Redundant/Backup Time Code

[theblotted]

currently we are using PT HD3 with Sync I/O for recording TV/live bands.

we have an Mutec iClock for Video Black backup, in which word clock is feeding PT and Venue console. iClock is great because if Black should ever drop, it'll generate its own clock without stopping.

now, i've noticed that when the Time Code drops, PT recording stops also. while it hasn't happened during taping yet (knock knock), i'd rather play safe. in order to prevent this, is there anything similar to iClock, but re-generates Time Code?

is such a device even necessary?

[dztrucktion]

if i understand your question, you should just set the TC Freewheel in PT to a couple of frames so that if TC does drop, PT will continue rolling.

d

[yrplace]

A couple of frames won't be enough if the TC drops out altogether, so I'd suggest setting PT for "jam sync" which will generate the code internally starting at whatever timecode it sees when you begin recording.

If you are referencing your wordclock to the blackburst from the video truck the audio will still stay perfectly in sync . Even without timecode or blackburst the audio will have very little drift even over a long concert once you manually find a sync point, and since most music for tv needs a lot of pulling up between songs anyway the slight drift over long recordings won't be a factor.

Its not like the old days of analog tape when a constant code ref. was needed to keep the playback in sync.

We always run an additional deck "wild" without code or blackburst to prevent the possibility of a total loss of audio even if everything else fails in the main system. Course if the preamps fail we'd be stuck, but it is important to build in as much redundancy as possible.

And UPS units on yr system are a must.

Mark

[theblotted]

thanks guys, very helpful indeed, i'll check it out later when i'm in the studio.

dztrucktion, is TC FreeWheel located in Session setup (Apple + 2)?

yrplace, i do my "redundant" on a Masterlink, since i only record music part of the live shows. that's been working out pretty good so far, because all they want is a 2mix. it's not ideal i know, so we've been considering a Tascam X48.

we have online UPS protecting all of our equipment at all times, with pure sinewave power.

[dztrucktion]

Originally Posted by theblotted

dztrucktion, is TC FreeWheel located in Session setup (Apple + 2)?

yes. you will see None, x Frames and Jam Sync.

d

[theblotted]

Originally Posted by yrplace

We always run an additional deck "wild" without code or blackburst to prevent the possibility of a total loss of audio even if everything else fails in the main system. Course if the preamps fail we'd be stuck, but it is important to build in as much redundancy as possible.

yrplace,

what do you use for the additional deck? DA88, etc.?

[theblotted]

so to the TC experts - is there any downsides to using Jam Sync?

from what i'm gathering after doing some reading and researching, is that Jam Sync will allow the Slave to generate its on TC until the Master device recovers from errors or drop outs.

which suggests that we should all use Jam Sync at all times, no?

esp from a realistic and practical usage, when recording a show or rehearsals, one would assume they want to have the recorder speeding at all times.

[dztrucktion]

Originally Posted by theblotted

so to the TC experts - is there any downsides to using Jam Sync?

from what i'm gathering after doing some reading and researching, is that Jam Sync will allow the Slave to generate its on TC until the Master device recovers from errors or drop outs.

which suggests that we should all use Jam Sync at all times, no?

esp from a realistic and practical usage, when recording a show or rehearsals, one would assume they want to have the recorder speeding at all times.

i am sorry, what are you syncing to again?

d

[theblotted]

Originally Posted by dztrucktion

i am sorry, what are you syncing to again?

d

time code from a master clock source from the production mix truck? black from video crew? sorry, not sure what you're asking for..

btw, i tried setting frames in Freewheel, and when TC still drops PT stops recording also; obviously after the given amount of frames. i think Jam Sync is the way to go; but i just like to know what the con's are, otherwise i can't imagine a scenario where Jam Sync is a bad option (rather than unnecessary).

[theblotted]

Originally Posted by theblotted

i think Jam Sync is the way to go; but i just like to know what the con's are, otherwise i can't imagine a scenario where Jam Sync is a bad option (rather than unnecessary).

can someone school me on this ^^^ ?

still haven't figured out why would anybody NOT use Jam Sync.

[justpushplay]

Originally Posted by yrplace

A couple of frames won't be enough if the TC drops out altogether, so I'd suggest setting PT for "jam sync" which will generate the code internally starting at whatever timecode it sees when you begin recording.

If you are referencing your wordclock to the blackburst from the video truck the audio will still stay perfectly in sync . Even without timecode or blackburst the audio will have very little drift even over a long concert once you manually find a sync point, and since most music for tv needs a lot of pulling up between songs anyway the slight drift over long recordings won't be a factor.

Its not like the old days of analog tape when a constant code ref. was needed to keep the playback in sync.

We always run an additional deck "wild" without code or blackburst to prevent the possibility of a total loss of audio even if everything else fails in the main system. Course if the preamps fail we'd be stuck, but it is important to build in as much redundancy as possible.

And UPS units on yr system are a must.

Mark

+1

Everything said here is dead on. If time code never trips up, your golden. If TC trips up, you're still golden :-)

[thedoner]

I swear I was just about to start a thread asking about TC freewheeling and jam sync when I saw this one. Consider my questions answered. Thanks guys! This is my favorite forum for good reason.

[huub]

Pyramix has 'never stop recording untill press stop' which makes sure the recording goes on if tc is lost..
It's a very nice feature and it cannot be hard to program this right? Would be a nice feature in protools also..

huub