12k cine questions as new owner

Hello
A couple of questions regarding the 12k cine.
I just tried connecting Bluetooth with the app and it connects for a second or two then keeps disconnecting anybody had luck with this? Tried the whole process a couple of times.

Audio buttons to switch between channels one and 2 and three and 4 do not seem to do anything on either side of the camera, I was hoping to put two xlr mics into the camera and either live stream or record audio in mono, I can only seem to get the two inputs to be either left or right at the moment, am I doing something wrong?

Thanks in advance
Regards Scott

[Tim Schumann]

Hi Scott you need to connect the WiFi antennas for the Bluetooth to work nicely on URSA Cine. That will get you much better range. You also may need to update which ever Control app you are running.

Channels 3 and 4 audio are not active at this stage.

Channels 3 and 4 audio are not active at this stage.

I don't think Channels 3 and 4 audio have been activated ever for any of the URSA Cameras. Despite the manual saying it's possible as far back as the UMPG2. Maybe even the OG 4.6K. Is this something that will ever come to the camera?

I don't care if we get two more channels. Mainly I want to go with a single Audio Receiver from the Mixer's Transmitter to provide Scratch Audio of the Stereo Mix into the camera while simultaneously feeding the Timecode Input synchronization timecode. What would be better if the Genlock/Timecode SDI was able to be freed up by having timecode come via the XLR Ports from that Stereo Mix Feed of the Wireless Receiver. Then we could do Genlock for the camera with LED Volume Productions.

Following Tim’s post re Timecode
Long ago I tested both my cameras and the Sound Devices MixPre-6 II for their ability to retain a jammed timecode. The MixPre is just great, I can do a quick jam of the Timecode from a Tentacle Sync and then remove the Tentacle. The MixPre clock will operate reliably for several hours then so I take that Tentacle and keep it mounted to the BMPCC4K to continuously drive Timecode. I use another Tentacle mounted on the UM4.6K to continuously drive Timecode there too. That technique is required because the older cameras’ clock will not retain a reliable timecode over the 5 or six hours of an event shoot. So I’m not complaining.

However if Tim wants to use the Genlock/Timecode port as a Genlock, it may be possible to jam the Timecode initially and then let the newer cameras’ clocks maintain Timecode if the internal clocks for the Pyxis and the Cine 12K/17K/Immersive cameras have been improved. Even so after about four hours, I’d still jam again on a shooting break but getting a good four hours is likely sufficient.

Has anyone with the Pyxis and Cine 12K taken the time to test the reliability of the internal clocks?

BMD should know if the clocks are reliable for up to four hours, so I’d appreciate if they share this information. I don’t know the part number for the MixPre clock, but surely the BMD clock supplier has a warranty on the duration of their clocks will maintain accurate timing.

Thanks, I'll buy some antennas.

So, there is no way of having two XLR mics in that doesn't come out as left and right, I do a lot of live streams and it would be nice not to add a sounder recorder into the camera for small one camera gigs that just need a mic for each speaker?

Scott, you can control pan in the Fairlight tab of DaVinci Resolve. So Left and Right for recording purposes doesn’t force left and right for your deliverable if you don’t want that.

Highly recommend the Sound Devices MixPre-6 II that allows four separate XLR isolated tracks (and also gives you pan control on the recording of each track). You may not need it today, but tomorrow you may need it. The advantages of recording through the MixPre rather than solely using the camera are likely high quality audio ADC circuits and you can use 32bit float recording so you don’t have to worry about sound levels being too low or too high after you’ve set normal levels. For a sole operator, who doesn’t have an audio guy watching the levels, it’s great.

Thanks, Rick
I do have plenty of audio recorders f8n pro etc just want to be able to use the camera on its own without feeding in.
Maybe they will update the firmware as it does have many buttons for extra channels.

Blackmagic claims the newer cameras retain timecode better than previous models. However, I'd still keep a Timecode box connected. It would be most ideal if the same device feeding a Scratch Audio to the camera could also provide Timecode. Keeps down the clutter on camera.

I mainly use the XLR Ports on Camera only for interviews and/or on camera teleprompter video content. When the camera isn't moving. Otherwise, I prefer to record audio externally. So that is why I'd prefer to feed a wireless signal to the camera from a mixer with the scratch audio of the Stereo Mix from the mixer.

But I double the recommendation for a Sound Devices MixPre-6ii.

Otherwise, Rick when I do get the UC12K I'll test it out for how it retains timecode. My hope is to order it end of this month. So we'll see when it ships after ordering.

Thanks, Rick
I do have plenty of audio recorders f8n pro etc just want to be able to use the camera on its own...

I understand, thanks.

Blackmagic claims the newer cameras retain timecode… when I do get the UC12K I'll test it out for how it retains timecode. My hope is to order it end of this month. So we'll see when it ships after ordering.

Merci buckets, Tim.