How do I synchronize multi-camera videos? at DVinfo.net

Bill Warne · March 23rd, 2009, 08:21 AM

I have been shooting with a Canon XHA1 as the main camera and a Canon HV10 as the secondary angle. I will be using Media Composer 3.5 as the editing program. I can find frames in the two videos that represent the same point in time. What I want to end up with is a video that switches from one camera to the other at appropriate times. I plan to use the main camera for audio, although I have a higher resolution audio file (audio only no video) that I might want to use. Can anyone direct me to a post, article, discussion, etc. on how to accomplish my goal using Media Composer? Same question using Premire CS4

Bryan Sellars · May 12th, 2009, 07:07 PM

I've only done it with Premiere 6.5 using 3 cameras but it would be the same with CS4, I used the audio to sync up the videos and muted the audios I was not using, then used the ramp controls to swap from one track to the others, it was very easy, as long as the cameras kept rolling, we had one camera with a 90 min tape so we could change tapes on the other 2 cameras without a break in the video, there are short cut keys to switch between ramp control and I think it is called scissors but not sure on that, it puts 2 points at the ramp point so you get a clean transition to the other tracks. I'm sorry not to be able to describe it better but haven't used the program for a couple of years.

Bryan

Don Bloom · May 12th, 2009, 07:14 PM

while I don't use either program in order to edit multicam jobs you need to be able to see all the footage on the screen at the same time.
After you have syncd the footage (assuming there are no breaks in it from either camera otherwise sync'ing is a PITA) you need to make both video track smaller and basically do a split screen. Camera 1 on the left and 2 on the right if only because it makes logical sense that way. Now as you go theu the job and come to a swithing point place a marker where you want to cut from camera 1 to camera 2 and so on down the line. After you' ve done that,set up another track, call it MASTER and either C/P the clips to the MASTER or cut and move the clip. I prefer to Copy and Paste. Now once thats done you can finish off the job with audio sweetening, CC, FX, whatever.
HTHs

Terry Martin · May 13th, 2009, 01:03 AM

Suggest you read the manual’s multi cam section, but it goes something like this. After marking in points at the same time/frame, highlight both clips in the bin and go to the bin menu and select “group clips”, (select sync at in points). You now get a “group clip” in the bin, so load it into the source monitor. Now mark in/out points and copy it to a sequence. You will see one camera in the sequence. Now find the quad split icon in the command pallet, and map it to a key as well as the camera icons. Activate the quad split, and you see both cams in the source, linked in time to the sequence. Play the sequence, and change cameras on the fly with the camera keys. You can change cameras or audio tracks by mouse clicking them, and selecting from a list of cameras.
Hope this helps.

Douglas R. Bruce · May 15th, 2009, 04:07 PM

Hello Bill,
I don't know if you watched this video tutorial I have posted over on the Avid MC Forum, or not.
In case you missed it here is a link:

Multi Camera Mode - 1. Just a glance - Avid Community

Good luck,
Douglas

David Parks · May 22nd, 2009, 09:49 AM

There are 2 methods for Media Composer. Create a group clip with both angles to use the multi camera, or gang the the monitors (icon looke like a spool).

David

Colin Rowe · May 22nd, 2009, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Warne

I have been shooting with a Canon XHA1 as the main camera and a Canon HV10 as the secondary angle. I will be using Media Composer 3.5 as the editing program. I can find frames in the two videos that represent the same point in time. What I want to end up with is a video that switches from one camera to the other at appropriate times. I plan to use the main camera for audio, although I have a higher resolution audio file (audio only no video) that I might want to use. Can anyone direct me to a post, article, discussion, etc. on how to accomplish my goal using Media Composer? Same question using Premire CS4

Start record on both cameras, using a small digital stills camera take a flash shot or two of both cams, at distance. When editing, frame advance until flash appears. Clips will be synced perfectely. Dont pause either cam until sequence is completely shot. Far more accurate than using audio.

March 23rd, 2009, 08:21 AM	#1
Bill Warne New Boot Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Orange, CA Posts: 6	How do I synchronize multi-camera videos? I have been shooting with a Canon XHA1 as the main camera and a Canon HV10 as the secondary angle. I will be using Media Composer 3.5 as the editing program. I can find frames in the two videos that represent the same point in time. What I want to end up with is a video that switches from one camera to the other at appropriate times. I plan to use the main camera for audio, although I have a higher resolution audio file (audio only no video) that I might want to use. Can anyone direct me to a post, article, discussion, etc. on how to accomplish my goal using Media Composer? Same question using Premire CS4

May 12th, 2009, 07:14 PM	#3
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	while I don't use either program in order to edit multicam jobs you need to be able to see all the footage on the screen at the same time. After you have syncd the footage (assuming there are no breaks in it from either camera otherwise sync'ing is a PITA) you need to make both video track smaller and basically do a split screen. Camera 1 on the left and 2 on the right if only because it makes logical sense that way. Now as you go theu the job and come to a swithing point place a marker where you want to cut from camera 1 to camera 2 and so on down the line. After you' ve done that,set up another track, call it MASTER and either C/P the clips to the MASTER or cut and move the clip. I prefer to Copy and Paste. Now once thats done you can finish off the job with audio sweetening, CC, FX, whatever. HTHs __________________ What do I know? I'm just a video-O-grafer. Don

May 15th, 2009, 04:07 PM	#5
Douglas R. Bruce Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kumamoto City, Japan Posts: 136	Multicam Hello Bill, I don't know if you watched this video tutorial I have posted over on the Avid MC Forum, or not. In case you missed it here is a link: Multi Camera Mode - 1. Just a glance - Avid Community Good luck, Douglas __________________ I was produced in Scotland, edited in Sweden, and am now showing in Japan. http://www.gaijin-eyes.com

May 22nd, 2009, 09:49 AM	#6
David Parks Major Player Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Houston Posts: 789	There are 2 methods for Media Composer. Create a group clip with both angles to use the multi camera, or gang the the monitors (icon looke like a spool). David __________________ David Parks: DP/Editor: Jacobs Aerospace at NASA Johnson Space Center https://www.youtube.com/user/JacobsESCG

May 12th, 2009, 07:07 PM	#2
Bryan Sellars Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Nelson, New Zealand Posts: 63	I've only done it with Premiere 6.5 using 3 cameras but it would be the same with CS4, I used the audio to sync up the videos and muted the audios I was not using, then used the ramp controls to swap from one track to the others, it was very easy, as long as the cameras kept rolling, we had one camera with a 90 min tape so we could change tapes on the other 2 cameras without a break in the video, there are short cut keys to switch between ramp control and I think it is called scissors but not sure on that, it puts 2 points at the ramp point so you get a clean transition to the other tracks. I'm sorry not to be able to describe it better but haven't used the program for a couple of years. Bryan

May 13th, 2009, 01:03 AM	#4
Terry Martin Regular Crew Join Date: May 2007 Location: Palo Alto, California Posts: 100	Suggest you read the manual’s multi cam section, but it goes something like this. After marking in points at the same time/frame, highlight both clips in the bin and go to the bin menu and select “group clips”, (select sync at in points). You now get a “group clip” in the bin, so load it into the source monitor. Now mark in/out points and copy it to a sequence. You will see one camera in the sequence. Now find the quad split icon in the command pallet, and map it to a key as well as the camera icons. Activate the quad split, and you see both cams in the source, linked in time to the sequence. Play the sequence, and change cameras on the fly with the camera keys. You can change cameras or audio tracks by mouse clicking them, and selecting from a list of cameras. Hope this helps.