Timecode at DVinfo.net

Paul Newman · November 23rd, 2007, 03:32 AM

I'm hoping that 1) my EX1 arrives soon, and 2) that a friends 2 EX1's arrive as well, because we have two, 3 camera shoots to do middle of November, and I'd just love to give these cameras a real test!

Now, I've read the manual but can't find any reference to jamming timecodes for multi camera shoots. I read somewhere a few months ago that if you connect the firewire cable momentarily between cameras, the code will be linked, but there's nothing in the book of words about this.

I see that if you transfer HDV from an external source to the EX1 SxS card, the timecode is copied correctly.

I wonder if anyone is lucky enough to have 2 EX1's, and if so could they test this out?

Thanks

Paul

Eric Pascarelli · November 23rd, 2007, 08:03 AM

This article, which transcribes a conversation with a very knowledgeable Sony rep, says that there is no way to jam sync the cameras:

http://ieba.wordpress.com/2007/11/21...wers-revealed/

Of course I'd like to investigate further. Seems like silly omission to me.

There was talk on another thread of setting time-of-day on both cameras identically by placing them side by side and using one remote to control both. Don't know if this is possible either because I'm not sure if the remote can be used to navigate the menus.

Anyone?

Paul Newman · November 23rd, 2007, 09:48 AM

Oh boy, this does appear to be a horrible ommission, as with the Z1 previously, the only way to get close was do a manual timecode entry on all cameras at the same time, you know 5,4,3,2,1, GO! This produces code within a few frames, and stays pretty good all day with the Z1 - what a shame Sony haven't implemented firewire timecode jamsync for the mostly pro featured EX1 - maybe their idea is to persuade you to use 330's or 350's for multi camera shoot situations and the EX1 for handheld "second camera" work.

Paul

Wesley Alfvin · November 23rd, 2007, 10:00 AM

Maybe this isn't a great way of doing things... but It's worked for me. I shoot a lot of multicam events and edit in final cut pro. To sync cameras I simply find a spot in the audio tracks that lines up. Usually if someone is speaking I find a word that starts with a hard consonant like "d", or find a specific drum beat in music and set the frame where the identifying sound is to be the in point and then create a multiclip file synced at the in point. This has worked without fail almost every time. There was one time when the tape dropped out for a sec and the sync was off, but I just found the spot quickly and re-aligned it.

Obviously timecode is the best way to align tracks, but there are others if necessary.

Oh, and one last good way is to use one of the camera's ir remotes to start both cameras simultaneously. That at least gets you close with timecode.

Wesley

Pavlos Symeon · November 23rd, 2007, 10:02 AM

Why not try the "free run timecode" for two or more EX1s with the remote control of one of them? I think this trick would do it.

Bob Willis · November 23rd, 2007, 10:28 AM

If you set the Z1 in free run timecode you can use the TC reset button on the remote to zero out the cameras timecode and all cameras will be in exact sync. You then will be able to start and stop individual cameras at will and never lose sync.

Don't know about the EX1 remote?

Bob Willis · November 23rd, 2007, 10:38 AM

Looks like the EX1 remote is the same one they include with the PDW-F350 camera and it does not have a TC reset button.

Thierry Humeau · November 23rd, 2007, 10:47 AM

How about using a good all slate with a clapper?

Thierry.

Pavlos Symeon · November 23rd, 2007, 10:56 AM

From what I can see in the EX1 user manual pdf, through the remote commander one can control all the menus of the camera hence the free run timecode resetting. Button number 9 is called the "Push/Set button (four-way arrow key). It functions the same as the Sel/Set button joystick on the commander right behind the stereo mic on the top handle of the camera.

Pavlos Symeon · November 23rd, 2007, 11:08 AM

Is it possible from the people who have received the camera to try to reset the "free run timecode" from the remote commander to find out if that's possible?
Maybe Per-Axel can sync both of his cameras timecodes using the "free run timecode" trick. That would be great since it's going to make this camera usable on a two camera setup.

Bob Willis · November 23rd, 2007, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thierry Humeau

How about using a good all slate with a clapper?

Thierry.

That solves the issue as well. We used this method with 3 PD-150's and it works well. You just need to reslate the cameras every time they stop.

Pavlos Symeon · November 23rd, 2007, 11:18 AM

With the timecode free run you sync them once and you are done.
I almost sure it should work.

David Heath · November 23rd, 2007, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thierry Humeau

How about using a good all slate with a clapper?

Another method which can work well is the flash of a still camera - that can sometimes be seen by all the cameras easier than a slate.

Gwynne Williams · November 23rd, 2007, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Heath

Another method which can work well is the flash of a still camera - that can sometimes be seen by all the cameras easier than a slate.

David, you just beat me to it. I was going to post the very same tip. It works well.

Andreas Johansson · November 26th, 2007, 04:47 AM

I just tried two EX1 in Free Run and did a reset on both cameras using one remote.

November 23rd, 2007, 03:32 AM	#1
Paul Newman Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Agua Blanca Ibiza Posts: 305	Timecode I'm hoping that 1) my EX1 arrives soon, and 2) that a friends 2 EX1's arrive as well, because we have two, 3 camera shoots to do middle of November, and I'd just love to give these cameras a real test! Now, I've read the manual but can't find any reference to jamming timecodes for multi camera shoots. I read somewhere a few months ago that if you connect the firewire cable momentarily between cameras, the code will be linked, but there's nothing in the book of words about this. I see that if you transfer HDV from an external source to the EX1 SxS card, the timecode is copied correctly. I wonder if anyone is lucky enough to have 2 EX1's, and if so could they test this out? Thanks Paul Last edited by Paul Newman; November 23rd, 2007 at 03:35 AM. Reason: adding thanks

November 23rd, 2007, 09:48 AM	#3
Paul Newman Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Agua Blanca Ibiza Posts: 305	Oh boy, this does appear to be a horrible ommission, as with the Z1 previously, the only way to get close was do a manual timecode entry on all cameras at the same time, you know 5,4,3,2,1, GO! This produces code within a few frames, and stays pretty good all day with the Z1 - what a shame Sony haven't implemented firewire timecode jamsync for the mostly pro featured EX1 - maybe their idea is to persuade you to use 330's or 350's for multi camera shoot situations and the EX1 for handheld "second camera" work. Paul __________________ Another Sunny Day in Ibiza

November 23rd, 2007, 10:47 AM	#8
Thierry Humeau Telecam Films Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Washington DC Posts: 723	How about using a good all slate with a clapper? Thierry. __________________ Thierry Humeau, DoP Télécam Films www.telecamfilms.com

November 23rd, 2007, 08:03 AM	#2
Eric Pascarelli Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 498	This article, which transcribes a conversation with a very knowledgeable Sony rep, says that there is no way to jam sync the cameras: http://ieba.wordpress.com/2007/11/21...wers-revealed/ Of course I'd like to investigate further. Seems like silly omission to me. There was talk on another thread of setting time-of-day on both cameras identically by placing them side by side and using one remote to control both. Don't know if this is possible either because I'm not sure if the remote can be used to navigate the menus. Anyone?

November 23rd, 2007, 10:00 AM	#4
Wesley Alfvin New Boot Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: United States Posts: 17	Maybe this isn't a great way of doing things... but It's worked for me. I shoot a lot of multicam events and edit in final cut pro. To sync cameras I simply find a spot in the audio tracks that lines up. Usually if someone is speaking I find a word that starts with a hard consonant like "d", or find a specific drum beat in music and set the frame where the identifying sound is to be the in point and then create a multiclip file synced at the in point. This has worked without fail almost every time. There was one time when the tape dropped out for a sec and the sync was off, but I just found the spot quickly and re-aligned it. Obviously timecode is the best way to align tracks, but there are others if necessary. Oh, and one last good way is to use one of the camera's ir remotes to start both cameras simultaneously. That at least gets you close with timecode. Wesley

November 23rd, 2007, 10:02 AM	#5
Pavlos Symeon Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Athens, Greece Posts: 48	Why not try the "free run timecode" for two or more EX1s with the remote control of one of them? I think this trick would do it.

November 23rd, 2007, 10:28 AM	#6
Bob Willis Major Player Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico Posts: 292	If you set the Z1 in free run timecode you can use the TC reset button on the remote to zero out the cameras timecode and all cameras will be in exact sync. You then will be able to start and stop individual cameras at will and never lose sync. Don't know about the EX1 remote?

November 23rd, 2007, 10:38 AM	#7
Bob Willis Major Player Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico Posts: 292	Looks like the EX1 remote is the same one they include with the PDW-F350 camera and it does not have a TC reset button.

November 23rd, 2007, 10:56 AM	#9
Pavlos Symeon Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Athens, Greece Posts: 48	From what I can see in the EX1 user manual pdf, through the remote commander one can control all the menus of the camera hence the free run timecode resetting. Button number 9 is called the "Push/Set button (four-way arrow key). It functions the same as the Sel/Set button joystick on the commander right behind the stereo mic on the top handle of the camera.

November 23rd, 2007, 11:08 AM	#10
Pavlos Symeon Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Athens, Greece Posts: 48	Is it possible from the people who have received the camera to try to reset the "free run timecode" from the remote commander to find out if that's possible? Maybe Per-Axel can sync both of his cameras timecodes using the "free run timecode" trick. That would be great since it's going to make this camera usable on a two camera setup.

November 23rd, 2007, 11:18 AM	#12
Pavlos Symeon Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Athens, Greece Posts: 48	With the timecode free run you sync them once and you are done. I almost sure it should work.

November 26th, 2007, 04:47 AM	#15
Andreas Johansson Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Stockholm Posts: 93	I just tried two EX1 in Free Run and did a reset on both cameras using one remote.