Timecode Demo with NanoLockit from Ambient Recording 

**Correction** Technically, timecode is only written continuously when recording to an audio input. When you connect a timecode generator to a timecode input, it writes the time from the generator as a timestamp at the start of the file only. Also, for critical sync for larger budget movies shooting 3D or CGI, they'll often use genlock instead of timecode which is a way to tell each camera when to write each frame so that they do not drift over time. Timecode does not fix drift issues if you're recording with devices (cameras or audio recorders) which drift over time. It only ensures that they start in sync. The Tentacle Sync Studio app does allow you to convert audio timecode by selecting where in the recording you wish to read the timecode (start, end, or middle of clip) which can sort of help if you are experiencing some drift. Nevertheless, if drift is an issue you're trying to solve, genlock is the way to fix it.

Loving the teal shirt and background lighting. Everyone focuses in colour grading for certain looks and forget what you put in the frame matters too. Great video as always.

Nicely explained and done. Thanks!

Superb information, well delivered and professional. Never disappointed and always learn something every time. Thank you for doing this. The ability to do this with DSLR using the mic input was a revelation and appreciated.

Oh wow there is so much involved in shooting video. Thanks, Curtis Judd I'm a new subscriber and I learned a whole lot from your video's so thanks again

Always the consummate professional, we are blessed, thank you Sir.

Holly shit, what was INCREDIBLE VIDEO. So much information, so much knowledge, such an intresting new device(for me)! Curtis, make more of this! Next time, maybe a video about cheap prompters / DIY prompters?

Anyone else notice the optical illusion (shifting) occurring at exactly 3:15? (go to 3:12 to then watch it occur).

Thanks for the neat video! I'm doing a single camera documentary project by myself and have always been intrigued by timecode. I currently and running dual system on a F8 for my boom mic and I typically run my backup (Senn AVX Lav) into my GH5. The FCPX audio syncing seems to be pretty straight forward, but I always wondered if there would be any advantage for my particular workflow to add time code to the mix. I seem to think it would add more time to my post workflow with little overall advantage, but wondered your thoughts?

Great video Curtis! Consumer grade cameras are absolutely diabolical at keeping timecode, a nightmare to work with in post every single time.

Always a pleasure to see your tutorials Curtis. Have you tried the new Lockit? It seems really nice

Great walkthrough, love it! I see a few questions on NanoLockit vs Tentacle Sync, wouldn't it be possible to combine them and use one of the brands as master for the other?

Great video Curtis, would you ever do a comparison video on the pros and cons of the NanoLockit vs the Tentacle Sync? I'm trying to decide between the two. My mentality on buying equipment is to invest for the future and I love Ambient's products but I also love Tentacle Sync's bluetooth connectivity with its mobile app.

Nice & Thanks :)

Thanks for the great video overview! Did you say I can use the nanolockit as a master and run it to a consumer recorder like my zoom h5? I've seen videos hooking up a nanolockit to a consumer camera like my Sony a7RII but not to a consumer recorder. Eventually I plan to upgrade to an SD 633 but the budget is small right now. Thanks and keep up the great work!

Wow. I contrast this from when i worked at the BBC in the late 80's. Sync was Pilot tone on Nagra 4s recorders. Used mains sync between 16mm mag bays as well. Saw that transitioning into TC (TC devices were 3 unit rack sized) and then the beginnings of DV where even domestic devices would start to have amazing accuracy in time drift compared to what was the then "Pro"standard. How far we have come!

Awesome content Curtis - thank you! Question - can't you jam the NanoLockit from the Sound Devices and then you only need two units, one for each of the cams?

Hey Curtis thanks for a very intuitive video, however I have a question which is can I mix the two different devices and get Same results? For example I have TinyLockit ANC-TL and this one NanoLock so can I have one of them on the recorder( I use sound devices 633) and another one on my camera ? (I use URSA Mini 4.6K)

Handy tip on recording time code to a camera using the mic input. I will try that.

If I understood Curtis demo, do you have to plug in each nanolockit to tell them what FPS to use or just the master unit ? I downloaded and reviewed the quickstart guide but does not mention each unit. Can I assume the master sends the FPS to the slaves along with the TC ?

Hi there, great video. What if you have multiple cameras changing frame rates continuously at different times from each other throughout the shoot in a run and gun doc style? Will the lockits continue to keep the cameras sync or will i have to jam sync every time?

I haven't seen anyone address a particular question/workflow that I typically use. Most everyone describes sync using these small wireless camera mounted devices for only one take. That is 1 camera and 1 audio recorder recording 1 pass, or multiple cameras and audio recorder recording 1 pass. My workflow is filming music performance - either stage performance or music video type performance, where the singer(s) or performer(s) listen to and perform with a pre-recorded audio track, often with click into in-ear monitors so as to remain in perfect timing over MULTIPLE TAKES. The best scenario for synchronizing audio and video in post is for the playback audio to supply the timecode. So, I may have 4 Takes with 4 cameras and 32 audio tracks per take, for example. That's 16 camera angles and 128 audio tracks to synchronize together. This is easy if all gear is pro with genlock and timecode inputs and you're running hard sync/timecode lines to all the gear. Then Audio playback starts at 1:00:00:00 each time and the audio playback timecode gets recorded to all video and audio recordings. But, what if I'm using DSLR cameras without genlock or timecode inputs? Which of these portable wireless devices will FOLLOW a timecode signal in order to record a repeated identical timecode over repeated takes? I know that tentacle sync does not. It jam syncs at whatever timecode you want to start at (typically using time of day) and then runs continuous. You can't have it follow the timecode position from audio playback in this case. Will the NanoLockit follow a timecode source like this? How about other devices such as the Qbit or Ultrasync or the Moze Gear also mentioned in the comments here? Let me know if you know.

Can the system be used with a lower priced audio recorder? Specifically, I'm using a DSLR with a Zoom H4n Pro. I have 2 microphones (matched pair of Rode NT5s) plugged into the Zoom. Would I still be able to connect a NanoLockit to the Zoom?

hello, I got a question about the time code. What if I have already got a Zoom F8 and I wanted to sync it to a camera which hace a timecode input, Should I purchase the nanolockit or I can just sync them though a single SDI cable. Thank you.

So if I have one Nanolockit connected to my Mixpre6, other is in Alexa SXT, and master is Ambient ACN-LS slate, will it work together wirelessly?

Hi Curtis, thanks for the awesome video. I have a quick question about the Nano Lockit. My current set up uses a Panasonic GH5. I was wondering if I connect the Nano Lockit to a DMW-XLR1 input, would I be able to record audio on the right or left side channel. Thanks

Great and informative video Curtis. I am curious, can FCPX convert a audio timecode file to a regular timecode or timestamp, or do you need a third party app to do this first before importing it to FCPX?

Question. If you use a NanoLockit or any Time Code generator with a DSLR or a TRUE Video Camera is the Time code Superimposed to the audio track or if one used a 'Y' cable they would have Time Code plus Audio on both Stereo Channels? Could one use the NanoLockit with a Zoom Hn4 Pro on the 3rd or 4th channel when recording in 4 track mode? Would the NanoLockit let me leave my H4n record continually and start record Pause a Video camera & eastly Sunc Video to the Continues Audio of the H4n Pro?

Hi Curtis, I will be using these for the first time and have a burning question. When you hold the green button on the first slave to wirelessly synch to the second nano, will it keep the timecode of the recorder? Will the recorder still be the master? Because I saw in other tutorials that holding the green button prompts the nano to generate it's own timecode. Many thanks.

Any major advantages over the tentacles sync, I went we will that system over the ambient for price reasons but have used both. Other than the wire features to sync one or more unit the seem very similar.

Curtis, thank you for the videos you post. You have influenced me into purchasing the items that are in your videos. I purchased three NanoLockits as demonstrated in this video for the Mixpre 6, and Ursa Mini Pro 4.6k. I am having a hard time locating a cable to connect from the NanoLocket to the URSA TC input connector and a cable to connect from the NanoLocket to the MixPre 6 TC input. Can you help me locate the proper cables? Also, what do you recommend for a 7" 4k monitor to connect to the URSA Mini Pro 4.6k? Thank you.

Hey Curtis, the NanoLockit looks like a great investment. My question is, if you already have the NanoLockits say two or three at the most, is it necessary to have the Master Lockit to have them function? In other words if I'm out on the field, when will I need the Master NanoLockit?

Is Red colored Cable the output and the green cable the input?

Hello Curtis, and thanks for the great video. I have a question about the NanoLockit plugging into the mic input on a DSLR (say Canon Mark iii). If the Nano is using that input, then, I guess there wouldn't be a way to record a scratch audio track on the camera via a mic because the mic input is being used. Is that correct? Thanks, Jody

Hi Curtis I just bought the GH5 and I can see you have the Olympus lens on? Is that the Olympus 45mm f/1.8? Can you recommend it? Have you tried the Rokinon 35mm f/1.5? And how would you compare these?

Curtis; is it necessary to leave the nonolockit plugged into the camera during the length of the shoot? I'm thinking that I could use the same nanolockit for several cameras if I can just plug it into the mic input of each one (I have three) and get them all time coded. Thanks.

Cool. On some pro-sumer cameras and audio recorders, you do have to be careful about cross-talk between the channels if you're recording audio and TC on the same device.

Hi Curtis, Thank you for this interesting/informational video. I have (5) multiple GH5 and I'm ready to drop the money on these, can you please help me with understanding if the Nanolockit works with 50fps? Also wondering if I'll buy ACN-CL Lockit, will it transmit 50fps timecode to Nanolockit? Do I need to purchase MasterLockit to be able to use 50fps timecode on multiple gh5? I've sent them an email but it bounced back with covid-19 message. so no touch with ambient.de. Thanks you and be safe.

@ (1:46) How would I know what frame rate to set the mixer to?

Thank you Curtis as always for that video ;) I have a question is possible to use one nanolockit for two devices? for example Ursa 4k with sound devices mixpre6?

What’s the difference between a smart slate and a timecode generator?

Could i use this in live productions ?

is it true that it supports all frame rates not just up to 30 fps??

I use Plural Eyes full version. I'm curious do I still need to use time code?

Hello, i want to use this with Tascam DR-710D. Will i be using the mic in cable to connect the NanoLockit to the DR-710D? Thanks

Am I right that with the NanoLockit, you loose both Left & Right audio channel on the camera? It looks like that when you showed the connection via the 3.5mm TRS plug. I think that the Tentacle Sync, allows one side to take an external mic, which could be a nice backup feature. Is Tentacle Sync also less expensive? Tentacle comes with their sync software, which you used in the demo, but I think a user would need to buy separately as it's not included with NanoLockit 0 is it?

i've got 3 nano lockits..... i started filming music videos, bought a deity timecode slate.... If i use pro tools to playback with a TC output port, can I somehow use my nano lockits to continually update the smart slate with the pro tools timecode output? So that the slate is showing the MUSIC TRACK TIMECODE! Idk if there's a continual update slave mode that the nano can run in... thanks!

You made this video years ago, but im still hoping for a reply! If i use the nanolockits, is a timecode slate needed and vice versa?

Why would someone go through all this (especially in the case of devices without dedicated inputs for these things) instead of using, for example, Premiere Pro's built in merge and multi-cam features?

Can i use my recorder like Master with this? 18CH is a Master right? If i set all Nanos in CH11?

I've heard you discuss three different small SMPTE timecode systems. Have you settled on which one gives you the most bang for the buck? Nano Lockit, Tentacle Sync, or Moze gear? Also, per a question you pondered in one of your reviews. Oscillators come in many forms with varying precision. The most important you may run into are: RCO = resistor capacitor oscillator, an analog oscillator based on the time it takes for a capacitor to charge up to some small voltage through a resistor, dump the charge and repeat (think of the recycle delay on a camera flash, same process, but bigger capacitors that take seconds), these are very susceptible to device to device variations, and temperature drift, not precise enough for most timebase purposes of course. XO = crystal oscillator, dramatically more precise than RCO, but will have accuracy variations unit to unit, and will drift slightly with time, and over temperature variations. VCXO = voltage controlled crystal oscillator, a crystal oscillator that can be "tuned" or "pulled" faster or slower with a variable voltage input. This can be used with a microcontroller measuring a temperature sensor to compensate for temperature induced drift (like the TCXO below), or to adjust to periodic inputs from another source, such as a GPS which is an atomic clock time base. TCXO = temperature compensated crystal oscillator, temperature is measured internally, and the oscillator is "pulled" to reduce temperature caused drift. May also allow VCXO pulling. OCXO = oven controlled crystal oscillator, a crystal oscillator housed in an insulated constant temperature oven, which can greatly reduce its sensitivity to ambient temperature variations. Very precise temperature stability into the ppb (parts per billion) range. Downside is they tend to be expensive, bulkier for good insulation, and power hungry to run the oven. Generally the most precise form of crystal oscillator. Beyond this, I suppose atomic clocks are next.

Good

I have been tempted by this solution, but not being able to fully set it up without a computer is a big minus. Is there any cheap TC solution that does not requite a computer or an iphone to set things up?

Have you settled on which gives you the most bang for the buck, Nano Lockit, Tentacle Sync, or Moze gear?

Here can't get in Singapore

Hi sir I need this lemo 5 pin to 4 pin lemo wiring diagram for red camera and 5 pin lemo to 5 pin lemo for Alexa camera wiring diagram sir send me link sir thanks

i always record my sound in to the camera so this kind of setup not my choice

Ambient or tentacle Sync?

Hai sir this is murugesh sound Recordist from Singapore and can I get in Singapore also? If you don't mind can you send me shopping online site please

(Don't mean to sound pretentious or like a smartass) but you are slightly wrong about timecode. You are treating time code as a method of locking cameras together by saying "it writes on every frame" or "required for 3D rigs". Timecode only stamps the first frame of the recording then your post production software uses its time code to line up that marking, time code is not written to every frame. Timecode is simply for aligning a single point of audio + video and nothing else. When we begin talking about 3D rigs or time drift in long recordings timecode will not help you there, what you require is called genlock (for video) or wordclock (for audio). Genlock works by sending a pulse to every camera telling it when to capture the frame, that's important as two cameras shooting at 24fps might not be taking each frame at perfect intervals and in a very long multi-camera situation or in a 3D rig this can lead to the cameras being in sync at the start (thanks to the timecode stamp) but slowly falling out of sync due to slight discrepancies in the clock circuits that tell the cameras exactly when to take a frame or an audio recorder exactly when to sample. Hope that clears some stuff up for people.

just use tentacle sync