Jamming timecode when changing frame rates

[Nathan DuMoulin]

A few quick questions:

Do you jam timecode each time you change the frame rate, or just when changing the project time base?

Also how bad does DSMC2 drift when changing batteries or going into sleep mode?

Thanks!

 

[Marc Wielage]

I think the wisest course is to strap a timecode box (like an Ambient Lockit or a Denecke box) onto the side of the camera and run it in continuous jam all day. That way, whenever the camera is running at speed, it'll be locked to the same timecode as sound -- and if there are multiple cameras, each can be locked to each other the same way. In varispeed, all bets are off.

 

[Stacey Spears]

I think the wisest course is to strap a timecode box (like an Ambient Lockit or a Denecke box) onto the side of the camera and run it in continuous jam all day. That way, whenever the camera is running at speed, it'll be locked to the same timecode as sound -- and if there are multiple cameras, each can be locked to each other the same way. In varispeed, all bets are off.

Exactly! The OMOD Command and Command RT have the Ambient built-in. In my little scenario, I have a Master Lockit with the SD 633, an Ambient TC Slate and the OMOD Command RT. Everything is in sync, not to be confused with InSynch, the band. OMOD takes it a step further than normal Ambient by offering genlock, just like the Denecke SB-T w/ tri-level sync.

 

[Marc Wielage]

There are a ton of new timecode options coming out this week at NAB -- I'm shocked to see little $300 boxes with both timecode and genlock on them, with battery times over 24 hours. This is an incredible value, and we're at the point where there's no excuse not to have precisely accurate timecode on all cameras (and sound) on sets these days.