 200 or varicam.

Varicam always records 59.94 and the flagged frames in the stream dictate the speed at which a clip was shot. So laying down audio is no problem.

HVX 200 in 24PN mode records 24FPS and NO AUDIO to P2 cards.

That is correct.

 

[Barry Green]

HVX 200 in 24PN mode records 24FPS and NO AUDIO to P2 cards.

Minor correction: there's no audio when recording variable frame rates, that's correct. But when recording 24fps in 24pN mode, there is audio recorded.

Sony works the same way with the EX1 and their "slow & quick motion" feature. Recording at variable frame rates for slow-mo or fast-mo playback, audio recording gets disabled.

 

[Anders Holck]

I think this should be enabled at some point.
One use is doing off speed music performance for music promos.
It's very common to shoot performance parts with a higher framerate and use a time streatched track for music playback.
You'll need the audio to sync it later.

The solution is to always record at 48khz, then tag the samplerate as 48000*projectrate/shootrate. The audio will be in sync when played back, but the pitch is off.