Multi-camera synchronization at DVinfo.net

Paolo Ciccone · April 27th, 2008, 07:15 PM

Hi.

This is not specific to the HD100 so I don't know if the message will be moved to another area but it's surely relevant. I often shot with multiple cameras and so I decided to put together a 5-minute tutorial on how to achieve perfect synch easily and quickly without having to resort to genlock. The video tutorial is at my website

Claude Mangold · April 28th, 2008, 04:49 PM

This is a wonderful idea indeed. Many thanks, Paolo ! So simple !

I don't work with multiple cameras but my crew's usual headache is those damn genlock cables (in order to sync the HD251 and the audio field recorder) which keep getting in everybody's way. When shooting docus this is a real pain, as is sticking up a TC slate at the beginning of each take in front of people's noses.

Tup Wright · April 28th, 2008, 11:02 PM

That's pretty cool. You could export that file to an iphone or some other pocket sized video capable device, so if you're in a situation where the two cameras can't see the same thing you could walk the sync device over. And in your NLE you can put this file in your timeline and sync the two videos to it.

Paolo Ciccone · April 28th, 2008, 11:44 PM

Tup, that's a bit of an extreme case, let's call it "stunt synch" :), but I guess that, yes, you could plant the iPhone in front of camera A, hold it for 5 seconds, quickly run to camera B, hold it, run to camera C and then locate the clips in the NLE and count the "missing" frames from each point, set a marker (in Premiere, set the in point in FCP) and synch the clips.
A bit laborious but stunt synch is better than no synch :)
Anybody up for a demo? :)

Paolo Ciccone · April 29th, 2008, 12:56 AM

Just a short note, I switched the video to Flash, from QuickTime, this should make it a little easier to be played for everybody.

April 27th, 2008, 07:15 PM	#1
Paolo Ciccone Trustee Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 1,116	Multi-camera synchronization Hi. This is not specific to the HD100 so I don't know if the message will be moved to another area but it's surely relevant. I often shot with multiple cameras and so I decided to put together a 5-minute tutorial on how to achieve perfect synch easily and quickly without having to resort to genlock. The video tutorial is at my website __________________ Paolo http://www.paolociccone.com Demo Reel

April 28th, 2008, 11:44 PM	#4
Paolo Ciccone Trustee Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 1,116	Tup, that's a bit of an extreme case, let's call it "stunt synch" :), but I guess that, yes, you could plant the iPhone in front of camera A, hold it for 5 seconds, quickly run to camera B, hold it, run to camera C and then locate the clips in the NLE and count the "missing" frames from each point, set a marker (in Premiere, set the in point in FCP) and synch the clips. A bit laborious but stunt synch is better than no synch :) Anybody up for a demo? :) __________________ Paolo http://www.paolociccone.com Demo Reel

April 29th, 2008, 12:56 AM	#5
Paolo Ciccone Trustee Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 1,116	Just a short note, I switched the video to Flash, from QuickTime, this should make it a little easier to be played for everybody. __________________ Paolo http://www.paolociccone.com Demo Reel

April 28th, 2008, 04:49 PM	#2
Claude Mangold Major Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Berlin and Geneva Posts: 259	This is a wonderful idea indeed. Many thanks, Paolo ! So simple ! I don't work with multiple cameras but my crew's usual headache is those damn genlock cables (in order to sync the HD251 and the audio field recorder) which keep getting in everybody's way. When shooting docus this is a real pain, as is sticking up a TC slate at the beginning of each take in front of people's noses.

April 28th, 2008, 11:02 PM	#3
Tup Wright Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Seattle, WA USA Posts: 83	That's pretty cool. You could export that file to an iphone or some other pocket sized video capable device, so if you're in a situation where the two cameras can't see the same thing you could walk the sync device over. And in your NLE you can put this file in your timeline and sync the two videos to it.