5 Camera sync - using Time Code

[foreveryoung]

I have a live music video project to edit on my Prestige with o/s 8.0

I did not film this but the tapes were sent to me and I’m concerned about syncing all 5 cameras. Below is what was sent to me about time code

All 5 Cameras SONY HVR Z1U's
60i /with a 29.97df time code base
1080i

When I import the footage, will it keep the original time code from the cameras? And if so what steps do I take to sync up all 5 cameras.

Thanks
Ken Young

[chetdavis]

Ken,

You can use the QuadCam software http://macrosystem.us/Software/QuadCam.html with up to 4 cameras but there is currently no capacity for 5 cameras in sync (you could of course, manually cut and insert but I honestly think that would be more work than one would wish to do).

Regards,
Chet

[foreveryoung]

Hi Chet-
I will not be using QUADCAM for this project. I will be using the insert method where I can be more accurate with my cuts, plus I’m cutting 5 cameras.

My question is: When I import the footage, will it keep the original time code from the cameras?

Also I see in the manual that 16:9 works only if both camcoder & TV conform to the 16:9 standard. I understand that the input from the camera needs to be 16:9 and settings on my Prestige needs to be set at 16:9 anamorphic, But other than proper picture display how would a standard 4:3 TV effect the footage?

[JPaul]

Ken,
your Prestige should maintain the timecode for any dv input via firewire. Keep in mind, however, that the timecode relies on the clock setting prior to taping. But whatever the time was for each camera, the sync should stay relatively the same, so when you get them in sync they should stay in sync until you have a pause or stoppage of the video. Hope that helps!

[foreveryoung]

the SONY HVR Z1U's have Free Run time code which means all camera were synced up with identical timecode. If this is true then I'm good to go right? personally I like to use a flash sync

[IanPearson]

Ken
The attached is a procedure for synchonising two cams and using insert editing for the changing cam angles. With 5 cams this would be quite some task, but the first part of the process could be used to sync all the cam shots, a relatively easy process provided all cams where running all the time (not stopped and started during the period you want) and you have a good common reference point.

If you do decide to edit this way, I would start the process below using just two cams and then make a scene of the result. Then with this new scene do the same process with cam 3 and again make a scene of the result. And repeat for cams 4 and 5.

This as said will be a mamouth task, and should be planned very carfully first.

Ian

B6 Insert editing with sync of audio (Two Cam Shoot)

This procedure describes how, when quad cam is not available, using two cameras taking the same scene from different angles, the view can be switched between the scenes using the sound track from one scene only and the audio synchronized to both scenes. This is achieved using the insert editing function.

This demonstration uses a two camera shoot, A/B editing, but it can be used with three or more camera shots, however, it does become more complicated with more than two cameras. To edit this way, both cameras will need to be running continuously, although not necessarily starting or finishing together, but both scenes will eventually end up the same length.

With this method find a common frame accurate starting point to the two scenes either via the video (such as a flash) or the audio (such as a sharp sound, say something like a clap or cough.). Using Trim find the common sync point that can be seen or heard on both views. It doesn't have to be the starting point, just the same event common to both scenes.

It’s not essential but Cam A which will be the main scene should be started first and stopped last, therefore this will be the longer of the two scenes.

Starting with Cam B, which should be the shorter of the two clips, using “trim” “start” scroll up to the reference point. Now using the “trim” “out” scroll all the way back as far as it will go, so there will now be just one frame of the common reference point.

Again using the “trim” “start” scroll back to the point where the video clip is going to start and note the time length of the clip, which will be the time from the new start of the scene to the reference point. Now again using the “trim” “finish” scroll forwards to the point where the video clip will finish and make a note of the total scene time.

Now with the clip from cam A, using “trim” run the “start” slider to the same common reference point and again using “trim” “finish” scroll back as far as it will go so again there is one frame of the common sync point.

This time using “trim” “start”, scroll back the same time period that was noted on cam B and again using “trim” “finish” scroll forward until the total scene length is the same as cam B

Now there should be two scenes A & B which are the exact same length and are both accurately synchronized with each other, but looking from different angles. Both cameras don’t need to be static. One or both can be moving, but both must be continuous.

Decide which of the two scenes will become the base scene, cam A in our case, and it is the audio from this scene that will be heard in the finished scene. Now place that base scene in the story board.

Assuming scene A will be the first scene to be viewed, using the second scene cam B, and the split function, scroll through the scene and at each point where the view is required to switch to the second cam scene B, stop it and press “use”. Now scroll the point where the second scene is required to switch back to the main scene cam A, and press “use” again. It is important that at each switch point the “use” button is pressed and not the “drop”. The second scene can be split as many times as required, but it is essential that all the scenes are saved by pressing the “use” and none are dropped. If this has been done correctly there should be the original second cam B scene in the scene bin, followed by all the slits of this scene.

Using the Insert function, place all of the split sections from Cam B from the scene bin onto scene A, which is in the story board. Since both scenes start at the same point the first split from scene B starts at the beginning of scene A and then place all the remaining splits from scene B in order onto scene A. Scene A should now be completely covered by all the scene B splits. If it has been done correctly there will be no scene B clips unused and there will be no scene A clips left to cover on the story board.

When this is complete remove all the insert scenes from cam B that are not required from the story board so that scene A will again be seen in these places. If it has been planned correctly, these should be all the alternate scenes from scene B, either all the odd or all the even, depending which will be the first view.

Again if this has been done correctly, there should now be a sequence of video, switching from one view to the other, all perfectly synchronized to the audio from scene A, that is camera A. If required transitions can be made between the inserted sections and the base scene.

[foreveryoung]

Hi Ian-
Thanks for your help. It's not the camera switching I was concerned with but the time code. These are tapes that I did not personally film. My question was with o/s 8.0 will the camera time code be dumped in with the footage. I am the master at syncing cameras mostly using a flash which is the most accurate. I also prefer insert editing over quad cam. I’ve shot music videos with 20 different angles and can edit with ease with insert editing. I think my question was answered, that the footage will retain the original camera time code. Thanks for everyone’s help
Ken

[IanPearson]

Hi Ken
Sorry for the diatribe on insert editing, it’s not always apparent as to the experience of the questioner. Teaching my Grandmother to suck eggs comes to mind.

You did at least get the answer you wanted.

I do not have Quadcam and also use the flash or such to sync two or more cams. However, the most I have used at any one time is three. I am therefore very impressed that you can insert edit from up to 20 cams. WOW, no mean feat at all.

Ian

[Jeanton]

Hi Ken

In my experience Quadcam would be the ideal software to use if all footage of the cameras were shot in one scene. The problem with editing some ones else its footage you don’t know and if they make one stop in each tape the sound will be totally of sync. Say they were shot in one scene to edit a 20 min wedding ceremony with 4 cameras would take me about an hour to fine tune and have it totally finished. Just an idea how much money you could make by using Quadcam and saving time(time is money). You probably think that Ched try to sell you this product but I can honestly say this is the best software I am using ( for the last 4 years) it makes it so easy as it is virtually live switching what you do with the added bonus of the extra 3 or 5 sec buffer on every insert you ad after you finished the Quadcam stage. Specially with music and singing it is very hard to find the right insert point and labour intensive offcourse .

Ken how long is this music video and how long are you intent to spend on it?

Good luck with it this is just my idea.

[BobNaughton]

Hi Ken,

One of your main questions was will your Kron? I forget what you said you had right now, be able to retain your original time code. It will not! at least not in the way I think you want to be able to use it. Lets say your sync point in your original footage is at 1 min 15 sec and 23 frame. Once you download that cameras footage into your cassie and you trim up to the sync point it will not be at 00:01:15:23. You will see 00:00:00:00. The cassies own internal time code will be displayed starting at :01 for the first frame of footage. However if you click on the button OPT just above the "New" button it will display what your original time code is of 00:01:15:23. but that is only while you are in the OPT screen. What I mean is that you cannot display the original time code while you are editing without clicking on the OPT button each time you want to confirm where you are.

OS7 and above you have the option to display either the casablanca time code or the original time code. However even then when you are trimming, splitting, or using quadcam (which I know you're not) it will be the casablanca internal time code that you will be editing to.

I would agree with Jeanton that Quadcam is an invaluable software to use. If your cuts are off you have 3 seconds of the other cameras footage to fine tune it up with. Since you are using 5 cameras, you could use quadcam to cut the first 4 cameras footage, fine tune it as needed, then make a scene of it and use this combo scene as your background and either run quadcam again using the combo as your background and your cam 5 as the insert. Or use Ian,s Insert method to complete the project. Good Luck with your project whichever way you decide to go. Another happy Quadcam user.