TC Synching A and B CAMS

[monster vs. robot]

Anyone have any experience with getting timcode on 2 HVX cams close without jamming them with firewire. I'll be using two cameras handheld-the only way I've heard that gets them close is to do a free rec run and the time on the two cameras will be close, maybe off a few frames. Any suggestions? thanks,
pierre

[VaricamLife]

You have a few choices...

1) Use some sort of jam sync setup. You can jam sync the cameras or jam sync a pair of slates. Doesn't look like this is something you want to do though.

2) If both camera operators are on top of their game, or their camera assistants are, you can have them both shoot a common slate. This way they will both have the same clap moment and their timecodes won't matter. However, this will require syncing working by your assistant editor/editor after the fact. Also, this would probably require eating up more running time as they might have to readjust their frame after getting the common slate. With the P2 setups often being scare on recording time, this might not be the most conveinent setup.

3) Use the free run timecode setting. This will certainly be a bit off, but could at least allow you to get in the ballpark quite quickly.

Those are the choices as I'm familiar with.

cheers.

[Justin Marx]

Go into the menu and set the timecode on both cameras in free run.. Press the SET button on both cameras at the same time, and check them every once in awhile.. (battery change is a good time, and after a few P2 cards) Did a short film like this and never had a problem..

Or shoot a common slate..

Not sure what VARICAMLIFE is talking about with the frame rates.. You only need to sync at 24fps, unless I'm mistaken?

[aravance]

You could just synch them up intially with a firewire cable and then just disconnect the firewire cable when you are done synching. The time code will be synched from then on out unless you power off the cameras....and you still have the mobility you need. Put it on free run first though.