Tips for Timecode Recognition in Micro Cinema Camera?

Hi All,

Getting my BMMCC up and going. Sending TC in through the Mic input, I see TC on the Left channel in the audio meteres, I can hear it through the HDMI out, the TC readout does update with the timecode coming in. I have enabled the timecode in setting in the menu and chosen channel 1/2 as independent or duplicate. Tried the other channel just to be sure. Tried auto levels or manual. Levels are in the green. Tried different frame rates and corresponding TC out of the AC-204. Same unit works fine with other cameras. I only get "rec run" TC in the window starting from 00:00:00:00. Any suggestions appreciated!

I do not think,the audio T/C in was designed to "clock" the camera, it is jus to record a reference T/C from/between an external audio recorder, on one of the audio tracks as a LTC (user selectable).

To set a Reference T/C input, you should use the reference T/C input BNC on the breakout cable, which uses a BalckBurst or TriColor sync.
DS

Hi Denny,

Thank you for quick reply! It was my understanding that that "Ref in" BNC on the 15 breakout was for genlock. I don't have any other inputs on the breakout supplied with my camera. On the edit, I can always read audio TC from that audio channel on the clip but I was under the impression that the camera is supposed to see the LTC coming in on the left channel of the mic input if you enable the setting and use that for TC on the clip.

Possibly, but I have not really looked into this as I do not need it with my Video Devices recorder, which locks its own T/C with audio and video feeds to it. However, this would be a nice feature, especially with external recorders. You should try sending a email to BM customer support in Feeemont CA and see what they say? Worth a try, it also might not yet be fully implemented in firmware?
DS

Any update yet on getting the Micro Cinema Camera able to recognise Time Code?

Sorry for digging up a very old thread but i'm just wondering what was the outcome?
Were you ever able to get the timecode embeded or does it only record the LTC down as audio?
Thanks !

I'm a Micro owner and can confirm that LTC fed to the camera is embedded frame-by-frame in the resulting clips. As mentioned, the timecode must be fed into the left channel of the 3.5mm input, the tip of the TRS plug. Haven't checked what voltage levels are necessary, but standard line levels should work.

Note that there is actually no need to set the audio input setting to external input for it to recognize the timecode. As long as the timecode setting is enabled, the camera can still use the onboard mics for recorded audio while reading the timecode fed from the 3.5mm jack. This is valuable for me, as I can still synchronize manually using waveform should timecode fail.

How reliable the timecode reading is is another question, though. My Micro seems to write a 2-3 frame delay to the clips against the source. At least it's consistent.

It's the same as the Micro Studio Camera 4K G2. As long has you hook the timecode to the 3.5mm, it will work.

Thanks, does the time display on the camera reflect the incoming TC ?

Thanks, does the time display on the camera reflect the incoming TC ?

Not on my Micro, no. It can be checked once the recorded clip is loaded into Resolve, or any editor equivalent. I'm not aware of any real-time indication from the camera that it is reading LTC.

Maybe on the G2, perhaps.

Thanks, does the time display on the camera reflect the incoming TC ?

Not on my Micro, no. It can be checked once the recorded clip is loaded into Resolve, or any editor equivalent. I'm not aware of any real-time indication from the camera that it is reading LTC.

Maybe on the G2, perhaps.

Did you "tap" the timecode counter on screen? See if you can use the arrows to select it to see if it will change.

What firmware version is the camera on? I believe the 2 indicators on the camera only indicate record duration and time remaining. However, Camera Update 4.7 introduced TC on the HDMI output so there should be some indication on the monitor if it supports HDMI TC. I believe there were issues with 4.7 so 4.7.1 is the bug fix iteration and I believe final update for the cam.

The final version of the manual can be found here. It's not immediately obvious unless you know you're looking for the Compact Camera Manual.

https://documents.blackmagicdesign.com/ ... 6540658000

Good Luck