C300 MkII x 2 timecode sync
I am enjoying the new C300 Mk2 so much I have bought 2 of them to make the increasing number of multi-camera shoots that much easier (previously been using a variety of others cameras such as the 70D or C100 as the B-camera and using a slate). Yesterday was the first time to use on a shoot and so did a timecode sync via a BNC cable at the beginning of the shoot and was intending on doing it a couple of times during the day but due to schedules/logistics this never happened, unfortunately, and the cameras lost sync (by less than a second) later in the day. Not a big problem but would like to improve on the next shoot.
So my question - how do you sync multiple versions of the C300 cameras? Do you have a BNC cable connected continuously or do regular syncs through the day? Or is there a better way? Any recommendations or workflows gratefully appreciated. |
Re: C300 MkII x 2 timecode sync
I sync my C300 Mark II to a A7R Mark II with a Shogun. I leave the cable connected for the entirety of the shoot where feasible (especially because, at this moment, the Shogun loses sync immediacy upon disconnection).
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Re: C300 MkII x 2 timecode sync
I will usually try to plug them in every few hours, like after a battery swap.
When that's not feasible, LockIt boxes are the way to go. I saw these inexpensive ones at NAB that can even lay timecode over one of the channels of a DSLR, and has a button mic for the other channel, pretty nifty and could allow you to still keep your 70D and C100 in the mix. tentacle sync |
Re: C300 MkII x 2 timecode sync
Thanks Gary and Loren for your help.
On my next multi-cam shoot I am going to try keep the cameras connected by BNC most of the time and see how it goes. That Tentacle Sync looks like a great wireless solution -very interested to learn how it works with DSLRs. |
Re: C300 MkII x 2 timecode sync
I can't say enough good things about the Tentacle Sync. I have two of them (had four but sold two after a specific need on one project).
These little guys just work. Simple, battery lasts for two days, weigh nothing, easy to set up. A few soundies I know started using them... everything is in sync and it is inexpensive compared to the nicer LockIt Box or similar devices. My C300 suffers from bad drift in 23.98... now I just jam it with a Tentacle if I ever have two devices needing reliable sync. My C300 M2, I haven't had a problem with bad tc drift but it gets a tentacle, too. Really, I use two tentacles to jam both the c300's together at all times. Without a device... standard practice is to jam cameras periodically throughout the day, for safety. For a DSLR, or other device that takes audio but not timecode input... a Tentacle works great. Timecode is just an audio signal, so you can record it on an audio track. For instance, I use it with my 5Dm3. Plug the tentacle into the audio minijack and it lays down a track of timecode and a track of reference audio out of the tentacle. (the tentacle has a small, built-in mic). Run it through tentacle's software and voila... you have a video file with accurate timecode. Pretty neat. |
Re: C300 MkII x 2 timecode sync
Hey Scott.
Do you need to use the included software or will any NLE be able to read the time code? I have a C100 and a C100 MKII and they don't not sync well. Drift is about 5 frames per hour. So I'm considering the Tentacle Sync but need to be able to time code sync in Premiere. Thanks Ben |
Re: C300 MkII x 2 timecode sync
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