Audio and Video synchronising at DVinfo.net

Ken Anderson · August 4th, 2004, 07:10 AM

Ok Here goes:

If I use two Digital video cameras for a Wedding, then I am still going to have a separate sound source for one of the cameras, when I am editing I will have a problem synchronising my sound. Is their a way to send the sound from one set of mics to two cameras.
Then I would have the same sound when digitally edting.

Thanks
Ken

Patrick King · August 4th, 2004, 07:23 AM

Actually syncing the sound in post-production would probably be easier. Try to find some very small event (camera flash, door slam) so that you can line up both audio/video exactly. Then you'll just use the audio track desired at each point through envelopes (Vegas) to decrease one audio track to zero while the other plays. You can alternate which audio is minimized.

Or use a tool that does this sort of thing. I'm not sure what the plug-in is for Premiere, but for Vegas there is a marvelous tool called, Excaliber, which has a multicam sync wizard.

Jay Massengill · August 4th, 2004, 08:45 AM

Patrick is correct, although there are some other factors that may influence whether you want to go to the effort of sending the same audio to both cameras.
First how many total mics are important to the production? Secondly if the answer above is "more than 2", are you using a mixer to combine mics or are you keeping all mics separately recorded?
Thirdly how far apart are the cameras?
Generally you would use one camera as the master audio recorder and only keep that audio active on the timeline while editing the video tracks. Even if you have the same audio on both cameras, syncing is usually easier than matching cuts in audio between two recorders.
It can be beneficial to have the same audio as a guide only. For example if your wide shot is too far away to pick up distinct audio and what it does pick up is too delayed to use as a guide track, then it can be helpful to send your best audio to it even if you only use it for checking sync while editing.
If you think sending audio is something that will be helpful, let us know and we'll give you more details on how to do it.

August 4th, 2004, 07:10 AM	#1
Ken Anderson New Boot Join Date: May 2004 Location: Dublin Posts: 9	Audio and Video synchronising Ok Here goes: If I use two Digital video cameras for a Wedding, then I am still going to have a separate sound source for one of the cameras, when I am editing I will have a problem synchronising my sound. Is their a way to send the sound from one set of mics to two cameras. Then I would have the same sound when digitally edting. Thanks Ken

August 4th, 2004, 07:23 AM	#2
Patrick King Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Enterprise, AL Posts: 857	Actually syncing the sound in post-production would probably be easier. Try to find some very small event (camera flash, door slam) so that you can line up both audio/video exactly. Then you'll just use the audio track desired at each point through envelopes (Vegas) to decrease one audio track to zero while the other plays. You can alternate which audio is minimized. Or use a tool that does this sort of thing. I'm not sure what the plug-in is for Premiere, but for Vegas there is a marvelous tool called, Excaliber, which has a multicam sync wizard. __________________ Fear No Weevil!

August 4th, 2004, 08:45 AM	#3
Jay Massengill Trustee Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Burlington Posts: 1,976	Patrick is correct, although there are some other factors that may influence whether you want to go to the effort of sending the same audio to both cameras. First how many total mics are important to the production? Secondly if the answer above is "more than 2", are you using a mixer to combine mics or are you keeping all mics separately recorded? Thirdly how far apart are the cameras? Generally you would use one camera as the master audio recorder and only keep that audio active on the timeline while editing the video tracks. Even if you have the same audio on both cameras, syncing is usually easier than matching cuts in audio between two recorders. It can be beneficial to have the same audio as a guide only. For example if your wide shot is too far away to pick up distinct audio and what it does pick up is too delayed to use as a guide track, then it can be helpful to send your best audio to it even if you only use it for checking sync while editing. If you think sending audio is something that will be helpful, let us know and we'll give you more details on how to do it.