Multi-Cam audio sync issues

Report · Jan 23, 2020

I've made many multi-cam videos with my camera rig and was stumped last night when I came in from a dress rehearsal of a chorus concert to find that (unlike dozens of shoots in the past) audio would not sync on two clips although I could see visually where the tracks match. I ended up using in-point sync (cameras do not make time code). Back, in other words, to 2015 or so before sync on audio was available, and I need to use visual cues in the audio track to sync.

I'm HOPING my problem is that although there is plenty of audio data in my clips that match, because I was recording a dress rehearsal with little prep time I started the cameras with a piece of music (chorus and orchestra performing Haydn's PAUKENMESSE) in progress rather than ahead of the first music.

I'm normally recording a play or opera with a period of silence, applause (conductor walks in) maybe or the curtain goes up and actors start dialogue. In this instance, I started with music in progress.

I can't find documentation on how to do a successful audio sync - it always worked before. Not having it work is unusual and a bit scary. If anyone has insight I would really like to know! Thanks all...

CAMERAS: Sony FDR-AX100/HXR-NX80 (identical outputs and very similar electronics; I can control the NX80 remotely with an iPad where I need to adjust focus, iris and/or zoom during the shoot).

COMPUTER: PC, i9-9600, 64G RAM, RTX-2070 video.

Software is current and up-to-date.

Report · Jan 23, 2020

Odd! I've often started cameras at slightly different points in an interview or concert, and it figures it out. I'm trying to puzzle this out, but for the moment I'm stumped.

Neil

Report · Feb 01, 2020

Neil, I've since writing the above recorded the actual concert (on January 26) and another (January 24) in a different venue with similar results.

At the suggestion of Adobe Customer Care technicians who are apparently taking this quite seriously, I used as a troubleshooting method downloading Red Giant's PluralEyes software which without any issue or problem synced the files perfectly and quickly. I would be very upset if the result is that I have to pay $300 for software to do what the Adobe suite advertises it does as part of that subscription. The Adobe techs and I are in agreement that the final footage - somewhat unlike the Dress Rehearsal versions - is extremely well-defined and relatively easy to match by eye on the audio tracks (but when I was able to use PluralEyes it showed that I was off by a frame or two).