Zaxcom ZFR200 drift

[zak forrest]

I have two Zaxcom's that sync up later in the computer just fine without any drift

They do drift, however, from the camera mike's audio. It seems like they stay in sync as long as the camera is running, but once the shot is over and a new shot begins, it must be re-sync'd.

Zaxcom ZFR200 is supposed to be stable within one frame (or less) for up to 6 hours.

I make a new multiclip sequence in final cut pro 7 to create gaps between the clips so that the one very long audio track from the Zaxcom recorder can sync up to the entire project. I've always worked this way in the past with perfect results (using audio from a Sound Devices recorder, for example..)

Can anyone help me figure this out? The ZFR is set to 23.98 as is the Epic and the FCP7 sequence.

 

[Marc Wielage]

How is the Epic getting its timecode? There's always the possibility that the ZFR is correct, and the camera is wrong. I'm not a fan of relying on any camera's internal timecode system, and I think it makes more sense to run them in external with a Denecke SB-T or a Lockit box.

My suggestion is to always use a timecode slate and also have a reference audio feed to the camera. That way, you always have three possible sync methods: 1) slate clap, 2) slate timecode, 3) audio-only [ala PluralEyes]. One way of figuring out which specific component is screwing up is to shoot a five minute test, with a sync clap at the head, timecode throughout, and another sync clap at the tail. Pull that into the editing timeline and check it, and see if it's exactly frame-for-frame in sync.

If the TC slate consistently matches the sound recorder, then you can eliminate that as the timecode problem. BTW, there's been quite a bit of discussion on the Zaxcom ZFR system over on the Wexler Sound Forum (most very positive).

 

[zak forrest]

yeah i know all that but thanks. i'm pretty sure the zfr didnt always drift with my epic footage (just syncing to the scratch audio and no timecode sync whatsoever)

but maybe i'm wrong..

i think there might be an incorrect setting somewhere that i'm overlooking, wondering if anyone here can help out.


all my shots stay in sync with the zaxcom no matter how long they are, the problem occurrs once i stop recording and then start recording a new clip, everything is then out of sync.

 

[Christopher Mills]

Zaxcom is incredibly customer oriented.. Definitely email them and set up a phone call to walk you through settings and tests..
I own other gear by them, and they have been super helpful with it..
BTW.. I do use the recorder TC in time of day free run as master with Epic