John Hopkins
April 17th, 2012, 09:44 PM
Check this: PIX240 Sync drift on Vimeo
OH boy! We've recorded hours of footage with this issue prior to Update 1.7. How does one go through every interview and correct the 1 frame lag every 3 minutes? Is there some solution to process every 23.98 psf ProResHQ file we recorded/converted at 23.98 1080p on the PIX 240 to correct this for every interview we did? We are using an Sony F3/w S-Log and set the PIX to convert 23.98 PsF to 23.98p 1920x1280.
I've broken all the tracks down in FCP and exported into 3 minute segments and used the formula below; Is this what you did and how you prepared each in QtSync?:
Based on 60 minutes of footage (59.57 sec). ApplePro Res HQ 1920x 1280 23.98 as recorded on our PIX240 from our Sony F3, scaling from 23.98 PsF.
QtSync offers a free tool to attempt to sync this post nightmare: QT Sync (http://www.qtsync.com/qtsync.php)
Qtsync settings: offset each segment by adding 1 frame for every 3 min. segment:
from 0 to 19 segments.
0 = (0 frames added)
1 = 1 (1 frames shifted forward on this segment to the audio tracks)
2 = +1 (etc.)
3 = +2
4 = +3
5 = + 4
6 = +5
7 = +6
8 = +7
9 = +8
10 = +9
11 - +10
12 = +11
13 = +12
14 = +13
15 = +14
16 = +15
17 = +16
18 = +17 (17 frames frames shifted forward by QtSync)
This seemed to work, not sure how precisely as I was only guessing at lip sync being on with no clappers or reference sync points seen in any of the frames being a head and shoulders interview.
However joining this back together messes up the audio in Qtsync where for a few frames it seems where it is joined with the tracks of each segment being offset. Salvages only what lies within these three minute segments.
Ideally, I'd like to conform and correct sync so as not to lose any audio at the joints between the segments.
Perhaps you figured something else out. If there is way of doing this better, I would appreciate any help.
Dual Eyes by Singular Software might be able to take the audio off the SXS cards and conform that to the PIX 240 video. No success so far but still trying. So far Qtsync is the only very awkward solution but it feels far from an accurate fix. Dual Eyes has a 30 day free trial for those who want to take a crack at this solution. If you get it to work please let the rest of us know. Singular Software - DualEyes (http://www.singularsoftware.com/dualeyes.html)
Needless to say this whole nerve chewing issue has been an expensive and time and resource consuming post disaster for us. The PIX 240 has lost it's initial love we bought it with. Most of the bugs are likely out, but I'd still be running an extensive series of clapper tests for any lengthy takes involving scaling to be sure. Would I buy one now. Yes. Would our producer's buy one after this experience. No. Once burnt, twice shy as they say. SD is generally solid and it's been well earned, but this is a first effort into the video recorder end of things, and the rush to market may have been too soon. The genius that designed the PIX deserves better software support, as do those who thought enough of the brand to purchase one. Sound Designs has promised to look into a precise fix for those impacted. Our production needs to find one asap as we are in post with lots of people involved and lots on the line. While no release ever seems or might never be perfect, the Sony F3 being a perfect example as well, Sound Designs is a company that will go that extra mile on support. So hopefully they will get back to us all on this soon who may have fallen into the same trap with the PIX. If you have not updated the camera yet, do not shoot another frame would be my advice. I will say that companies such as AJA and Sound Devices are generally brands which are built on robust hardware design. It just seems that with so many devices cramming onto the market and short development periods being forced upon companies, too many of these serious glitches are happening for the kind of money we are paying for these "professional" recording devices. It seems like the real testing process has been offloaded to those buying and trusting these brands. Regardless, AJA, Sony, and Sound Devices are still far above the rest of the crowd out there. Let's see what Sound Devices comes up with to help solve those impacted by sync drift problems on long takes with the PIX 240. Having identified the problem, I am sure they can help us find a precise fix.
If anyone has a solution that works, please post.
OH boy! We've recorded hours of footage with this issue prior to Update 1.7. How does one go through every interview and correct the 1 frame lag every 3 minutes? Is there some solution to process every 23.98 psf ProResHQ file we recorded/converted at 23.98 1080p on the PIX 240 to correct this for every interview we did? We are using an Sony F3/w S-Log and set the PIX to convert 23.98 PsF to 23.98p 1920x1280.
I've broken all the tracks down in FCP and exported into 3 minute segments and used the formula below; Is this what you did and how you prepared each in QtSync?:
Based on 60 minutes of footage (59.57 sec). ApplePro Res HQ 1920x 1280 23.98 as recorded on our PIX240 from our Sony F3, scaling from 23.98 PsF.
QtSync offers a free tool to attempt to sync this post nightmare: QT Sync (http://www.qtsync.com/qtsync.php)
Qtsync settings: offset each segment by adding 1 frame for every 3 min. segment:
from 0 to 19 segments.
0 = (0 frames added)
1 = 1 (1 frames shifted forward on this segment to the audio tracks)
2 = +1 (etc.)
3 = +2
4 = +3
5 = + 4
6 = +5
7 = +6
8 = +7
9 = +8
10 = +9
11 - +10
12 = +11
13 = +12
14 = +13
15 = +14
16 = +15
17 = +16
18 = +17 (17 frames frames shifted forward by QtSync)
This seemed to work, not sure how precisely as I was only guessing at lip sync being on with no clappers or reference sync points seen in any of the frames being a head and shoulders interview.
However joining this back together messes up the audio in Qtsync where for a few frames it seems where it is joined with the tracks of each segment being offset. Salvages only what lies within these three minute segments.
Ideally, I'd like to conform and correct sync so as not to lose any audio at the joints between the segments.
Perhaps you figured something else out. If there is way of doing this better, I would appreciate any help.
Dual Eyes by Singular Software might be able to take the audio off the SXS cards and conform that to the PIX 240 video. No success so far but still trying. So far Qtsync is the only very awkward solution but it feels far from an accurate fix. Dual Eyes has a 30 day free trial for those who want to take a crack at this solution. If you get it to work please let the rest of us know. Singular Software - DualEyes (http://www.singularsoftware.com/dualeyes.html)
Needless to say this whole nerve chewing issue has been an expensive and time and resource consuming post disaster for us. The PIX 240 has lost it's initial love we bought it with. Most of the bugs are likely out, but I'd still be running an extensive series of clapper tests for any lengthy takes involving scaling to be sure. Would I buy one now. Yes. Would our producer's buy one after this experience. No. Once burnt, twice shy as they say. SD is generally solid and it's been well earned, but this is a first effort into the video recorder end of things, and the rush to market may have been too soon. The genius that designed the PIX deserves better software support, as do those who thought enough of the brand to purchase one. Sound Designs has promised to look into a precise fix for those impacted. Our production needs to find one asap as we are in post with lots of people involved and lots on the line. While no release ever seems or might never be perfect, the Sony F3 being a perfect example as well, Sound Designs is a company that will go that extra mile on support. So hopefully they will get back to us all on this soon who may have fallen into the same trap with the PIX. If you have not updated the camera yet, do not shoot another frame would be my advice. I will say that companies such as AJA and Sound Devices are generally brands which are built on robust hardware design. It just seems that with so many devices cramming onto the market and short development periods being forced upon companies, too many of these serious glitches are happening for the kind of money we are paying for these "professional" recording devices. It seems like the real testing process has been offloaded to those buying and trusting these brands. Regardless, AJA, Sony, and Sound Devices are still far above the rest of the crowd out there. Let's see what Sound Devices comes up with to help solve those impacted by sync drift problems on long takes with the PIX 240. Having identified the problem, I am sure they can help us find a precise fix.
If anyone has a solution that works, please post.