Movie Slate sync for 370

E

eddo

Active member
I'm thinking about getting Movie Slate for my iPad. They have a hardware add-on for syncing multiple cameras, which needs LTC I/O on an audio cable to sync. I can't find anywhere that says the 370 has LTC through audio (I assume it does, but don't see it referenced).
Here are the facts about the sync module:
http://www.pureblendsoftware.com/FAQs/10178/

Ed
 
I know there are TC in and out on the 370, but the Movie Slate site makes mention of LTC through audio, maybe all I need is the right connector
on the TC end and the special 4 pin connector referenced on the Movie Slate site.

Naive follow-up to my question:
We've used clappers for multi-camera shoots, but we've never had to jam-sync TimeCode. We've lined up the clap in post
and had all 3 cameras synced. We also sometimes use flash cameras, which also works fine, but again, not syncing TC. If we're in a run-and-gun,
multi-day shoot with 3 cameras, and we want synced time-code, but we're also trying to save batteries and P2 card space, what happens to sync
every time someone shuts off their camera, or stops recording while other cameras continue?
 
Good link Paul! I gather the 300 and 370 output continous time-code like my old cameras. My current one, an HMC150 does not.
 
eddo said:
what happens to sync
every time someone shuts off their camera, or stops recording while other cameras continue?
Click to expand...

You need free-run time code. I've used it with Movie Slate, my HPX300 and various Sony cameras together and my logic is to just get them all within a second of each other. I set all to the actual time of day (1pm = 13:00:00,00) Correct me if I'm wrong but LTC means linear time code, using one of the audio tracks. Our cameras don't use that type of TC, so when you turn the camera off - you're screwed. Free run TC continues with no batteries attached (using the tiny lithium battery) Instructions for syncing 2 or more HPX's with free-run TC is in the manual, although I've only ever done it with Sony DSR cams.
 
On the 370 you can set it to free run using a switch labeled TCG that's right next to the audio channel switches.
 
I just got the free ambient app for my i-fone and it all seems to work OK, just need to make a lead up with the 22db pad in line as the output from the HPX301/371 is too hot although it did pick up the timecode and work OK during testing.
 
Gary, Are you running an XLR to mini off the 371 and getting TC through it? I never got a satisfactory answer about LTC coming through audio on the 370-371.
The thing I like about Movie Slate is that, just like a real clapper, it has places for scene, take, etc.
ED
 
FYI... I've been using the iPad Movie Slate with the optional module for awhile now. I did order the BNC cable they recommend, but, I had to add a resistor to get the TC level right. I use TC out... not audio. I also have the same setup on my iPhone so I can connect the iPhone to a camera and sync to the iPad wirelessly. Yes, there is a short delay, but, it's close enough for Rock & Roll.

Good Luck!
 
I just hooked up the BNC timecode out to the i-fone via a three pin 3.5mm jack plug and it worked, very high level as the i-fone input in mic level so a resistor across the pins will attenuate it fine once I get around to making a cable.
 
The stability of the clock is very important, and Movie Slate drifts. What we've done is to use a Denecke SB-3 as our
master time source. We jam-sync the SB-3 from Movie Slate and then use the TC line for cameras and WordClock line from the
SB-3 for field recorder(s).
Some of our cameras (the AF100's) sync and freerun .. so frame drift is a big deal .. and unfortunately, Movie Slate drifts enough
that it's a problem.

We periodically re-jam with MovieSlate in-between takes.

I've heard that Denecke is working on an iPad app similar to MovieSlate, but will have stability via the GPS clock. That will be
a welcome thing...

MovieSlate is a good app .. but the time drift is a problem they need to address.

jeff
 
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