Jam sync & t/code problem

[Chris Swinbanks]

Have been running our Red One during some actors' voice-record sessions taking timecode from Pro-tools source so we have sync reference with the master audio. Footage is for later reference of the actors.
Currently shooting 24fps on build 21.3.2 to Red Drive, and we've been doing this on and off over 12 months and different builds.

We had it working fine for a while...

Problem is that for the last couple of shoots (since sometime mid-late last year) I can't get timecode to jam-sync correctly.
T/code input cable has been re-checked to ensure its using pins 1 (ground) and 2 (incoming t/c), nothing attached to pin 5.
Now I can't recall if the problem was there before the audio board upgrade (sometime in July), or became an issue after the upgrade was done.

We've checked and swapped every cable we can at the pro-tools side.

I can get Jam-sync chain symbol on the LCD, but only get some weird timecode (eg 02:16:45:07 instead of 01:04:15:09) which doesn't seems to relate to either TOD or the Pro-tools t/c...
.. and I make sure I am hitting "record" after the t/c is running on Pro-tools.

"Jam-sync" is selected, and it doesn't seem to matter whether "output" is selected or not.... it doesn't change the t/c.

I don't have ready access to a t/c generator...

Anyone got clues on what else I can check/test?

 

[Andrew M.]

Did you select SMPTE 274 as a clock source format?

 

[Chris Swinbanks]

Did you select SMPTE 274 as a clock source format?

Hi Andrew. You mean from the Pro-tools side of things? I"ll have to check with the sound engineer. I"m not aware of any other camera settings for this...
cheers
Chris

 

[Andrew M.]

Hi Andrew. You mean from the Pro-tools side of things? I"ll have to check with the sound engineer. I"m not aware of any other camera settings for this...
cheers
Chris

Yes, Pro-tools side.
Let me know what setting you have there, also if they differentiate between audio and video.

 

[Chris Swinbanks]

Andrew, response from engineer is " No, there is no selection for ‘clock source format’. The only thing I can change regarding LTC out is the frame rate."
cheers
Chris

 

[Andrew M.]

Are you using one of this?
http://www.digidesign.com/index.cfm?langid=100&itemid=5462

Also check page 8 of this document.

http://akmedia.digidesign.com/support/docs/192ClockJitter_30957.pdf

You can check whole document, good explanation of TC config.


Andrew

 

[Chris Swinbanks]

thanks again Andrew.
Had another record session this morning, and while chatting about the problem the engineer actually pointed out what I think is that same system in his rack...
so I've sent your question on.

He mentioned that it was a "balanced" t/c signal that it produces... and I'm now wondering whether my t/c cable should have pins 2 & 3 connected (plus ground), rather than just pin 2 & ground.....
any thoughts?

Chris

 

[Andrew M.]

thanks again Andrew.
Had another record session this morning, and while chatting about the problem the engineer actually pointed out what I think is that same system in his rack...
so I've sent your question on.

He mentioned that it was a "balanced" t/c signal that it produces... and I'm now wondering whether my t/c cable should have pins 2 & 3 connected (plus ground), rather than just pin 2 & ground.....
any thoughts?

Chris

Sure, balanced have to have 2 & 3 plus ground!

Check what cables you were using at the beginning.

 

[Chris Swinbanks]

Thanks.. its the same cable that worked originally!
It did break at one point at a solder join, so was returned to the same guy that made it for repair. I've since taken it back to him to re-check... claims its fine!

I've just pulled it apart, and Pin 3 has never been solder joined, that's whats so confusing..

Guess I'll get another cable with 2&3 connected... thanks for your assistance, Andrew...