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Home: Video University Forums: Tech Q & A:
Time Code Audio Sync

 

 


Troppo
New User

May 25, 2006, 1:51 AM

Post #1 of 4 (1266 views)
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Time Code Audio Sync Can't Post

I apologise if this is a newbie question. I am looking to buy a portable sound recorder and mixer. How do I tell a sound recorder the timecode so that it is easy to sync up with the video later? My camera is a Sony HVR-A1.
Thanks!


videobear
Veteran


May 25, 2006, 11:50 AM

Post #2 of 4 (1259 views)
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Re: [Troppo] Time Code Audio Sync [In reply to] Can't Post

The short answer is, you can't...so use an audio recorder with a stable time reference, such as a minidisc, DAT, or an MP3 recorder. An analog cassette recorder will have way too much speed variation to maintain sync, but a digital recorder should be little or no problem.

The longer answer is, time code is supported by some professional audio recorders. If you have such a device, tell it to use SMPTE drop frame time code to match up with the time code used by the A1U. You STILL cannot set both devices to use the SAME time code, since the A1U can't be driven by an external time code generator. But it's not a problem to sync the two up in post...just find a video/audio cue so you can line up the two tracks in your NLE.




Regards,
Doug Graham
Panda Productions


Troppo
New User

May 25, 2006, 11:33 PM

Post #3 of 4 (1246 views)
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Re: [videobear] Time Code Audio Sync [In reply to] Can't Post

Isn't there a way I can hook up a professional audio recorder to the camera through the LANC port and they can 'synchronise watches' like the spies used to?


videobear
Veteran


May 26, 2006, 10:22 AM

Post #4 of 4 (1238 views)
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Re: [Troppo] Time Code Audio Sync [In reply to] Can't Post

No, sorry. These prosumer camcorders don't have the ability to sync up to an external time code source.

But don't despair. It is very easy to match up different audio and/or video tracks in an editing program, even if the time code numbers don't match.




Regards,
Doug Graham
Panda Productions