Sync Media question/challange

rjkrash wrote on 6/15/2006, 2:19 PM

Here is my challange:

Need to sync 3 cameras and a sound track from the event's mixer.

Cameras 1 and 2 ran continuously
camera 3 started and stopped.
Camera 1 is several events because they came from a Firestore, they are on the time line butted to each other.
Camera 2 and 3 each are one event each
mixer track stopped once to change tapes otherwise continuous. So it is a 2 event track.

I know how to add sync markers for cameras 1 & 2. My question is how do I add markers for camera 3 and the mixer track?

It says in the Excalibur manual - "It is even possible to sync the separate clips created by a camera that was stopped and restarted to another clip that spans the time gap in the recording." How is this accomplished?

I want to have a 3 camera PIP matrix (2x2). So, do i split the camera 3 media into discrete events and place them all on the same track? If so, what do I name the sync markers?

Again from the manual - "If you have stray pieces that need to be synced into the project, repeat the same procedure. Make sure that the additional events do not start earlier in time than what has already been synced. The sync point does not have to be the same for each cycle. As long as you can find a common point in time to an event already in the synced group, you can keep adding additional events. However, in this case you MUST NOT let the Sync Wizard automatically select all events."

Does this mean I run the sync wizard once to sync the two continuous tracks and the first event from camera 3 and then go to the next event on camera 3 track, mark a new sync point in camera 1 or 2 which are synced - I name it "1s". Then split camera 3 at next camera start, mark a sync point in next event on camera 3 track - name it "3s". I do this for each additional event I have on camera 3 track? This seems tedious. Is there something I'm missing?

Second issue but related -

Now I tried the above, multiple runs of the sync media, and experienced a problem. Remember I say above that Camera 1 is several events because they came from a Firestore. When I run the first sync media I end up with events from Camera 1 track placed on the track out of sequence. I tried this with auto select all events and then by unchecking select all events and manually selecting all. Also turned auto ripple on and off. Anyone know what is going on?

TIA for any and all responses.

Comments

jetdv wrote on 6/15/2006, 2:31 PM

"It is even possible to sync the separate clips created by a camera that was stopped and restarted to another clip that spans the time gap in the recording."

It is possible but you have to jump through some hoops to do it. Instead, I use Excalibur to do the initial sync of the first events (with the option to create PIPs turned off) and then manually sync the rest. I then use Excalibur to create the PIP view. OR, in a case like this, I may just manually sync the whole thing and then use Excalibur to create the PIP view.

I do this for each additional event I have on camera 3 track? This seems tedious. Is there something I'm missing?

Sort of. You also have to put the command marker in the proper place as well... It *IS* a tedius process.

In your case, I would add the first clip for camera 1, camera 2, and camera 3 to the timeline and get them in sync. For the remainder of camera 1, it should just be a matter of dropping the remaining files behind the first one. Camera 3 will be trickiest as you will have to manually split the file whenever it was stopped and then resync the new event.

In some cases (such as this) it's sometimes better to just sync the whole thing manually and then run the sync tool to create the PIPs. That's one reason why I recommend ONE file per camera.

rjkrash wrote on 6/15/2006, 8:37 PM

Thanks for your reply. I have been trying out your suggestions and I'm getting there but I ran into a repeat of the problem I raised at the end of my inital post.

After syncing up the first events I then dropped in the rest of the camera one events, split and synced a portion of camera 3. I then ran the sync media with no sync markers but I DID have the command marker in place to mark the start point. I got the PIPs and Camera numbers but the events from Cameras 1 and 3 were no longer in their proper timeline flow. For example event 3 of camera 1 was now at the beginning of the track and others were out of wack too. I ctr-Zed and then deleted the command marker, ran sync media again and all seemed to be copacetic.

What is the command marker for? And do I need it? You told me I "have to put the command marker in the proper place as well..." Why or are you talking of a different command marker?

jetdv wrote on 6/16/2006, 6:39 AM

What is the command marker for? And do I need it? You told me I "have to put the command marker in the proper place as well..." Why or are you talking of a different command marker?

You don't typically need a command marker. That would ONLY be used for "additional" syncing which is why I said it was more complicated. In your case, sync manually, add NO markers to the timeline (standard or command) and run sync. That will create the PIP views but will NOT move the clips - as you have seen.