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Syncing multiple cameras

Z

zak forrest

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I've never had to sync cameras before. I've shot a ton of multi camera stuff but it was always just getting pieces to cut together later out of order. For an upcoming 3 camera shoot, a lot of it will have to be continuous.

Is there a way to sync my 3 Reds together without a third party timecode box? I have the Red timecode cable. I know the cams didn't always generate timecode but with all the new builds I thought maybe that had changed.

Best,

Z
 
Zak,
I'd use the Denecke boxes; either the SB-3 or the SB-T.
Is there sound on your job? Your sound guy may have 3 of these boxes already. Or you could rent them. Here in NYC, you could go to Gotham Sound.
Cheers,
Harry
 
Yes Harry,

Denecke boxes are the way to go. Test before you get onsite!

Dave
 
Thanks Harry,

I'm aware of those boxes, but I was just wondering if it's possible to just sync the cameras up to eachother somehow. Do the Reds spit out timecode? Can two cameras be synced up to the third cameras time of day code or something, or is that crazy? Forgive any of this if its ridiculous, I'm new to timecode sync..

There is sound being professionally recorded by the venue, not sure how yet, and we will all have tiny mikes on our cams as a guide if all else fails.

This job is pro bono and if they don't have any boxes I am not going to spend any money. I will just sync it later, tediously, to the guide tracks on the cams.
 
I have the "Red Timecode Cable"

Can I just plug two Reds together and magically sync them?

Why would you need to make a custom cable? Please forgive my ignorance on the subject (timecode/syncing)

Thank you
 
I'm assuming so.... That's what most do when you jam sync so... the only reason to make a custom cable would be to keep all the camera plugged into one another in a closed loop.

Camera one out into camera two, camera two out into camera three, camera three out into camera one. Meaning you'd need a custom cable to get to the third camera. You could just link two of the cameras with the Timecode Cable and they'd stay in sync.

You could probably jam sync camera one to camera two, then pull out the cable from camera two and plug it into camera three to sync that one. Then run them without the cables, but they could drift out of sync with each other by a few frames.


Page 10 (right side):
ftp://ftp.panasonic.com/pub/Panasonic/Drivers/PBTS/brochures/B_AJ-HPX3000.pdf

Here you can see this camera has a Timecode In and Timecode Out, giving you the option of plugging multiple cameras into each other. I really wish RED had this but it doesn't so, you'd need a custom cable to accomplish the same thing.
 
You could use the Sound Devices TC cable, which has a breakout for both IN and OUT; you just run a BNC to the next camera and plug into the second Sound Devices cable, then the third, etc.
I'm not a sound guy, so I'm not sure how reliable the Red end of it is, though. With an SB-3 on each of the cameras, you'd be golden.
Cheers,
Harry
 
I can't have all the cameras tethered to one another. I need to jam sync and then disconnect. If they drift then I can re-sync tediously in post. Just wondering if this route was even possible. I'm sure someone has done this, can anyone else chime in? Red?
 
You can certainly jam-sync and the Red will hold sync for a period of time, probably long enough to last the show. But the safe way would be to have a box on each camera. Also, when you power down (for a battery change) you lose sync. Can you go on AC power?
Cheers,
Harry
 
we can't use AC but can probably re-sync after each set, every 30 mins to an hour. this is great news =]

so I would just plug two Reds together with the Red TC cable, jam sync, and then for the third camera does it matter which camera we use to sync it to?

I've never done this before, do you just CHECK the "output" box in the timecode menu and set the "mode" to GENERATE on the camera you want to sync to, and then check JAM on the "jam sync" box and "mode" to JAM on the camera you are syncing? and then repeat the process for the third cam?
 
I've never done it your way but I would assume that the "A" camera is the MASTER, so "Jam Sync" remains unchecked. Plug into "B" camera (SLAVE) and click "Jam Sync" on "B". Repeat with "C", etc.
30 minutes should be no problem. We usually re-jam every few hours. The old rule with Aaton was once in the morning, once after lunch. But that camera had an internal capacitor for TC memory and quick reboots after a battery change. :)
Cheers,
Harry
 
what would be cool is wireless time code syncing between the cameras on EPIC and Scarlet with one camera serving as the master
 
darkkelt said:
what would be cool is wireless time code syncing between the cameras on EPIC and Scarlet with one camera serving as the master
Click to expand...

You sure you'd rely on wireless technology for something like timecode? I could see maybe a preview monitor, but timecode? Personally I don't trust wireless technology with anything.
 
Andrew McCarrick said:
You sure you'd rely on wireless technology for something like timecode? I could see maybe a preview monitor, but timecode? Personally I don't trust wireless technology with anything.
Click to expand...

Again, I'm pretty new to this subject, but if jam syncing once in the morning and once after lunch works pretty good, couldnt you just be synced up with multiple cameras via wireless which is "constantly" checking in on everything? It wouldn't have to be a steady signal, but just now and then syncing up or whatever.. Seems really sweet to me, or at least for my needs. Maybe if you need a more hardcore synced thing it wouldn't work.
 
zak forrest said:
Again, I'm pretty new to this subject, but if jam syncing once in the morning and once after lunch works pretty good, couldnt you just be synced up with multiple cameras via wireless which is "constantly" checking in on everything? It wouldn't have to be a steady signal, but just now and then syncing up or whatever.. Seems really sweet to me, or at least for my needs. Maybe if you need a more hardcore synced thing it wouldn't work.
Click to expand...

Very true... didn't think about that. For Jam Syncing that would be amazing... but personally I prefer to stay constantly plugged in. Just gives me the reassurance that the chance of slipping sync is almost zero.
 
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