Linking multiple DVX100B's

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pwelander

Active member
I've had a DVX100B for a while now and used it for a number of work related interviews. I'm getting a second one (used) and want to try some two-camera shoots. The books suggest that I can link the two so they share time code. I assume this is useful for synching the two cameras in post (which in my case is FCE4 and FCpro) but the instructions are pretty vague on how to make it work. Is it via firewire? Does one camera serve as master and the other as a slave? How do I find a firewire with the funny small connector on both ends?

Will this really save me any grief or should I just do it visually in FC?

While we're at it, I suppose the other more elegant choice would be some sort of switcher that would allow me to do a live two-camera shoot and save all that fiddling with A and B rolls in editing. However that seems expensive...$5K?

Much obliged.
 
Yes, one camera is the master and one is a slave. It would not save you much grief (or money) to figure out a live switching situation. Just shoot and leave the cuts to FCP.

I have the 100a, so I don't have the sync feature and can't tell you where it is... but scan the menu. There should be something in there about internal/external TC. The cable is simply a FW 400 4-pin to 4-pin, readily available wherever fine FW cables are sold.
 
I shoot with two 100b's often. It is much easier to use a clapper board as a audio/video common mark and sync the a and b roll in post using that common mark. plus, if you want to place your cameras very far apart, you will have to have a long (and expensive) fire wire cable. Premier Pro CS3 has a very easy to use multi camera editing proccess.
 
Yeah, that may be the way to go. I've checked out 4 pin to 4 pin firewires at B&H, and they are available, I think up to 75' if memory serves, but having one more cable on the camera isn't all that attractive. I have a clapper board somewhere in my basement that I made many years ago when I was dabbling in double-system super 8. Now that was an interesting process.
 
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