GH3 Using timecode ( with audio app on iPhone?)

D

den59

Well-known member
Dear all,

i plan to shoot some no-budget interviews next week on gh3 with Rode VMP and
cheapo lavs (Olympus ME-15 or Audio Technika ATR 3350, not decided yet),
recorded into a separate nonpro recorder i have.

Giveng the fact that GH3 does have timecode,
i thought i could save myself from a lot of synching hassle if
i use recorder with a timecode.
But since i happen to have iOS device (and Rode even try to market some devices specifically fitted to recording using iOS - iXY and SmartLav), i thought i might be able to find an app which can record audio and use timecode.
i never used timecodes, so my questions are:
1) do you think it is feasible? I am not trying to
replace pro gear with iPhone, but only use what i have more efficiently.
maybe someone tried already using any of apps for iOS for the task?

2) how does timecode syncing work in digital world, in particular with gh3?
i suppose before recording timecode needs to be synchronized somehow on two devices?
and then the gh3 and audio recorder (iphone app) "stamp" the same timecode during recording?
if anyone used timecode on gh3, can you please briefly describe the workflow?

regards,
denis
 
with pro equipment you sync the two devices via timecode. problem with the gh3 is that you can't sync it. its only use of timecode is just for time of day general closeness, theres not a TC in or out. what i usually do is "dummy jam" with another device and that usually gets you within a second of timing. dummy jamming is setting a timecode in the user menu on all devices and hitting OK at the same time. if you're using a timecode capable audio recorder hardwired to an idevice displaying timecode then you could slate at some point in the recording of video and that would give you a reference of timecode to properly sync to in post. each editing application does timecode syncing differently so you'll have to research on your end. i wouldn't suggest trusting an idevice to hold proper sync of more than an hour or two, thats why i said hard wired. i'm a sound mixer so on jobs with multiple cameras or when i'm recording dual system it falls on me to make sure all cameras and audio are jammed. so i've had to research a lot of different ways to try and make TC work on consumer and prosumer cameras.

i happen to own a gh3 for my personal use but if i'm setting it up to "jam" with other TC devices i would do this:
go into motion picture menu>Time Code>Time code Value>manual input
then look at the timecode value on your master device, IE your audio recorder
choose a time in the future that you can set your gh3 to. for instance TC on your recorder is 10:45:36;01
then i'd set the timecode on my gh3 to 10:46:00;00 and wait for your recorder to count up to that and then hit OK on the gh3 as your recorder reaches that time.
and there, you're within a second of sync. close enough to quickly dial in with your editor.
 
I use 2 seperate audio for every wedding and syncing is a doddle - if you're concerned just use a clapper board or clap your hands, the audio in the GH3 is pretty good and it should be no problem at all to sync up the audio. Or you can discover Pluralyes - an abolutely $%&^$ amazing piece of software - really, %$#@&^% amazing!
 
Thanks, guys, for answering and for explaining what and how to do "dummy jam".

On topic - I could not find any audio recorder app in iPhone with time-code,
even to be "dummy jumed".

Funny enough, i bought Rode VMP and it was shipped with a free version of Plural Eyes 3.
I'm absolutely happy and relived that i can use it to sync with my CS6.

p/s/ read elsewhere that people also do "dummy jam" by choosing the same TC at both devices (e.g. two GH3) and clicking "run" as simultaneous as possible.
It's a pity that GH3 does provide any wifi synching. Although i do understand that this is something that can't be asked from a budget photo (or system) camera.
 
Or you can wait Premiere CC will include syncing of audio tracks like Pluralyes does. Fcpx also does this for you automatically and works very well. I don't even worry about it anymore.
 
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