Supplying recording devices with Genlock used to cause major headaches in the past, because you had to route cables everywhere. Using cables for Genlock signals ist still a very rational approach for static and hard-wired studio environments. But there are obvious limits when it comes to supplying cameras with sync signals because any cable constrains them in their mobility.
Today, it is possible to sync any number of devices on a set or in a studio and supply them with Genlock in a completely wireless way by using Lockits and the ACN network.
There are different approaches to either synchronise a complete set solely with Lockits or integrate the Lockit system into an existing studio environment:
- Every recording device on set can be supplied with timecode and sync/Genlock from a Lockit. The Lockits use C-Jam mode to continuously synchronise their internal generators via the ACN network. This grants accurate clock and time information for all devices without the need for any additional master clock.
- Alternatively, the Lockits can be set up in TX mode to integrate them into an existing studio environment. In TX mode, the whole ACN network can be synced to the LTC timecode output of another master clock. This workflow is handy when a studio is already pretty much set up and wired and you only are looking for a way to genlock the cameras wirelessly.
No matter which way you choose, all timecode and sync signals on all Lockits will always remain accurate and in phase. (Unless you manually apply an offset to compensate a processing delay in the video hardware or camera.)