Syncing

jay-o wrote on 4/5/2024, 3:30 PM

I am trying to sync up multi-camera footage from a concert. Some of the tracks have ambient sound and waveforms are not well defined to get close, so I assume that is why I am getting message events could not align. Visually I get them close to video but still not all aligning all tracks. Maybe I can put marks on down beats on the separate tracks? Is that possible, or is there another solution?

Comments

fr0sty wrote on 4/5/2024, 3:53 PM

I usually use the snare drum... it usually creates a sharp spike on the audio waveforms, and I'll use that to align the different tracks together. Other than that, any sharp, quick sound that creates a sharp peak on the waveforms will do for aligning. Just zoom all the way in once you've found the peaks and got them roughly aligned, and stack them on top of each other, one track at a time. It helps if you only have 2 tracks at a time active when aligning... so if I have 6 cameras, I'll line up cam1 and cam2, then I'll mute cam 1 and align cam 2 to cam 3, then mute cam 2 and align 3 to 4, and so on. When done, I'll leave cam 1 unmuted, then go down the line one at a time unmuting cam 2, then 3, then 4, then 5, then 6... to test to make sure the sync holds up.

Visually, if an audio sync is too hard, camera flashes usually work.

jay-o wrote on 4/5/2024, 5:29 PM

In this case, the waves are not well defined as there is ambient noise and crowd noise. I have 5 camera angles. For some reason when I mute or solo one they all get muted and soloed. They get linked, so if I try to collapse one, they all collapse. I need to figure that out as well.

RogerS wrote on 4/5/2024, 9:18 PM

I think all the tracks are likely selected by accident. Be sure to just select one so you can mute and solo.

mark-y wrote on 4/5/2024, 10:08 PM

AudioSyncR is what will do the job for you. There is a learning curve, and it is reasonably priced.

https://tools4vegas.com/home/

Robert Johnston wrote on 4/5/2024, 10:33 PM

@jay-o There's a problem with Vegas in that if you start off by placing audio events on each track flush with the beginning of the timeline, the syncing algorithm may want to move an event to the left, but it can't move it any further left because there's no room. The event is as far left as it can go. So, make sure you leave enough blank space between the start of the timeline and your events. That way if the algorithm wants to move an event to the left, the event won't be blocked by the left edge of the timeline. You would think that the algorithm would move the other events to the right in this case, but it doesn't always. Following this advice doesn't mean your syncs will be successful.

jay-o wrote on 4/6/2024, 6:48 PM

I extended it out, so there is room to move the tracks when syncing and that didn't work. I tried to get the free version of AudioSyncR/Otter at least to test it out, but it would not open. I may try it again, or maybe the free version has issues. Looks overwhelming. I'm new to this. Does anyone want to line them up for me$?

fr0sty wrote on 4/7/2024, 7:55 AM

Could maybe do it over teamviewer, but I'm supposed to be timelapsing the eclipse monday, so I won't be available until at least Tuesday to do it.

jay-o wrote on 4/8/2024, 12:27 PM

Thank you guys so much for the help. Frosty, thank you again,