question about syncing 2 dvx's

S

shadow_dog_dx

Active member
Hi i need to know something.
say i was shooting a live function like a party or sumtin and I had
2 dvx's 100A's with two different camera men and i synced up the timecodes on them using free run. now if each of the camera men didn't leave the camera recording (like they stopped and started when something was happening). How could i sync up the cameras in post so I could cut between camera angles for the final output to dvd.
Any help is appreciated.
thanks alot.
PS: I am using premiere pro 2.
 
You would need something like a smpte timecode input device. It would prduce timecode that has a relationship with the time of day and therefore would sync the cameras. However, you cannot use a SMPTE input device on a dvx. I dont really see any feasable way to sync timecode on two DVX's, especially if you are recording on and off at different times between the cams.
 
Every shoot I have been on with synched DVXs seem to have the timecode shift off synch no matter what in a progressive matter.
 
Probably the easiest and cheapest way to do it would be to simply record with both cameras, and then in post, listen for an obvious sound that is on both clips, for example, a cough, a clap, a door slamming, something of that sort, and then sync up to that same sound while editing, and that should do the trick fine. I've used that method on a few occassions and it's never given me any real problems. The only thing I could forsee being an issue would be if the cameras were a significantly different distance from what was being recorded, creating a time discrepancy with the sound. Hope that helps a bit.
 
BryantStanton said:
Probably the easiest and cheapest way to do it would be to simply record with both cameras, and then in post, listen for an obvious sound that is on both clips, for example, a cough, a clap, a door slamming, something of that sort, and then sync up to that same sound while editing, and that should do the trick fine. I've used that method on a few occassions and it's never given me any real problems. The only thing I could forsee being an issue would be if the cameras were a significantly different distance from what was being recorded, creating a time discrepancy with the sound. Hope that helps a bit.
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A camera flash always works well also. It'll sinc up the footage to the frame.
 
Aram Bauman said:
Every shoot I have been on with synched DVXs seem to have the timecode shift off synch no matter what in a progressive matter.
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If you blacked out the tapes first so they had continous running timecode they shouldnt drift. But then you would have to hit record at the same exact time on both cameras, right?
 
rcbrown23 said:
A camera flash always works well also. It'll sinc up the footage to the frame.
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Exactly. Look for an obvious visual or audio clue, and simply sync up to that. Keep in mind, however, that if you're going to sync to a visual element, play both videos frame by frame to match up. Don't take the risk of trying to sync it up just by playing through normally, you could end up a few fractions of a second off which could cause potential issues depending how synced you need to be.

For audio cues, open the wave viewer in your editor if it has one and try using that to sync. That will give you more precision that simply listening and trying to sync up through normal playback.

Just some tips! Good luck!


Oh, and I may be off on this, but with the DVX100 b (I use the original 100) I think you can use a firewire cable between the two cameras to use a single timecode between the two. If that's correct, that should provide a very easy way to sync up. This is, of course, assuming you're not more than a few feet from each other at any given time. On that thought, I wonder if the next iteration of the DVX will have wireless timecode sync? That would be pretty snazzy.
 
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then you need a truck so you can do a live recording and do a mix in the truck...oh sorry got ahead of myself...to me that's going to be pretty hard considering they are recording off-and-on and possibly not at the same time. so how are you going to get a visual or audio clue if the other camera wasn't on?

your best bet is gete enough tapes and just keep recording.
 
He's asking about syncing up footage. If one camera isn't on, you're gonna have a hell of a time syncing up footage that doesn't even exist.
 
Sependign on your editor, you can play a Timecode audio track into oen audio channel on each camera (use a radio mic if need be) and then use the NLE to grabe timecode from that audio track. I think avid at least has this capability.

Or just play a cd or other music over radio mics to both cameras so you have a clear unique waveform to use to sync in post. - it's still a clip by clip thing, but it garuntees you a independent unique sync track. - use somthgin with a good beat but lots of changes.

- Mikko
 
He's asking about syncing up footage.
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if that was to me...i know that's why i said
so how are you going to get a visual or audio clue if the other camera wasn't on?
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ah but mikko makes an excellent suggestion...and wmiller is right. one thing you could try and run a test to see if it works, but get another camera (even a cheap one) and make it your master but it has to keep recording. take it's firewire go to a hub and run it to the other two cameras. so it's sending it's timecode signal to the two cameras and it won't matter off-and-on because as soon as they hit record it's picking up the TC from the master. i didn't do this with two cameras, but i was able to send TC from premiere into my DVX and i know it worked because the very beginning of a brand new tape should read 00:00:00:00 not 00:01:25:14. i'd try but i only have one DVX and nothing else takes incoming TC. don't know if you can route a firewire signal two ways??????
 
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hey dudes thanks for the help, ill prolly end up non-stop taping if i can and put em both on free run. I got another question to know:
is there anyway to get the timecode from the camera to premiere so i can see the time code of what im editing.
 
If you are in free-run, the timecodes should match prety closely anyway - freerun timecode is the same as rec-run with teh tapes rolling freely.

Premiere (and most NLEs) will automaticlly display teh timecode fo the clip in the project - they all capture it, it's part of the DV stream.

- Mikko
 
novelt said:
if that was to me...i know that's why i said

ah but mikko makes an excellent suggestion...and wmiller is right. one thing you could try and run a test to see if it works, but get another camera (even a cheap one) and make it your master but it has to keep recording. take it's firewire go to a hub and run it to the other two cameras. so it's sending it's timecode signal to the two cameras and it won't matter off-and-on because as soon as they hit record it's picking up the TC from the master. i didn't do this with two cameras, but i was able to send TC from premiere into my DVX and i know it worked because the very beginning of a brand new tape should read 00:00:00:00 not 00:01:25:14. i'd try but i only have one DVX and nothing else takes incoming TC. don't know if you can route a firewire signal two ways??????
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Alrighty, I misunderstodd what you were trying to say. Same page now :thumbsup:
 
ye but when im editing i don't see the timecode i see the time on the timeline.
like say if i was filming on free run and the timecode was 17:23:30:13 is there anyway to see the timecode when i am actually editing.
 
not sure about premiere but FCP has a "sync by timecode" function. i use it alot with synced dvx's when i've shot live bands with multiple cams..works GREAT and you can edit on the fly with 2 buttons...i would assume premiere has something similar..
 
I'm gona presume you mean Premiere Pro 2.0.
There is a video effect called Timecord Burn than you can set to display either source, timeline or clip timecode over any clip. Just drop the clip on the timeline and apply the effect.

I'm not too familier with Prem Pro 2, so there may be other ways too, but that's one way.

- Mikko
 
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