post conform audio for 16mm film shoot

[jmattchan]

I'm working on a low-budget short film shot 16mm and recorded to a 4-channel digital recorder. I would like to use TITAN to auto conform the audio before we start cutting it.

I'm just wondering what the correct procedure for handling timecode is. We have TITAN and I know approximately how to use it for conforming multitrack/HD setups, but not on film. How is the timecode of the audio correlated back to the telecined video material in the EDL? Does the audio timecode have to be sync'd to slate in the logging or something?


Thanks,
Matt

[philper]

Originally Posted by jmattchan

I'm working on a low-budget short film shot 16mm and recorded to a 4-channel digital recorder. I would like to use TITAN to auto conform the audio before we start cutting it.

I'm just wondering what the correct procedure for handling timecode is. We have TITAN and I know approximately how to use it for conforming multitrack/HD setups, but not on film. How is the timecode of the audio correlated back to the telecined video material in the EDL? Does the audio timecode have to be sync'd to slate in the logging or something?


Thanks,
Matt

The audio timecode has to be included in a Flex file during the original telecine, and that file used in the picture edit. (An EDL can then be exported that uses the audio TC as source instead of the picture source TC.) Otherwise the conform is manual. Were all 4 tracks transferred in telecine and on into the edit system (I hope)?

Philip Perkins

[jmattchan]

thanks philper. it hasn't been shot yet. my instinct is that they will be syncing the audio from the discs in the edit system after telecine. i suppose the timecode could be logged there? or if they cut all 4 tracks, i could edit from the OMF?

[philper]

Originally Posted by jmattchan

thanks philper. it hasn't been shot yet. my instinct is that they will be syncing the audio from the discs in the edit system after telecine. i suppose the timecode could be logged there? or if they cut all 4 tracks, i could edit from the OMF?

If it's a low budg indie, then YES! have them transfer all 4 tracks and sync them when they are first digitized. The editors will have access to all the sound (and know what is possible w/ all the shots) and then it call can be passed along in the eventual OMF without any screwing around with conforming later. Make sure the edit system is set to 24 bit audio and that the editors give you the original track in addition to anything they render. I just did a similar project, shot on video, where they did NOT sync the soundie's 4 track recordings and just cut w/ the 2 track camera audio. They had to spend 4 very boring days manually resyncing the 4 track to the cut after they locked picture--very worth it sound quality and sound fixing-wise, but very tedious too. If they can carry all 4 tracks thru the cut it will be easier for everyone when audio post comes around.

Philip Perkins

[jmattchan]

perfect, just heard from the editors and that is what they will do.

thanks again!

[jahtao]

hey. note. dangerous to sync final sound after the film has been cut with guide sound! Maybe there 's a problem with the final sound for that shot!! maybe its not present or the files are corrupt, i've been there!! have them sync the 4trk stuff ans have them do it well, you dont want to be questioning sync