Synching external audio recorder with HVX via timecode question

Stephen Pruitt

Stephen Pruitt

Member
Hi all. . .

I'm considering purchasing a Sound Devices 744T recorder, but I haven't figured out a way to synch the two devices together. Is there some way, besides hitting both start buttons at the same time, to get an external audio recorder to synch to the HVX?

I want to use TC to do the synch because it will save a huge amount of effort (over hundreds of clips) in mating the sound files with the HVX video files via the automatic process of FCP than to do it all by hand.

Has anyone accomplished this sort of thing???

Stephen
 
HVX doesn't have TC IN.
you have to send the LTC to one of the channels on HVX. Avid can read TC on audio channel, Final Cut can't
if you want to stick with Final Cut;
The name of the product is FCP auxTC Reader. it is way cheaper than TimeTools by Gallery UK.
haven't tried it yet.

http://www.videotoolshed.com/?page=products&pID=26

berk
 
Last edited:
Berk,

Could I use this same strategy of recording timecode to an audio track with a Canon XH-A1 and a Sound Devices 702T recorder?

I'm using Avid Xpress Pro. THANKS.
 
Berk:

Nice find. Didn't know anyone had reverse engineered FCP this way already. This is awesome for all of us using DEVAs and Sound Device external TC recorders.

Nice!

Dan
 
Hi Dan

I tried the application this weak in multi-camera situation..
FCP v6.0 accepted the BWav files without a hitch.
Merging the sound and video file in FCP was also easy



i highly recommend it

Best

Berk
 
Hi Bobby

yes you can do it, avid has built-in future for this purpose. you don't need any third party plug-in.

just beware that u should put the channel on the camera in LINE mode, and also there is some amount of LTC signal bleeding to the adjacent channel.

best

berk
 
Berk said:
Hi Bobby

yes you can do it, avid has built-in future for this purpose. you don't need any third party plug-in.

just beware that u should put the channel on the camera in LINE mode, and also there is some amount of LTC signal bleeding to the adjacent channel.

best

berk
Click to expand...

TC bleed should be minimize-able by setting the record level quite low on the HVX. Try lowering it until the bleed is negligible and see if the TC reader still locks. If not, you could add gain from an external line amp, like in an analog console or outboard processor. Just make sure any EQ or compression is hard-bypassed.
 
Hi Ted

it is known issue for dv type cameras. whenever you would do, there will be always a bleeding.
some says that right channels gives less or no, some says left channel..

i tried everything that suggested maybe more, I just can't rid of it.
yet, no issue for us

so far, -12dbfs at Line mode worked without a hitch
best

berk
 
Berk said:
Hi Ted

it is known issue for dv type cameras. whenever you would do, there will be always a bleeding.
some says that right channels gives less or no, some says left channel..

i tried everything that suggested maybe more, I just can't rid of it.
yet, no issue for us

so far, -12dbfs at Line mode worked without a hitch
best

berk
Click to expand...

-12 db is VERY hot for a steady-state tone like SMPTE time code. On a VU meter, it would pin hard. You should be able to lower it at least 10-20 db below that and still get a perfectly usable signal. At that level, if you've still got crosstalk then the HVX's audio circuits are garbage. I want to doubt that...

Time code is a very high frequency-rich sound and therefore will bleed through whenever conditions will let it. I've heard too-hot SMPTE bleed across every channel of a $500,000 SSL mixing console. The solution IS to lower the level. At a low enough level, even the most inexpensive of audio devices should have low enough crosstalk to be bleed-free.

It's key to remember that the HVX's meters (like almost all digital audio devices these days) are peak-reading, not VU. A steady state tone at -16 db peak is 0 db VU. A 0 db VU tone played on an audio system at typical listening levels will sound much louder than the program material you've been working on. A -12 db (peak) tone, or around +3 VU, will have most listeners running from the room covering their ears.
 
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