[Module/5D3] SMPTE experiment, not usable

[g3gg0]

can someone with SMPTE equipment try this module?

SMPTE output module

i developed it on 5D3, it is likely that other models that have audio support will work too.
as i dont have any equip and there are no free tools to read SMPTE, i cannot test what it produces.

[Greg]

500D has problems with sound, so I can not check. 

Code Select Expand

ASSERT: FALSE
at SoundDevice\SoundDevice_CODEC.c:1080

[1%]

The audio MS and video ms frames don't match but its making noise.

[AnotherDave]

Here is a link to a demo program that could help...

http://www.videotoolshed.com/product/26/auxtc-reader

[AnotherDave]

I recorded a sample of the audio, but haven't been able to get any software to recognize TC on the track.

But this is off to a great start!

I know it is really in development, but I wanted to test to see how it effected RAW recording.  Unfortunately, it shuts off the instant RAW REC is initiated.

Output only works if the audio jack is plugged in after the module is started.

Pretty awesome stuff! :-D

[g3gg0]

thanks.
i am at work at the moment, so i cannot test it myself.

[g3gg0]

this one any better?

[AnotherDave]

The sound output still shuts off when I start recording, but I'm assuming that isn't what the test was for...

It also locks the camera after you initial a raw recording with it on, and attempt to re-engage the module without a restart.

I will test the track now and see if it does it!

*Very exciting stuff!  It might not be a bad thing that the audio generation stops once you hit record if the proper software can be created to embed the TC information throughout the clip.  But I'm dying to find out if it effects the RAW_REC. 

Important side note, I'm using RAW_REC V1... I don't have a windows computer to be able to decode the .mlv files.

[AnotherDave]

FCPauxTC definitely read some kind of TC information on the last pass, but I don't see it on the exported clip.  I also don't know the software that well...

I don't own a smart slate, which would make this super easy...  I might try that Movie Slate app for the iPhone.

[AnotherDave]

There is also a free app called ClockIt that might work...

[g3gg0]

There is also a free app called ClockIt that might work...

ClockIt: iPhone app. dont have any iphone
auxtc-reader: can you explain how to make it read from sound card instead of quicktime files?

[AnotherDave]

ClockIt: iPhone app. dont have any iphone
auxtc-reader: can you explain how to make it read from sound card instead of quicktime files?

I don't think it is capable of reading from the sound card.  It's just for reading a TC channel and turning it into a embedded TC track.

Trying the app now, but I can't find a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter to use my iRig (so I can input sound)....  :-/

[AnotherDave]

I know you don't have an iOS device - which sucks cause that would make this super easy - but if anyone else is giving this a shot... try TC Toolbox.  It can also generate TC too.

*The information being generated seems far more complex, and MUCH louder.

[g3gg0]

btw, i dont care yet about anything related to recording.
its just about: can the signal be decoded.

it should count up frames, seconds, minutes and hours from zero.

[AnotherDave]

Oh, ok.  That might be the issue right there.

Everything I know of is designed to read hours, minutes, seconds, frames...

Would it be possible to get it to output H:M:S:F based on the internal clock?  That's FREE RUN timecode, exactly what the TC app is doing.

[tonybeccar]

I was fast reading this.. and wanted to add that there IS an android app, which I downloaded but I haven't tested which can generate timecode, it's called LTC Timecode Generator. Hope it helps.

[jonas18z]

Maybe this is can take audio input from same company:

http://www.videotoolshed.com/product/8/ltc-reader

or:

http://ltcsmpte.sourceforge.net/

http://www.musicsensorsemotion.com/2010/09/21/smpte-matlab-decoder/

http://ardour.org/

[g3gg0]

http://www.videotoolshed.com/product/8/ltc-reader

doesnt work, just sound dev open errors

http://ltcsmpte.sourceforge.net/
http://www.musicsensorsemotion.com/2010/09/21/smpte-matlab-decoder/

first is a library, second a script for matlab.

I was fast reading this.. and wanted to add that there IS an android app, which I downloaded but I haven't tested which can generate timecode, it's called LTC Timecode Generator. Hope it helps.

we need a reader to read timecode...

Oh, ok.  That might be the issue right there.
Everything I know of is designed to read hours, minutes, seconds, frames...

huh? i am counting up them, so whats wrong with it?

Would it be possible to get it to output H:M:S:F based on the internal clock?  That's FREE RUN timecode, exactly what the TC app is doing.

right now it is counting up from zero, which shouldnt matter.

[jonas18z]

doesnt work, just sound dev open errors

* Setup -> Set TC input soruce [Restart]


Don't have any camera ATM....

[g3gg0]

yeah did that.
any sound card i select causes this tool to fail open it.
no matter if XP compatibility, admin rights etc.
tried 4 sound cards, two internals and two usb chips.

[g3gg0]

here another version with volume control.

inversion is just in case i output with the wrong polarity - might help while testing.

[AnotherDave]

Still nothing on the iOS apps I'm testing it with.

[g3gg0]

but you had sync once, right?

[AnotherDave]

FCPauxTC was able to read something... but I'm not sure what.

Is it possible to have the TC signal from the camera be a read out of the time from the internal clock in HH:MM:SS:FF?

If so, you could jam sync it to an external recorder or slate on free run...  and probably wouldn't even have to leave the module running.

You're writing TC information into the new .mlv standard, right? 

[g3gg0]

uhm...
yet i am still trying to get a valid encoded signal.
how this would interact with MLV/raw_rec is another story, which will be written when it's time to.

and yes, it is writing the current time, but this is just a data filler.
it will be inaccurate and not reliable.