As long as your camera is set (or can be set) to output timecode while it is recording (commonly referred to as Record Run timecode) you can use this to remote control an audio recorder to automatically start and stop recordings along with the camera. Of course your audio recorder also has to support that feature.
To showcase the workflow we made a short tutorial video:
Here is how it works:
- First, start up one of your Lockits or NanoLockits in TX mode by holding red, then pressing the power button.
- The device now waits for an external timecode source to be fed in.
- Make sure the camera outputs the timecode via the interface. In case of a Sony camera for example you have to connect your Lockit via an LTC-IN cable and set the switch the camera’s timecode interface to "Out"
- In the Timecode Menu of the camera activate the Rec Run Mode. Now the Timecode stands still until you press record.
- Now start the other Lockits or NanoLockits regularly and connect one of them to the TC In Port of you Audio Recorder.
- In the recorders menu navigate to the Timecode section. In case of the Sound Devices 8-Series the options you are looking for is “Ext. TC / Cont. – Auto Rec”.
- The Lockit in TX mode broadcasts the Timecode of the camera to all other Lockit Devices on the set. As soon as it starts running – the audio recorder will automatically go to “record”.
- Every time the the camera stops, the TC will stop, and therefore the audio recorder will stop recording as well. As soon as the camera starts recording again, the audio recorders follows.
Tip: It is best to use Pre-Roll on your Audio-Recorder to compensate for the delay caused by transmitting the record and stop information from the camera to the audio recorder.
This can be a nice workflow e.g. for documentary setups or when you have to remotely start your recorder in a car scene.