Luckily, Genlock isn't always mandatory. There are situations where you can waive it, like when shooting with only a single cam or when recording clips that are only a few minutes long. Yet it can be considered professional to use Genlock even in such scenarios to benefit from the further improved accuracy.
On the other hand, Genlock is absolutely essential when making 3D recordings, when recording long takes with more than one camera or in virtual production environments where cameras need to be synced to an LED video wall. Without Genlock, you will run into problems rather quickly here.
In order to sync cameras in these scenarios, you will need camera models with Genlock support. Usually this means that a camera has a Tri-Level sync input. Although Arri cameras also have the capability to genlock to an LTC signal alone.
But there is a variety of signals that can or have to be used to sync different devices between each other and achieve Genlock. Some examples:
- Tri-Level sync is the de facto standard for sync signals and is supported by most cameras with a Genlock input. Tri-Level is basically an analog HD video signal and equivalent to the old Blackburst that was used in the SD days of television.
- Professional audio recorders and audio interfaces can often be synced to an external Wordclock signal.
- As mentioned above, Arri cameras can actually genlock to an LTC timecode signal and sync the sensor to it. Important is a) to activate this feature in the camera and b) to use a timecode source that is stable enough and doesn't jitter. Lockits can take the job of course, no sweat.
- PPF (Pulse per Frame) is often used to sync industry and OEM cameras. Some may also have their own proprietary signals.
The ACN-CL Lockit is capable of outputting all the mentioned signals and can transmit and receive Genlock wirelessly via the ACN network.