Audio TC and File TC (29 ms off)
I’ve had a set of tentacles for about 6 months now and absolutely love them. I’ve been using Audio TC on both my Tascam DR680MKii and Audio TC on whatever camera/4k recorder (DSLRs/Atomos Shogun) and syncing them up has been great! I just purchased a Zoom F8 and am using a Tentacle to write File TC via BNC to my F8. The other Tentacle is sending Audio TC into my Tascam DR680MKii. Now my question is:
Should there be any difference between the File TC on my Zoom F8 and the Audio TC on my Tascam DR680MKii when they are synced? Do Tentacles work better if you both devices are File TC only or Audio TC only? I’ve only had them 6 months so isn’t that a little soon to get them calibrated?
After a few different tests, they are not off by much but still off by enough to have phase issues. I’ve attached a photo from my Pro Tools session. 29 millisecond difference. (the grid is set to 1/4 frames)
Always record audio on one recorder. Audio on camera is only for guide track. If you have to use multiple recorders make sure they are hard wire word clock connected as master/slave.
If it is shot already and you have to deal with a fait accompli; then you have to do it manually shot for shot.
Maybe you can use Vocalign for ProTools to auto sync it.
The thing is; you need sample accuracy if you want to line up audio from different recorders. Only audio editors will do that. Video editors have only frame accuracy.
And, there is clock drift as mentioned above, so you’ll never get phase coherent unless you time compress/expand. Therefore; once and for ever; record audio on one recorder.