SMPTE Timecode issues

[Smallbudgetguru]

Im pretty sure these have all been covered here before, or at production forums respectively.

To answer a couple questions.

The manual clapper is still used as a back up. If TC drifts or errors this is how the shot will get assembled. There should always be a slate , if all fails assembly happens manually. This is how film was sync for over 90 years.

Recording audio timecode is somewhat possible, but, most post houses I know do not want to futz with converting it and stamping files. Also it is notorious for bleeding into your other tracks during recording so you often have to have an extra track to buffer in between.

Try looking into production forums too, like Jwsoundgroup, there is a lot of timecode info there. Also in your google searches put the name of the forum in it also like " timecode Jwsoundgroup" or "timecode gearslutz"

Gl

[sessionatstudiom]

So the way I have done it in the past is the audio recorder becomes the master. You slave the cameras and the slate to its timecode. You do this a few times a day. Especially when a battery change happens.

Then when the editor brings it into the computer via(avid or something else) They have an option to sync all the files via timecode. The audio files should have the Meta data of the timecode built into them.

The Clapper(slate) is nice to have for scene take etc... Also gives a visual timecode.

It is possible to stripe Timecode to a track and sync that way. I know the avid editors that send me work do this from time to time. The intricacies of this I do not know. But the general idea is the same as the timecode one. Just using the actual audio track striped with TC.

Hope this makes sense.

Mike

[hociman]

Originally Posted by tjandramusic

during location sound recording at a filmset, one will have a timecode clapperboard, a timecode compatible camera and a timecode compatible sound recorder, eventually a portable master clock, that all the other devices are synced with.

Good.

Originally Posted by tjandramusic

So one of them is the smpte master and all the others are slaves (for instance the audiorecorder, fetches the masterclock signal via bnc cable and writes it into the Broadcast WAV, the same with the camera into its file)

Correct.

Originally Posted by tjandramusic

So the first question now is: How does the cutter link the files together? He tranfers the files from the camera and the audio recorder onto the computer and drags it into the NLE. Do the files then lie among themselves in the timeline oder does the person that syncs the files still have the problem to manually edit it.

The editor will import these files and then spot them in the sequence to their timestamps.

Originally Posted by tjandramusic

Second question: why is there still a clapper board during shooting with SMPTE?

To ensure audio (aka lip) sync.

Originally Posted by tjandramusic

It could also work without or? If for instance the audio recorder is the master clock and syncs with the camera or vica versa.

If the timecode dies, the editor can spot to the clapper and things should remain in sync. Whether or not there is drift in a double-system production that relies on just the clapper board will be determined by the worthiness of the recorders.

Originally Posted by tjandramusic

Third question: is there an oppertunity to record the smpte on a spare audio track, when there is no audio recorder with a dedicated timecode input.

No one will stop you from doing that.

Originally Posted by tjandramusic

Is there a possibility to use this workaround, so I get a useful timecode information for the cutter.

I recall reading of some piece of software that could analyze an audio file that was SMPTE timecode and then extract the timecode from it. I don't remember what it is called. I know you did this before, but trying Googling for it.

[Smallbudgetguru]

Originally Posted by hociman

If the timecode dies, the editor can spot to the clapper and things should remain in sync. Whether or not there is drift in a double-system production that relies on just the clapper board will be determined by the worthiness of the recorders.

Or worthiness of camera. I.e. RED has many many sync issues with TC

No one will stop you from doing that.

Yes. post will stop you!
Be careful with this mentality. Check
With your post house. You cant just expect a facility and it's operators to add steps to their workflows. Not many post house around these parts will touch audio TC let alone manual sync...

Contact post supervisor first and assistant editor and SSE to ensure a smooth assembly.

[tjandramusic]

Hey people,

thank you for all your great answers. Really helping me in understandig this topic. I used the last few hours to try out the timecode workaround, respectively using a spare audiotrack to record smpte on it...the same procedure with my DSLR Canon 500D. Timecode Master was the iPhone App "TC Toolbox" from Denecke (just for testing)

So for those among you who are interested in it this was a little bit of tinkering with adapters:

Downloaded the app from the itunes app store for free. Plugged a y-cable headphone plug into the iphone.
Attached my sennheiser 416 (track1) as well as the timecode (track3) to the edirol r44 mobile recorder. The other end of the y cable was plugged into the audio input of the dslr camera. Recorded 10 seconds as a test.

After impoting the files to the computer I looked for a software that merges my audio timecode (AUX TC) with the actual audio file to a BWF. Got to find that little piece of software: VideoToolShed - FCP auxTC reader

Immedietely downloaded the demo which runs in full function but only exporting the files within 10 seconds length. There are 3 apps in this application package. I've been reading through the manuals but didn't get a clue how to manage getting a accurate BWF File and how to get the Audiotimecode of the Video written into the Videofile.

The timecode ist correct and the application is able to read it=)

Will check this the next time. Thats just a report what happened until now. Will keep you informed. Has anybody got experience in using the AUXTimecode Application tool?

Kind regards.