Vegas Pro, Timestamp & Multi Camera Editing

[cjcook]

I've searched the forums, but couldn't find an answer to this problem: Vegas doesn't sync my multi camera clips. Here's the procedure I use:

1) Set correct date/time on both cameras (HV30 & HV20)
2) Start a new Vegas project and ensure mulit camera editing is enabled
3) Import video, ensuring I use I use a different tape name for each camera
4) Select the clips I'd like to use, then use the Tools - Arrange using media date/time stamp

Here's the output on the time line:
I get to separate video/audio tracks with individual tracks being arranged in date/time sequence, but the two tracks are not synced - meaning that if on the main camera I have one clip that 20 minute long, then on the other camera (B roll) I have 5 clips of various lengths that was taken at different intervals throughout the time of the first clip, rather then appearing at the appropriate time on the time line, they are simply arranged in order and bunched together at the beginning of the time line.

Am I doing something wrong? Thanks in advance for any help with this problem.

[Eugenia Loli-Queru]

That's why expensive cameras have genlock support. The HV series don't, so you have to sync back the events manually, to the best of your ability. Vegas allows for frame-by-frame moving of a track, so with a bit of luck you can get a good result syncing back to the audio.

[Bob Sanders]

A little trick I use for manual syncing... which i end up doing a lot of....

Capture with HDVsplit which will allow you to title the clips with the actual date and time stamp. Import to Vegas, then use the "quick label" button in a plugin called EXCALIBUR. This will automatically overlay the clip's title (which in this case is the time/date right to the nearest second) on each clip.

Then from there it's simply a matter of syncing up the audio peaks of the respective clips.

Of course I should mention that Excalibur also has some excellent multi cam tools.

http://www.jetdv.com/excalibur/home.php

[bluegrass]

I have a question though about trying to sync with two cameras by depending on time stamped on the video. Wouldn't that rely on both camers being having the exact same time right down to the second? I that I couldn't set both camcorders to the same exact time down to the second and I believe their would be some drift between the two even if I could.

I guess the time stamp method might get you in the ball park plus or minus a minute (which is a lot of frames).

[Bob Sanders]

That's absolutely correct... "ballpark" is about the best you're going to get. But when dealing with a couple of hours of tape from multiple cams, "ballpark" tends to be a bit of a Godsend!

I used to do manual sync simply by eye and after a 1/2 hour or so of doing it you feel very much like committing suicide. At least with the timestamps on and visible your easily able to sync up to the nearest couple of seconds or so. Then you just blow up the time line and start matching the audio peaks.

[vince]

For my multicam shoots I synch by initially aiming the cams simultaneously on a laptop screen that shows a timecode clock with the frame rate I'm using to shoot in (prepared in After Effects). I can than synch each clip on the identical frame on the timeline and begin the mixing. Perfect

[cjcook]

All, thanks for your answers & suggestions...I may have to try the HDVSplit / Excalibur route. I've been doing it manually, as you mention Eugenia, but was hoping there was a better workflow. And yes, Bluegrass & Bob, I was only looking to get into the general ballpark. I guess what bugs me is that the date/time stamp is embedded in the m2t file, but it can't be used. Is this a Canon issue, or a Vegas issue? If HDVSplit can extract the timestamp, then it would seem that Vegas should be able to do it also. Maybe I should contact them, and see that can added Vegas Pro 9.