13 Replies Latest reply: Dec 20, 2013 12:27 PM by Mark Mapes RSS

    Multi-cam Source Sequence

    hal_ek Community Member

      Recently I have been trying to master the multicam sequences using the audio sync system. I am frankly disappointed in the results that I have been getting. It seems that unless the 2 cameras are started very close (< 1/2 sec) to the same moment that the system is ineffective.


      Setup:

      Record using 2 identical Panasonic HMC 150p onto SDHC chips set at PH 720/30p.

      Sequences are 1280 x 720 square pixels as set auto matching the clips.

      The audio is generated using Sennheiser wireless systems to a mixer and feed the same output to both cameras. We copy the clips from SD cards to our hard drive, and have all clips and titles on a second hard drive. We are running PPCC on a HP with an Intel p7 cpu with 8 GB of ram.

       

      Last week our 2 cameras were started 7 seconds apart and PPCC could not synchronize those 2 clips. I could accept that, but today It could not synchronize 2 clips that were off by 15 frames. That seems to me to indicate that either I or the system is doing something wrong. I adjusted the offset by inserting a 15 frame delay in one clip using the source monitor and setting a new start point. Then the camera switching aspect of multicam system worked.

       

      I put the 2 clips, each about 10 minutes long, into one folder. Select the folder & hit clips>Create multicam source sequence. I viewed the synchronization by rt. clicking the generated sequence and then Open on Timeline. When I want to use the generated source sequence I drag the squence to the new item which will create a new sequence that can be edited.

       

      Is this all I should expect from the proram, or am I doing something wrong?

        • 1. Re: Multi-cam Source Sequence
          hal_ek Community Member

          Really an added question!

           

          If I form a new sequence with my 2 clips on 2 Vid tracks, and I syncronize them the old fashoned way using the audio wave forms, can I then use that sequence in the multicam mode to switch between clips at cuts?

          • 2. Re: Multi-cam Source Sequence
            Vinay Dwivedi Employee Hosts

            Hi hal_ek,

             

            Please check the below link which has all thw necessary information and the proper workflow for creating a multi can sequence.

             

            http://helpx.adobe.com/premiere-pro/using/create-multi-camera-source-sequence.html

             

            Regards,

             

            Vinay

            • 3. Re: Multi-cam Source Sequence
              hal_ek Community Member

              I have reviewed the reference that you provided but I can not interpret why my projects are not working properly.

               

              For example the instructions highlight "start a new project"

              I have a poject that has a title sequence that I want to reuse. I saved that project including the title sequence and an empty folder for the clips that I added but this gave me the results that I noted in the start of this discussion.

               

              Is reusing the project  the reason my multi-cam sequence does not always synch?

               

              How closely must the clips be to synch?

               

              Is there an answer to my manual synch question?

              • 4. Re: Multi-cam Source Sequence
                JSS1138 CommunityMVP

                I can't answer the original sync question, but to answer your question about the manually created MC sequence - yes.  In fact, I think the manual way is still the best way.

                • 5. Re: Multi-cam Source Sequence
                  hal_ek Community Member

                  I tried using 2 clips and generating a sequence from them.

                  I then aligned them manually using the audio track. So far everything ok.

                  When I viewed them in the project monitor set to "Multi-cam view", and "link audio to video". At that point the camera selection had no effect.

                   

                  I think I am following the .."create-multi-camera-source...." instructions properly but can not get the 2 clips to align properly using the auto system even though the audio tracks are clearly equal.

                   

                  If I generate the MC source sequence Then in order to move the clips, one relative to the other, I have been using Control click. That generates a new sequence where both camera are visable but the realigning is not reflected back on the source sequence.

                   

                  So thus far I am not having any luck with the auto system!

                  • 6. Re: Multi-cam Source Sequence
                    JSS1138 CommunityMVP

                    1. Create a sequence.

                    2. Add your clips.

                    3. Sync them manually.

                    4. Create a second sequence.

                    5. Nest the first sequence into the second.

                    6. Right click that nested sequence, click Multi-Camera>Enable

                     

                    Now it will work properly.

                    • 7. Re: Multi-cam Source Sequence
                      hal_ek Community Member

                      Thanks for your response!

                      I did get that to work, but with some more questions.

                       

                      I originally did not remember how to get the NEST command to work, so I went to the Help & Tutorials site for nest.That site showed selecting the 2 clips (On V1 & V2) then rt click & hit nest. That did work, but I was surprised that it did not show the new nested sequence as a second option on the timeline. The effect was the proper with the 2 cameras showing as 1 green clip on V1 with the ability to switch between them.

                       

                      ?1. Is there a better way to get to this point?

                       

                      ?2. I noted that the audio levels were quite high. Could that be the reason the auto-sync would not work?

                       

                      ?3 Is there a way to reduce the audio level before attempting the use the auto-sync? Other than making a new AVI from a project with one clip. We apparently need to reduce our camera audio setting during recording.

                      • 8. Re: Multi-cam Source Sequence
                        hal_ek Community Member

                        Well I have experimented further.

                        I made 2 new clips with audio reduced about 10 db.

                        That was not the answer to auto-sync. Those two clips were about 3 sec off sync originally and auto-sync did not work.

                        However when I reduced the out-of-sync to about 1 second then they did auto-sync.

                         

                        I reduced the original out-of-sync by setting the inpoint of the longer clip by 2 seconds later.

                        Is that method really equivalent to having the clips in closer to starting at the same time?

                         

                        I wonder if anyone else could comment on my difficulties with the multi-camera audio sync.

                        • 9. Re: Multi-cam Source Sequence
                          JSS1138 CommunityMVP

                          1. Is there a better way to get to this point?

                           

                          Yes, just drag the first sequence into the second from the bin.

                          • 10. Re: Multi-cam Source Sequence
                            hal_ek Community Member

                            It seems like I have finally broken the code on getting the Multi-cam audio synch to work consistantly!

                             

                            All of our 2 camera shoots have starting points that are not the same on the two clips.

                             

                            I have tried using having the 2 clips in a folder and then selecting the folder and using the Clips>Create Multi...

                            That process worked some of the time, also selecting individual clips and then using the Clips>Create Multi... worked sometimes.

                             

                            To get to the bottom line, PP in using the Create Multi-Cam.... is controled by the order in which clips are selected.

                            Apparently if a folder is selected then the selection is alphabetic which is proper sometimes. I have found that

                            THE FIRST CLIP SELECTED MUST BE THE ONE WHICH STARTS EARLIEST!

                             

                            Nowhere in my review of all the info on the use of the Multi-Cam... did I find any reference to that factor. That has certainly been a source of much frustration.

                            Once the proper order of selection is made then the system works nicely as expected.

                            • 11. Re: Multi-cam Source Sequence
                              Mark Mapes Employee Hosts

                              Excellent troubleshooting, hal_ek!

                              What version of PPRO CC are you using? A change in 7.2 addressed an issue that sounds similar: Sync by audio does not work correctly if the clip on Track 1 (or Camera 1 for multicam sequences) starts later than the other cameras.

                              • 12. Re: Multi-cam Source Sequence
                                hal_ek Community Member

                                I am using Ver 7.1.0(141)

                                I am using it on a annual subscription, and I frankly thought the setup included automatic updates. Or has 7.2 not been released yet?

                                 

                                Thanks for your response.

                                • 13. Re: Multi-cam Source Sequence
                                  Mark Mapes Employee Hosts

                                  Updates are not automatically applied, but Creative Cloud should indicate that an update is available. Look for a number next to the Creative Cloud icon.

                                   

                                  CCupdates.jpg

                                  Not only is 7.2 out, but 7.2.1 was released yesterday.