Timecode and formatting tapes

4 replies [Last post]
Thu, 08/03/2006 - 08:52
JC
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Joined: 08/03/2006

Hi,

A couple of questions:

Does the sample rate selection (44.1kHz or 48kHz) in which a DTRS tape has been formatted have an effect on the timecode synchronization of a DA-88 or DA-98 to a video deck (Being the video device the timecode generator)?
Or is it that a timecode synchronization error comes up only due to misconfiguration of the devices or bad cabling?

Looking forward for an answer!

Thanks,

JC

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Thu, 08/03/2006 - 09:53
#1
tonybrooke
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Joined: 02/12/2009

These two things are independent. Unless you are locked to video clock...

They do interact, though, when you want everything locked/resolved to the same external sample rate clock, ie you are doing a digital transfer on an all-digital video-post project.

http://www.silentway.com/definitive-dtrs-guide-chapter-6-timecode-submenu

n/a
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Fri, 08/04/2006 - 15:48
#2
JC
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Joined: 08/03/2006

Thanks for clarifying this, now I am starting to understand what we should have done and we didn't!

OK, so here is the big issue now: The tapes were formatted at 44.1kHz, the Video machines selected to run at 48kHz and the DA-98 sync timecode connected to the video decks.
While the guy was recording remotely he said the machine displayed: TC Record Source: Not synchronized (Every 5 min or so)

I found out about this 3 hrs. into the recording! I asked him to check the recorded material during a pause in the event and he said he didn't find any digital clicks or anything sounding off on the tapes (He didn't check if it matched the Video tapes though...)

Now that I've received the tapes and ready for post, I guess we are in trouble, right?

I assume this whole situation puts the multitrack tapes completely out of sync with the video, correct?

Is there any way to re-sync the audio of the tapes to the video timecode? (i.e. While dumping the tracks to Pro Tools, maybe)

Note that I can read timecode on the tapes.

Any ideas and solutions will be deeply appreciated!

Thanks!

JC

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Fri, 08/04/2006 - 16:18
#3
tonybrooke
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Joined: 02/12/2009

This is getting tricky. Any suggestions I had would be guesswork. I don't want to give you any bad advice! Maybe the timecode can be resynced/resolved/jammed, not sure. This might need some post-production system configuration magic, or at least a lot of time-consuming editing.

Being an audio recording guy, I'm always frustrated by the gulf of miscommunication that happens between audio world and video world. (And it seems like every cable has a different name on each side of the gulf.) We all need to take the extra effort to reach out to the other side and learn more about each other's work and language. It would also be nice if the people who hire both teams would facilitate better joint pre-planning before live recordings!

Good luck resolving (pun intended) your problem!

n/a
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Tue, 08/08/2006 - 12:46
#4
JC
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Joined: 08/03/2006

Hi Tony,

Thanks and I understand your position.

I was on the phone with an Engineer friend of mine, and he suggested what has worked out for him from past experience precisely on this matter:

Pro Tools Sync can be set up in Clock Reference and Positional Reference in LTC mode. The TC out and in respectively from the DA-88 connect to the LTC in and out of the Sync. (RCA to XLR) In this way the SYNC follows the TC of the DA-88.
I set the Pro Tools session at the same sample rate as the tapes had been formatted (44.1kHZ in this case). Then, I made sure that both the SYNC and the DA-88 were set to what video had originally sent as 29.97 Drop Frame.
I've been editing for the last two days and the tests I've sent to the video editor seem to match the sound to the image, so I'd say the suggestion worked out!

Best,

JC

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