Tip ! Double checking insert scenes for Quadcam

[Jeanton]

I like to share a Tip with you.

Have you ever gone through a Quadcam procedure and than found out that one or two of the insert scenes were 2 or 3 frames of sinc.
In the past I corrected every one by using the position button and found it was very time consuming (when you have sometimes 180 inserts) and thought if I only could check it before I started Quadcam and switch screens.

This is what I do now.
As usual try to find the sync point as normal and as good as you can for all your cameras.
Just before I use Quadcam I put the background scene onto the storyboard.
Than I insert the scene that I would use as Cam 1 in full on top of the background scene.
Use the trim function to trim the insert to a spot that being in sinc REALLY matters (like vows on a wedding) play the inset part and check if the mouth is matching the background sound.
If it does you are good to go to use this scene as usual if not try to get it in sync before you start quadcam.
Remove the scene and do it with the other insert scenes as well.

Checking it this way has saved me allot of time and this procedure only take a few minutes to do.

Hope this makes sense and helps you guys and girls who are using quadcam and have had this happen to them before.

[TimKennelly]

Jeanton,

I have always done something similar, but directly with the audio.

Rather than Insert and Trim, I Split the other "views" to a point like you of a critical and distinct voice sync area, but something early on like the beginning of the officiant's opening remarks.

I Split it into three portions, 1 up to key area, 2 key area (usually ten seconds or so) and 3 the remainder.

Then I Insert the first two and remove the first (the fist is put up simply to set the key segment accurately initially.

Then I do a Scene Sample of the key segment and place that resulting audio segment under the key segment in the Audio Edit menu.

I Create the result and play that portion back using headphones to monitor.

Ears are extremely (frame) accurate at detecting if the two sound tracks are spot on or off (echo if considerably off, reverb if only slightly off.

Sometimes due to volume discrepancies I will adjust the added audio track up or down.

I use Range to move it up or down the Storyboard by the amount of frames the echo or reverb sounds, Create again and listen again.

This only takes seconds to nail down the sync between the two to frame accuracy.

I keep track of the amount of frames I have adjusted and then either Trim or Add frames onto the original sample of the "view" (not the key segment or the 1st or 3rd segments, but to the original).

That guarantees the second view is frame on with the first.

I discard the three Split segments at that time.

If I have additional views (normally I use three) I do the same.

After these adjustments no more are needed regarding sync after QC.

This sounds more complicated than actually doing it and takes less time to sync two additional views to the background choice than typing it up.

[flvideo]

While you guys are talking about Quad cam, I had a situation today where I had a race that ran 23 laps of a 25 lap race with out a caution. I used Quad cam without a hitch until I got to the end and I had 2 laps left on Cam 1. I tried to insert on those 2 laps and I had a hard time finding the correct sync on cam 2. I think I finally got it right but it took forever. I used the Quadcam to save time and ended up spending more time than split and insert. How would you guys have handled it? Thanks Bob....

[TimKennelly]

Bob,

If you only have two views I would not be using QC.

You can use the old A/B Split and Insert method so much faster.

QC must be used real time, where as the A/B method can be done as fast as you can determine cut points and then Insert and Remove.

I would sync the two tracks the same way though.

[flvideo]

You may be right Tim. I wasted a lot of time trying to piece the race together and I'd have spent a lot less time spliting and inserting. The only way I can figure to stay in sync is to count laps, and my memorys so bad I can't remember if I went 1 lap or 2 laps. Using quadcam it is in real time. I sync the cameras up just before the start and if my cameras don't stop its a snap when ever I switch its in sync till one camera stops then its a mess. I have been doing this for years but I bought Q/C and thought that was the answer. It works well when I do 1 of my TV shows. Its worth the money it cost just for that. Thanks Tim Bob...

[Jeanton]

Hi Bob

You are probably still putting your footage in the machine by using the analog leads. If you would have put it in by firewire (DV) you could have hit the auto split function and would have known instantly if that camera has been stopped during the race so you could take measures before you start using Quadcam. Don't know why you don't try it- it doesn't take any more time or effort to do that.

[flvideo]

Hi Jeanton
I use S-video to input my footage. I can't remember now what it was, but some feature that I liked wasn't available with Firewire. I honestly don't see any difference between firewire and S-video in the video. Do You see a lot? Maybe I am missing the boat here. I keep saying I am going to try F/W agin but I don't seem to ever take the time to hook it up. Bob...

[IanPearson]

Bob
Fire wire data transfer is SDV, whereas S Video is imported to a lesser quality. For general viewing the difference is mostly not noticeable, but can be seen in other situations. When there are two different solid colours adjacent, there is often a slight bleed issue between the two or poor definition.

However, as Jeanton suggests, one other main advantages of firewire transfer is that auto split is available. Each time the cam has been paused, the Cassie will recognise this and using auto split it will automatically split each of these pauses into separate scenes.

Most of my shooting will have dozens or even hundreds of Cam stop / starts and auto split is therefore magic, saving lots of time and otherwise boring split work.

Also the Cam on input can be controlled from the record window, stop, pause, start etc.

Ian

[flvideo]

I am going to do the Firewire. It sounds like I am missing the boat not using it. I use a Gv-hd 700 to input video. I had to special order a cable for the S-Video. When I first bought the HD700. There was something that wasn't available to me with Firewire thats why I started using it. That was probably with my avio. The Renommee probably doesn't have that any way. I don't ever see any color bleed in my video any more. I used to see it when I used my JVC Dv300 in low light with bright colors around. I could usually take a little color out of those scenes and it was alright. It sure is nice to have you guys to bounce stuff off of. I have a lot of friends that are in the video business but none use M/S editors. Bob...