GH5 Working with timecode on the GH5

Cary Knoop

Cary Knoop

Veteran
I have a couple of questions about using timecode using the GH5.

If I hookup an external timecode device does the GH5 transport the timecode over HDMI, for instance to a Sound Devices Mixpre?
Could I share the timecode, external or internal, from the GH5 at the same time to an Atomos and an external sound recorder?
Does the Atomos HDMI out include timecode and HDMI control signals it receives from a GH5?
 
Cary Knoop said:
I have a couple of questions about using timecode using the GH5.

If I hookup an external timecode device does the GH5 transport the timecode over HDMI, for instance to a Sound Devices Mixpre?
Could I share the timecode, external or internal, from the GH5 at the same time to an Atomos and an external sound recorder?
Does the Atomos HDMI out include timecode and HDMI control signals it receives from a GH5?
Click to expand...

I can only answer the first question; yes the GH5 will transport timecode over HDMI and start/stop signaling for the recording can optionally be set in the menu.

You can put devices that include both an HDMI input and output in series. You could connect the audio sources to the Sound Devices MixPre then lineout to the GH5 microphone input to record the audio mix with the video internally, then GH5 HDMI output with video, audio and timecode to the Atomos. You could include the sound recorder in the HDMI loop too I suppose to get timecode included in the BWF WAV files. There could be some latency with HDMI. The GH5 recorded mix would be for synch to the BWF WAV files.
 
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I tested the first part myself and it does not work.

You can trigger recording from the GH5 directly to the Atomos and directly to the Mixpre but not in pass-through.
 
Panasonic Basic Owners Manual P.60 said:
Conditions for outputting a time code to HDMI output:

A time code is output to video from the HDMI output only when all the following conditions are satisfied.

In recording
•When [HDMI Time Code Output] is set to [ON].
•In Creative Video Mode.
•When [Rec Format] is set to [AVCHD], [MP4 (LPCM)] or [MOV].
Click to expand...


You have to make settings in two places on the GH5:

1.) Time Code - >HDMI Time Code Output > ON and choose FREE RUN or RECORD RUN
2.) HDMI REC Output - >HDMI Recording Control>Choose ON if you want the GH5 to start recording on the device; Choose OFF if you just want the time code only while starting the recording from the device.

The recorder itself has to be recording in BWF LPCM format.

I have (2) TASCAM DR701D and record time code from both my GH5 and GH5s.
 
Tom Roper said:
You have to make settings in two places on the GH5:

1.) Time Code - >HDMI Time Code Output > ON and choose FREE RUN or RECORD RUN
2.) HDMI REC Output - >HDMI Recording Control>Choose ON if you want the GH5 to start recording on the device; Choose OFF if you just want the time code only while starting the recording from the device.

The recorder itself has to be recording in BWF LPCM format.

I have (2) TASCAM DR701D and record time code from both my GH5 and GH5s.
Click to expand...
It works when you connect directly from the GH5 to either the Atomos or the Mixpre but HDMI controls do not work through the Atomos.

What I want is to start recording on the GH5 -> Atomos -> MixPre.
This does not work.
 
The TASCAM DR701D can be cascaded using HDMI, slave units can follow a master to start and stop recording simultaneously.

So when you ask your first question:
If I hookup an external timecode device does the GH5 transport the timecode over HDMI, for instance to a Sound Devices Mixpre?
Click to expand...
The answer is yes for the GH5 because "transporting" timecode over HDMI in this case means only one thing; outputting. There is no HDMI "pass-through" possible with GH5 because there is only one HDMI port. It's the other devices, sound recorder or Atomos that control whether the timecode gets passed down the line or received by other HDMI cascaded devices.
 
Cary Knoop said:
What I want is to start recording on the GH5 -> Atomos -> MixPre.
This does not work.
Click to expand...

Okay now I understand what you want, you can ignore my last post. Passthrough seems not to be there with the output from the Atomos which would be disappointing. I assume you are more interested in simply monitoring with the Atomos than actually recording with it but either way...
 
Tom Roper said:
Okay now I understand what you want, you can ignore my last post. Passthrough seems not to be there with the output from the Atomos which would be disappointing. I assume you are more interested in simply monitoring with the Atomos than actually recording with it but either way...
Click to expand...
Acutally I record the video with the Atomos and record the sound with the MixPre.
Having the MixPre automatically triggered would take one variable out of the equation.

It appears the problem is the Atomos but I am not 100% certain as HDMI protocols are negotiated between the devices.

Talking about the Atomos, it has all those HDMI sound inputs but what device will actually turn analog sound into HDMI sound channels?
 
Until I had a better solution, I would connect audio inputs to the MixPre, set recording manually on the MixPre and leave it running continuous audio recording, use RTC on the MixPre to insert a ball park timecode on the BWF LPCM audio files, lineout from MixPre to the GH5 mic input to record a copy for later synch with the video, and use the HDMI for the Atomos. It really sucks because you're forced to choose.

The GH5s would be better since the BNC timecode could jam-synch the MixPre independent of HDMI.

Edit: So you ARE recording video with the Atomos. This would not change anything, still have to record video copy internally with GH5.
 
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Tom Roper said:
Until I had a better solution, I would connect audio inputs to the MixPre, set recording manually on the MixPre and leave it running continuous audio recording, use RTC on the MixPre to insert a ball park timecode on the BWF LPCM audio files, lineout from MixPre to the GH5 mic input to record a copy for later synch with the video, and use the HDMI for the Atomos. It really sucks because you're forced to choose.
Click to expand...
Right!

The little extra work is not the problem it's the fact that there are more variables in the workflow.

As an alternative I was thinking of finding a HDMI replicator that supports 4K@60 and send the output both to the Atomos and the MixPre.
But that would not work if the MixPre negotiates something that is not compatible with the stream to the Atomos.
 
I do that anyway for weddings (record continuous audio), I can always fill video gaps with other content but audio gaps are deal breakers.
 
TASCAM DR701D, records 4 mic inputs simultaneously plus a 2 channel mix, total of six tracks. Forgetting the mix for now, you assign analog input channel pairs 1-2/3-4 to HDMI channel pairs. For example, mics 1,2,3,4 -> HDMI 1-2/3-4 plus a mix to 5-6 or 7-8, total six HDMI tracks. To get more input mics than that you either have to HDMI cascade units or step up to a higher tiered product. The 8 HDMI audio channels are carried over 1 HDMI port.

http://tascam.com/product/dr-701d/overview/

http://tascam.com/content/downloads/products/896/e_dr-701d_rm_vb.pdf <-- Pgs 28-29 for timecode usage and HDMI assignments.
 
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If there is a house band, I will try to set up two cams on tripods on fixed angles, both wide shots, then take one or the other off its tripod for run and gun, close-ups etc, replace that cam on the tripod and take the other one off for the same thing. The sound recorders plugged into their audio sources, usually the sound board, sometimes the PA system, the groom's lavalier etc., load them all into a Resolve Muliticam clip, do the final synch, cut between cams, it's looks like a 3 cam shoot because there are 3 angles. Main thing is staying out of your own shots.
 
Cary Knoop said:
I have a couple of questions about using timecode using the GH5.

If I hookup an external timecode device does the GH5 transport the timecode over HDMI, for instance to a Sound Devices Mixpre?
Could I share the timecode, external or internal, from the GH5 at the same time to an Atomos and an external sound recorder?
Does the Atomos HDMI out include timecode and HDMI control signals it receives from a GH5?
Click to expand...

There are various scenarios here, and different ways to do each:

GH5 + MixPre = just loop an HDMI cable from the GH5 to the MixPre

GH5 + Atomos + external sound recorder = use Tentacle Sync E on audio track of both the GH5 and the external sound recorder (unless it is timecode capable)

Another variation:

Panasonic GH5S which has a timecode input + a better sound recorder such a Zoom F8n (easily preferable over any sub $1K MixPre recorder! The F8n is a lot better for a film set) = get a Ultrasync ONE. (just send it into the GH5S with the supplied cable Panasonic gave you)


 
Cary Knoop said:
I tested the first part myself and it does not work.

You can trigger recording from the GH5 directly to the Atomos and directly to the Mixpre but not in pass-through.
Click to expand...

Not surprised, as unfortunately it seems the trigger is being stripped out during the pass through :-/
 
Do all of the devices have a trigger input on them? One button trips a relay (or several) which closes to provide a contact closure for all of the other devices. Could probably do the same with a bunch of transistors for silent operation, but the relays are easy to build and most people can understand how to build it. Only need tiny little reed relays, don't need more than a few milliamps on the contacts.
 
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