Can I use LTC Timecode (TC in | Forum

Can I use LTC Timecode (TC in audio) in my final composite?

I have a sony a7s3 which does not have an SDI or TC port - I receive timecode via LTC from a tentacle sync device which records a signal on one of my channels. The docs say I can pass the timecode through SDI but what about LTC timecode through the audio?

I am recording on my camera and have a record 3 audio compound set up just to record the composite of the 3d background and my keyed footage. I also have it set up to just record the tracking data via fbx. I have timecode master on in my input pin settings.

However, I just tested this, and while my raw footage recorded the correct TC (once decoded in DaVinci), my composite from aximmetry starts from 0. Also, my fbx file is starting from 0. But I need the real timecode to work because I record audio from a Zoom external recorder when doing productions. I feel like this should work since aximmetry is supposedly recording the same audio from my camera though, no?

How can I get this going? Also, like another user noted, when I import my fbx file into blender the scene is not orientated the way it is when I recorded in Aximmetry. Is there any way to address this?

*my workflow is to get raw HQ footage from my camera and the fbx & composite from aximmetry, render the HQ scene by itself from blender and composite the raw footage in Nuke

sitinpretty

TwentyStudios

Timecode in live workflows typically are always embedded in SDI. Aximmetry doesn’t have the ability to read audio LTC, so one option would be to take the HDMI out of the camera, convert that to SDI, send the SDI into a SDI timecode embedding device that also gets the timecode from the Tentacle and send that to a Decklink SDI capture card.

If you have a Decklink 8K Pro, another option that might work (haven’t tested) would be to have a second Tentacle device (wirelessly synced to the other one) and output timecode via SDI to a second input on the Decklink. You would then add an Input node for that input and connect the timecode out to the recorder in Aximmetry (or set it as Master timecode). Don’t know if that would work, but it would be easy to test if you have a Decklink card.

Aximmetry could also implement a LTC reader module, which could be useful in a lot of situations. @Eifert?

sitinpretty

Thank you! Unfortunately, I don't have a decklick (only an ultrastudio 3g recorder as I am using a laptop). I do have an HDMI to SDI converter, but am I right to assume that since the ultrastudio then goes from SDI to lightning USB that it still wouldn't work?

An LTC reader module would be amazing! So my theory that Aximmetry capturing the sound from my camera and thus it should be receiving that weird timecode sound on one of the channels like my camera does isn't sound then?

Also, any idea on how I can get my camera to be in the same orientation I record in with the fbx / tracking file aximmetry spits out?

TwentyStudios

The SDI to Thunderbolt/USB doesn’t have anything to do with it. You would need two SDI inputs for the second suggested method to work, so the Ultrastudio won’t work because of that.

What you can use is a HDMI to SDI converter that allows you to embed timecode as a part of the conversion. This device should do it: https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/teranexmini/techspecs/W-TERAMIN-02 https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/teranexmini/techspecs/W-TERAMIN-02

Not sure what you mean by “the same orientation”?. Maybe you can post that as a new question and elaborate a bit?

Eifert@Aximmetry

Hi,

We have added LTC support to our request list and will consider including it in future releases. A similar Timecode from the Audio Input feature was already requested before. However, note that since you would receive the timecode on a separate physical line from the video, perfect synchronization won't be guaranteed.

Regarding exporting FBX (Record_3-Audio) to Blender, the exported camera movement should retain the same orientation in Blender as it does in Aximmetry. This will hold true regardless of any changes you make in the camera compound.
Additionally, in Blender, do not alter the FBX import settings; keep them at their default values:

Warmest regards,

Can I use LTC Timecode (TC in audio) in my final composite?

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