C300: MK1 - How to trigger Ninja Blade? Help!

[analog_addict]

Has anyone successfully used an Atomos Ninja Blade and a C300mk1?

I have used the Blade with my C100 and it works beautifully, triggered via HDMI.

The C300 doesn't have an HDMI trigger and I can't get it to work with any timecode settings. I've also connected the C300 and Blade via LANC cable but that doesn't work either way (recording from C300 or Blade).

Any help would be great!

 

[roly]

As incredible as this may seem, I'm also having the same problem with a recently-acquired C300, albeit with a Ninja Assassin. No timecode over HDMI at all, no matter what settings I try.

May I join the cry for help?

 

[Dustin Svehlak]

I'm guessing the C300 only sends timecode over the timecode BNC port- this may be a limitation of the camera.

I have to ask - with 422 (albeit 8 bit) recording and being able to secure your recording in the second CF slot, why would you want to use an external recorder anyways? I guess it would save time transcoding but there shouldn't be much if any visual benefit.

 

[cyvideo]

I think you may be kind of stuck. From memory the C300 MkI only delivered TC down the SDI and was never upgraded to deliver TC on the HDMI. I know with the Samurai Blade the SDI version there is a setting flag you can activate in the TC menu to react to the embedded TC in the SDI feed even if the camera had no trigger information being sent down the SDI cable. Can't think of a way around this one. A bit of a tricky one I think.

Chris Young

 

[roly]

An update from my side of things.

I've ordered a Tentacle Sync with a couple of extra cables. I now have a number of options:

1. In the unlikely event that it ever happens, I can jam via the timecode BNC (using the Tentacle) on the C300 and send the timecode via HDMI to the Assassin.
2. If not, with the right cable, I can send code via the Tentacle via the XLR input on the C300, then HDMI to the Assassin.
3. If BOTH the above fail, then I will send timecode direct to the Assassin from the Tentacle sync and hope there is no lag compared with the video signal via the HDMI.

This gives me a lot of flexibility, including whether or not I use the Assassin.

BTW, I use the Assassin for a number of reasons:
a) I use a Mac, which annoyingly splits the C300 recordings into 5.15 minute chunks of clips. The ProRes on the Assassin is easier to deal with on my ancient MacBook Pro, too.
b) I can load preview LUTs onto the Assassin
c) My eyes ain't what they were, so a 7" screen is nice.
d) I often work with actors who like to see the previous take. It's way easier to do that with an Assassin than on the tiny C300 screen!

Thanks for your help everyone!

 

[puredrifting]

An update from my side of things.

I've ordered a Tentacle Sync with a couple of extra cables. I now have a number of options:

1. In the unlikely event that it ever happens, I can jam via the timecode BNC (using the Tentacle) on the C300 and send the timecode via HDMI to the Assassin.
2. If not, with the right cable, I can send code via the Tentacle via the XLR input on the C300, then HDMI to the Assassin.
3. If BOTH the above fail, then I will send timecode direct to the Assassin from the Tentacle sync and hope there is no lag compared with the video signal via the HDMI.

This gives me a lot of flexibility, including whether or not I use the Assassin.

BTW, I use the Assassin for a number of reasons:
a) I use a Mac, which annoyingly splits the C300 recordings into 5.15 minute chunks of clips. The ProRes on the Assassin is easier to deal with on my ancient MacBook Pro, too.
b) I can load preview LUTs onto the Assassin
c) My eyes ain't what they were, so a 7" screen is nice.
d) I often work with actors who like to see the previous take. It's way easier to do that with an Assassin than on the tiny C300 screen!

Thanks for your help everyone!

We have three of the Tentacles, they are pretty cool little devices, very easy to use and work with. I wish that the two most popular editing apps, Premiere and FCP X, could read aux TC track like AVID and DaVinci do. I edit in FCP X so when I edit, the XML export workflow is easy but when we hand off footage to other clients who edit in Premiere or FCP, they have to purchase a license of the Tentacle software, which is about $150.00 or we have to convert and send them the XMLs, which is a bit of a PITA.

 

[roly]

Yeah, drifting, it's not ideal. I'd love to have "proper" timecode input to my Assassin, but that looks to be impossible in my case.

It's also another step that I'd rather control directly from Final Cut Pro X. But, given that I am a strictly one-man-band op (I live in the middle of nowhere and do small indy productions), nobody else is being inconvenienced. If I start being paid to collaborate with others on a bigger scale, it'll be one of my more minor problems!

 

[puredrifting]

Yeah, drifting, it's not ideal. I'd love to have "proper" timecode input to my Assassin, but that looks to be impossible in my case.

It's also another step that I'd rather control directly from Final Cut Pro X. But, given that I am a strictly one-man-band op (I live in the middle of nowhere and do small indy productions), nobody else is being inconvenienced. If I start being paid to collaborate with others on a bigger scale, it'll be one of my more minor problems!

Yeah, for OMB, the Tentacles are great. It really is a clear workaround the fact that the new ones have a built in scratch mic is genius.

 

[Run&Gun]

Yeah, for OMB, the Tentacles are great. It really is a clear workaround the fact that the new ones have a built in scratch mic is genius.

The originals do, too.

For me, the real genius feature is being able to completely wirelessly control and sync all of them together or individually(the “new” E Tentacles). Incredibly powerful feature that is a major feature and selling point, but that I feel is kind of glossed over.

 

[puredrifting]

The originals do, too.

For me, the real genius feature is being able to completely wirelessly control and sync all of them together or individually(the “new” E Tentacles). Incredibly powerful feature that is a major feature and selling point, but that I feel is kind of glossed over.

Ahh, didn't know the old ones had that too. The Bluetooth and app is handy and so far, getting the job done.

 

[Run&Gun]

Ahh, didn't know the old ones had that too. The Bluetooth and app is handy and so far, getting the job done.

I’ve had the originals for a few years, now, along with a lot of other guys I work with. But some of my audio guys have added the new E series lately(had the originals, too), so I just got a set this week and the wireless/BT/sync functionality was worth the money. I wish Tentacle would offer a trade-in deal for the old ones. I’d take a two-for-one trade. Give back two old style and get a new E series two-pack for half off. ; )