A/V Timecode Sync

[BenFranske]

You'll have to excuse me for (at least) two things. First, I posted a similar question in the Computer Music forum a few days ago but realized this probably belongs more in this domain and perhaps it will get more interest here. Second, I do realize I'm probably in over my head here but I'm trying to help some people out and doing what I can so please excuse my naiveté.

I'm fairly certain what I want to do is possible but not quite so certain about what I need to do to make this work. Any thoughts or assistance you can provide are greatly appreciated. I'm going to start with the end and work backwards as I think that will make my goals more clear.

I will be video and audio recording a live concert, an annual event I have done for several years. Over time I have been moving more and more of the process from the analog to the digital realm. I think I'm getting close to the point where I will be able to multi-track the audio (48 channels) and mix it down later instead of mixing it live. Obviously to do this I need to have synchronized timecode between the audio and the video recorders. This year I will probably also have a live mix done but if things go well I'll switch to multi-tracking and post mixdown next year.

I have a Focusrite Saffire Pro 26 which will be attached to the Ardour DAW for audio recording (obviously for 48 channels I need to expand to 3 Saffires). My video is recorded on a laptop running FinalCut Pro through a Focus Enhancements MC-2E which converts the video mixer SDI output to DV.

My understanding is that Ardour does a good job outputting MTC. Focus Enhancements has told me that I can send SMPTE timecode in the Sony 9-pin (RS422/P2) interface on the MC-2E and it will be embedded as DV timecode in the DV stream which FinalCut Pro will capture.

It seems to me all I need to find is a device to accept MTC and output RS422/P2 timecode. I have done some talking to a few manufacturers none of which seem willing to commit to saying they make a product which will or won't do this. Obviously I'd like to avoid buying something and then finding out it won't work.

Some of the things I've looked at include the MOTU Digital Timepiece (which looks like it will take MTC and output RS422/P2, though I'm not sure that it will output timecode on the P2 interface, it may just output MMC control, of course the manual is not available online), another option might be some kind of MTC to LTC coverter (there are several) and then using a Horita TCI-50 to convert LTC to RS422/P2 but this requires two additional pieces of hardware instead of one. I've also looked at the JLCooper 9Pin/MMC and MMC/9Pin+ but these seem geared towards MMC control and have limited MTC support (which seems to go in the opposite direction (P2->MTC) of what I need.

Does anyone have any experience with synchronizing MTC and SMPTE, especially to Sony P2 decks? Any suggestions at all? Thanks!

[danijel]

if you don't get your answer here, try again at the postproduction forum: http://www.gearslutz.com/board/post-production-forum/
that's your best bet!