Mutec iClock alternative... Video Black/WC regen

theblotted · 5th March 2009

we've been using Mutec iClocks as Video Black conversion to WC.. and supposedly iClock regenerates clock if Black is dropped. haven't had that happen yet, but instead something worse happened: iClock started to turn itself on & off sporadically! it's got mind of its own!

thankfully this didn't happen during live show but during dress reh, and stopped my PT recording. kinda embarrassing if you ask me. and this happened 2 separate occasions in 2 separate units. it's been quite good for a year, but this crapping out really concerns me.

have any of you guys experienced this? is it time for a new firmware or driver? or if you guys can recommend another box that does the same but more stable, i'm all ears. what do you use for WC regen?

theblotted · 6th March 2009

nobody has a redundant or backup clock solution?

LX3 · 7th March 2009

Run another recorder wild i.e. on internal clock or on a separate, local, external clock that is not sync'd to any other part of the system.

I know this means you won't have perfect all-day sync with video, but it does mean you still have a recording which can be sync'd manually. Which is better than no recording.

Umm... reading your post again... and without wanting to restart an earlier, now notorious thread... you do have a backup recorder for your ProTools rig?

As for the Mutec - I don't know, replace it with something that isn't broken?

Big Ben? Nanosyncs HD? Anything that works. Seems like far too critical a part of your rig to persevere with.

I have a particular piece of kit which is equally temperamental. After a less that completely reassuring conversation with the manufacturer, I am on the brink of ditching it (in fact, them - all $14,000 worth) and replacing them with something from another manufacturer that works as it should without randomly blowing up. There comes a point where you have to throw in the towel, decide it's just bad design, and look elsewhere.

Thankfully of course, I always have a backup running so it's never caused any loss of audio, but running on one recorder is not a comfortable experience.

I'm just waiting to see what the manufacturer can do to fix them before making a decision.

**Remoteness** · 10th March 2009

Even though our Brainstorm DCD-8 has been as solid as a rock, we still run our second (backup) hard drive recorder wild just like Paul stated above.

Just because we're paranoid about failure doesn't mean it cannot happen.
It's not perfect, but I'd rather have the recording wild then no recording if the main system fails and takes the backup with it.

I'm considering adding a third recorder which will act as the wild HD system.
This way we have two recorders referencing video sync while the third will be free wheeling.

theblotted · 10th March 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Remoteness

Even though our Brainstorm DCD-8 has been as solid as a rock, we still run our second (backup) hard drive recorder wild just like Paul stated above.

Just because we're paranoid about failure doesn't mean it cannot happen.
It's not perfect, but I'd rather have the recording wild then no recording if the main system fails and takes the backup with it.

I'm considering adding a third recorder which will act as the wild HD system.
This way we have two recorders referencing video sync while the third will be free wheeling.

that's what we're planning to do as well. the new JoeCo Blackbox seems like a great solution for this, at least for stems cuz we track 96 channels live.

**Remoteness** · 10th March 2009

Yeah, there's a lot of buzz for that JoeCo BlackBox Recorder.

I guess four of those puppies will do you just fine if you wanted to go beyond the stems.

theblotted · 10th March 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Remoteness

Yeah, there's a lot of buzz for that JoeCo BlackBox Recorder.

I guess four of those puppies will do you just fine if you wanted to go beyond the stems.

provided they got them, but i talked to Joe and he doesn't even have demo's ready... yet.

**Remoteness** · 10th March 2009

Are they pushing the April/May 2009 delivery window?

theblotted · 10th March 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Remoteness

Are they pushing the April/May 2009 delivery window?

that's the word. but they said Mar/April back @ NAMM.. hope it doesn't turn into RME ETA rumors.

**Remoteness** · 10th March 2009

Or the many long awaited months hanging for the X48s to finally come out to play... and, record.

Quote:

Originally Posted by theblotted

that's the word. but they said Mar/April back @ NAMM.. hope it doesn't turn into RME ETA rumors.

5th March 2009	#1
theblotted Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,304 Thread Starter	Mutec iClock alternative... Video Black/WC regen we've been using Mutec iClocks as Video Black conversion to WC.. and supposedly iClock regenerates clock if Black is dropped. haven't had that happen yet, but instead something worse happened: iClock started to turn itself on & off sporadically! it's got mind of its own! thankfully this didn't happen during live show but during dress reh, and stopped my PT recording. kinda embarrassing if you ask me. and this happened 2 separate occasions in 2 separate units. it's been quite good for a year, but this crapping out really concerns me. have any of you guys experienced this? is it time for a new firmware or driver? or if you guys can recommend another box that does the same but more stable, i'm all ears. what do you use for WC regen? __________________ "You can imagine where it goes from here." "He fixes the cable?"

10th March 2009	#4
Remoteness Super Moderator Joined: Aug 2002 Location: NYC Posts: 7,405	Even though our Brainstorm DCD-8 has been as solid as a rock, we still run our second (backup) hard drive recorder wild just like Paul stated above. Just because we're paranoid about failure doesn't mean it cannot happen. It's not perfect, but I'd rather have the recording wild then no recording if the main system fails and takes the backup with it. I'm considering adding a third recorder which will act as the wild HD system. This way we have two recorders referencing video sync while the third will be free wheeling. __________________ Steve Remote AuraSonicLtd.com the home of ASL Mobile & Location Production Remoteness on the Linkedin Network What about my Facebook Profile? Remoteness on Myspace

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6th March 2009	#2
theblotted Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,304 Thread Starter	nobody has a redundant or backup clock solution?

7th March 2009	#3
LX3 Lives for gear Joined: Aug 2005 Location: London, UK Posts: 1,034	Run another recorder wild i.e. on internal clock or on a separate, local, external clock that is not sync'd to any other part of the system. I know this means you won't have perfect all-day sync with video, but it does mean you still have a recording which can be sync'd manually. Which is better than no recording. Umm... reading your post again... and without wanting to restart an earlier, now notorious thread... you do have a backup recorder for your ProTools rig? As for the Mutec - I don't know, replace it with something that isn't broken? Big Ben? Nanosyncs HD? Anything that works. Seems like far too critical a part of your rig to persevere with. I have a particular piece of kit which is equally temperamental. After a less that completely reassuring conversation with the manufacturer, I am on the brink of ditching it (in fact, them - all $14,000 worth) and replacing them with something from another manufacturer that works as it should without randomly blowing up. There comes a point where you have to throw in the towel, decide it's just bad design, and look elsewhere. Thankfully of course, I always have a backup running so it's never caused any loss of audio, but running on one recorder is not a comfortable experience. I'm just waiting to see what the manufacturer can do to fix them before making a decision.