This workshop will allow you to synchronize a playlist on timecode.
Timecode:
Timecode is used to synchronize several techniques (e.g. video server media, sound player and lighting console together) in a show. In general, one device is the master (it generates the timecode – Generator -) and the other devices read this timecode and synchronize themselves on it (Slave/ Reader).
LTC time code:
The LTC timecode is the most commonly used to synchronize shows. It is an audio modulation so you can simply use all the audio devices to broadcast it (player audio, Wav) and distribute it (sound console, audio distri) and classic audio wiring. See this “site”: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timecode_ (temporal) for more information. The LTC time code allows to send time information such as HH:MM:SS:SS:FF or FF is in 25 frames per second (called EBU – European standard) or in 30 frames per second (called SMPTE).
Be careful: Readers are often very sensitive to audio. It is often necessary to have a high sound level before the reader hooks the modulation (it’s all or nothing…you receive or receive nothing at all). If using a telephone application as a generator, it is usually necessary to over-volume (message indicating that too loud and dangerous for the ear).
To receive LTC timecode in a Modulo Player: we use a PCIE timecode card or an Adrienne USB card.
To send LTC timecode from a Modulo Player: it is possible to use a sound file with a timecode track lying on it. We now also support the Adrian PCIE Timecode card which makes generator: This is the most practical because you can control a playlist on it and the timecode is generated synchronously (with the possibility of positrack).
If you have an LTC timecode generating card, you can switch to MASTER mode and see that it is possible to launch cues from the playlist and that the timecode will follow.
MTC MIDI Timecode:
It is possible to receive MTC MIDI timecode if the Modulo Player has a MIDI card.
Art-Net Timecode:
It is possible to receive or generate Art-Net time code. The time code is sent over a network. The ChamSys console supports Art-Net timecode.
We have developed a small application that will allow you to use the Art-Net timecode: Here is the link to download ModuloDmxTool
Other applications:
You can use this “application”: https://timelord-mtc.com/index.php/download/ to generate/receive Art-Net timecode.
You can also use this “application”: http://www.s-jaekel.de/software/download/artnet_timecode_sender/index.php to generate Art-Net timecode and this “application”: http://www.s-jaekel.de/software/download/artnet_timecode_viewer/index.php to receive Art-Net timecode.
Exercise:
Creating a playlist with several cue.
The first Cue is empty as usual.
We choose a Timecode trigger for all cues.
If you have an LTC Timecode interface and a Timecode generator:
we go to the TC setup menu on the playlist.
LTC is selected as the time code type.
We choose SLAVE to be in reader mode.
EBU is selected if the time code received is in 25FPS or SMPTE if the time code received is in 30 FPS.
close the window and lock the timecode lock to locate the timecode: The playlist is now synchronized on the timecode.
You can now try to send timecode from the generator (MIF or sound file with timecode track on another PC or phone application timecode generator).
We can see that the Modulo Player will be located on the timecode even if we receive a time between two cues.
Use and control of Rosendahl’s Mif4:
If you have a “MIF4”: https://www.rosendahl-studiotechnik.com/mif4.html, you can use it as an LTC timecode generator to enter an adrian card in the Modulo Player. It is even possible to control the MIF4 from the Modulo Player to make time code reminders. To do this, you will declare a MIDI device in the Modulo Player after connecting the MIF4 to the Modulo Player via USB. In the MIDI device setup you must select the Rosendahl MIF4 in OUTPUT. You can then create tasks and send MMC commands to MIF4 to ask it to generate time code and PLAY/PAUSE.
function to be understood and tested:
Disable positrack in cue:
This mode can be useful in concert: You only need to synchronize to the beginning of each song because the timecode may be suddenly cut before the end of the song. If the “disable positrack in cue” mode is activated, a time code jump will only be taken into account if the time code jump corresponds to a cue change.
Use of offset:
You have entered all the timecode times starting at 0:00:00:00:00 and the time code finally sent is shifted by 10H : To avoid re-encoding the triggers, you can simply use the time code offset in the time code setting menu.
Need more help with this?
Don’t hesitate to contact us here.