H4n settings with GH2

Z

zm15

Well-known member
I'm using an NTG-2 with the H4N and want to make sure i've got my settings right. I know with the canon DSLR's there was a syncing problem, but I was curious if that matters with the GH2.

I was thinking of shooting WAV 16 bit 48khz. There shouldn't be a sync problem correct If I'm shooting 1080 24p? Or any of the other modes?
 
zm15 said:
I'm using an NTG-2 with the H4N and want to make sure i've got my settings right. I know with the canon DSLR's there was a syncing problem, but I was curious if that matters with the GH2.

I was thinking of shooting WAV 16 bit 48khz. There shouldn't be a sync problem correct If I'm shooting 1080 24p? Or any of the other modes?
Click to expand...


You have to mark the beginning of the shot with a slate/clapper. Use the onboard audio mics for a reference track. What I have heard people say, is that there may be a bit of timing differences with the Zoom H4N (or any other recorder for that matter...) due to the differences in crystals used in the separate devices. Some products have higher quality parts, and so the difference could be negligible after long periods of time. Pro setups include some form of synchronization between the two or more 'recording' clocks, and typically not available on low end cameras and audio recorders.

However, if you shots are less than a few minutes, there should be no problem with drift... but with this and everything else... testing is required to determine what the drift is between the two devices, and whether it will be a problem for you.

As for the recording parameters, WAV 16 bit, 48k sampling rate is the 'standard' for film work, independent of video frame rate.
 
Not exactly what you're looking for but have you tried plural eyes for syncing?

zm15 said:
I'm using an NTG-2 with the H4N and want to make sure i've got my settings right. I know with the canon DSLR's there was a syncing problem, but I was curious if that matters with the GH2.

I was thinking of shooting WAV 16 bit 48khz. There shouldn't be a sync problem correct If I'm shooting 1080 24p? Or any of the other modes?
Click to expand...
 
Ranger099 said:
Not exactly what you're looking for but have you tried plural eyes for syncing?
Click to expand...

I've considered that and am looking into it. I just wanted to reach out and see what others have done with this set up, if any so far, and to make sure i'm doing the audio right. I know i have to clapboard the sound and sync in post. Was just wondering if there was any drift since the GH2 runs at different frame rates than the 5d Mk II. Particularly interested if there is audio drift with the GH2 in 24p mode.

I'm asking around before I buy, thanks!
 
Mine is on its way. Body + 14-140 Lens

Mine is on its way. Body + 14-140 Lens

I ordered from Brad Parler at Tapeworks Texas and he was able to find a distribution chain and pull one for me from a warehouse. Should be here in less than 5 days. He is a pleasure to work with I suggest you give him a call.
 
The drift will NEVER be in the camera, always in the recording device. Think about it for a minute, you will see what I mean. The video and audio you capture in the camera is always in sync with each other. The frame rate, the codec, the aspect ratio, you can bounce it all over the place and the audio will always be in sync. The audio capture rate in the camera is always the same. Everything I have seen has been 48K and 16 bit, at least in the Panny line. So if you are shooting 720X480 SD or AVCHD, it is always 48K and 16 bit and always in sync with the video. So now the only thing that is left to drift is the other audio source, the external recorder.

I did one shoot and used a cheapie Pocketrak 2G and it had a terrible drift to it. Because I was working with hour+ long clips, plural eyes could only get part of it right. I blew hours into experimenting and in the end, dumped it and went with the cam audio. I now have Pocketrak CXs and they have a far better drift free reputation.
 
There will innevitably be audio drift on the recording device from the camera audio, the internal clocks don't stay perfectly synced. There's a trick to using plural eyes for long sessions. If you are recording anything over 30min or so then all you do is split the audio tracks up into smaller 15-30min chunks first in your timeline and then run Plural Eyes after. PE will then line everything up accordingly.
 
ChipThome said:
The drift will NEVER be in the camera, always in the recording device. Think about it for a minute, you will see what I mean. The video and audio you capture in the camera is always in sync with each other. The frame rate, the codec, the aspect ratio, you can bounce it all over the place and the audio will always be in sync. The audio capture rate in the camera is always the same. Everything I have seen has been 48K and 16 bit, at least in the Panny line. So if you are shooting 720X480 SD or AVCHD, it is always 48K and 16 bit and always in sync with the video. So now the only thing that is left to drift is the other audio source, the external recorder.

I did one shoot and used a cheapie Pocketrak 2G and it had a terrible drift to it. Because I was working with hour+ long clips, plural eyes could only get part of it right. I blew hours into experimenting and in the end, dumped it and went with the cam audio. I now have Pocketrak CXs and they have a far better drift free reputation.
Click to expand...

Worth noting that I've noticed an audio clap on the GH1 comes like 4 frames or more before the visual clap.
 
Ben_B said:
Worth noting that I've noticed an audio clap on the GH1 comes like 4 frames or more before the visual clap.
Click to expand...

Ben, I will buy there could be an initial sync issue, but not a progressive drift issue in the audio as I experienced in that recorder. Did you happen to check further down the timeline, to see if that four frame lag held constant ??? If the cams I was using were starting 4 frames off, that could explain some of the hair pulling I was doing with Plural Eyes !!!
 
Ben_B said:
Worth noting that I've noticed an audio clap on the GH1 comes like 4 frames or more before the visual clap.
Click to expand...

Could also be that your cam was far away from the H4N so it recorded the slate earlier (or later, whatever) than the H4N.
Soundwaves travel about 14,3m per frame (@24fps).
 
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