Tentacle Sync Track E Tiny Audio Recorder: Like Wireless But Not Wireless

In today’s episode, we have a detailed look at the new Tentacle Sync Track E audio recorder. This tiny body pack recorder includes a lavalier microphone and some impressive features: 32-bit float wide dynamic range recording and an in-built, high quality timecode generator (TCXO) which makes syncing your audio to your video clips very quick and easy in post. Let’s take an in-depth look.

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F6, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders. Our latest course is Sound for Live Streaming with the ATEM Mini.

Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, Sweetwater, Pictureline or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:

- Tentacle Sync Track E audio recorder - B&H, DVEStore

- Aputure 300x LED Light - Aputure, B&H, Pictureline, Amazon

- Aputure Light Dome 2 soft box - Aputure, B&H, Pictureline, Amazon

- Aputure Nova LED Panel Light - Aputure, B&H, Pictureline

- Panasonic GH5 camera - B&H, Pictureline, Amazon

- Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS Lens - B&H, Pictureline, Amazon

- Lupo Superpanel 30 Full Color Soft - B&H

- Canon C70camera - B&H

- Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L lens - B&H, Amazon

The intro and outro music for this episode is from Musicbed - “For the Kids” by Utah. Get a free trial of the best music for your videos at Musicbed.

Copyright 2020, Curtis Judd

Live Sound for Video Session: Tentacle Sync Track E Demo and Q&A

In this week's session, we have a look at and listen to the new Tentacle Sync Track E recorder. This little recorder can be worn by talent like a wireless transmitter but instead of sending wireless audio, it is a 32-bit float wide dynamic range recorder. You'll get to hear some samples and have a walkthrough of the control app. Then we answer your sound for video questions.

Thanks to Musicbed for the music for this session - “Neon Jungle” by Virgil Arles. Get a free trial of the best music for your videos at Musicbed.

If you'd like to submit your questions ahead of time, please join over at School.LearnLightAndSound.com. Opt in to the mailing list and I'll contact you once a week where you can reply with your question.

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F6, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders. We also just added a course on sound for live-streaming with the ATEM Mini.

Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, Sweetwater, Pictureline or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:

- Tentacle Sync Track E 32-bit Float bodypack recorder - B&H

- ZOOM F8n audio recorder - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Rupert Neve Designs Shelford Channel - B&H, Sweetwater

- Earthworks SR314 - B&H, Sweetwater

- Canon C200 Camera - B&H, PictureLine

- ATEM Mini Pro ISO - B&H, Pictureline, Amazon

- Sound Devices MixPre II Series Recorders - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

Copyright 2020, Curtis Judd

Tentacle Sync E - iOS Recording App with Timecode

Last year at NAB Tentacle Sync announced their bluetooth enabled timecode generators, Sync E. I've used them over the last year and really like that they are easy to setup and monitor via their bluetooth app (for iOS). Syncing video to audio is super simple with the included Tentacle Sync Studio app for macOS.

But one thing I've wanted to do for a long time is send timecode to my iPhone when I'm using it as a recorder, such as when I do show floor interviews at NAB.

Now you can send timecode to your iPhone, wirelessly, with Tentacle Sync E and a new app from Tentacle Sync titled "Timecode Audio Recorder."

Also, Ulrich reveals that Tentacle Sync is working on full Bluetooth jam syncing capabilities with their Sync E timecode generators. This is exciting because now you can ensure that all of the timecode generators are in perfect sync through an entire production day.

Gear covered and used to shoot this episode:

Tentacle Sync E Bluetooth Timecode Generator

RODE Reporter Microphone

RODE iXLR Adapter - Record a dynamic XLR microphone to iPhone or iPad

Panasonic GH5 - A good event shooting video camera

Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS Lens - incredibly versatile lens that is on the GH5 most of the time

Copyright 2018 by Curtis Judd 

Music - MzA by Cary Judd, used with permission.

Tentacle Sync E: Timecode Generator and Demo

A couple of years ago, Tentacle Sync released their first timecode generator which was not only easy to use but also more affordable than other generators. Now they have released their next generator called the Sync E with wireless setup and monitoring from iOS or Android devices. Here we show how timecode can help simplify the process of capturing professional quality sound separate from the camera and easily and quickly syncing the sound to picture in post. We also look at the new features on the Sync E and how they make the process of shooting with timecode easier than ever.

Demonstration with many video and sound clips:

Links to gear discussed and used to record this session:

Tentacle Sync Sync E Kit (2 Sync E timecode generators and license for Tentacle Sync Studio

Tentacle Sync Sync E (single timecode generator and license for Tentacle Sync Studio)

Sound Devices MixPre-10T Audio Recorder/Mixer

Sennheiser MKH 8050 Supercardioid Boom Microphone

Tentacle Sync to BNC Bidirectional Timecode Cable

Tentacle Sync Cables for all other cameras

Copyright 2017 by Curtis Judd

Sound for Video Session: Timecode Hardware & Compression in Izotope RX

In this week's Sound for Video Session, we have a look at some timecode hardware options and briefly discuss compression in Izotope RX.

Links:

Timecode Generators Comparison Spreadsheet

Previous session where we demonstrated timecode workflow:

Previous session where we demonstrated compression/loudness normalization in Izotope RX:

Gear Discussed in this episode:

Tentacle Sync Timecode Generator - Comes with Tentacle Sync Studio which is a one option among 3 options you will need if using a timecode generator with a camera or recorder which does NOT have a dedicated timecode input.

Moze Gear TIG Q28 Timecode Generator - The other generator I use. Great, solid design which you set using tiny switches. No fuss, no fancy wireless, just solid timecode.

Ambient NanoLockit Wireless Timecode Generator - Very interesting new wireless timecode generator at a reasonable price.

Timecode Systems :wave Wireless Timecode Generator with Genlock, Wordclock and B:link - sophisticated wireless timecode, genlock generator/transceiver. This is much more expensive but also much more capable.

Copyright 2017 by Curtis Judd

Tentacle Sync E - Just Announced: Smaller, Bluetooth Enabled Timecode Generator

Last year I decided to simplify the process of shooting dual system sound (sound recorded to a separate audio recorder rather than the camera). The process of clapping at the start of each clip makes it easier to sync the sound and video files together, but it still takes a fair bit of time on bigger projects.

That lead me to talk with the guys at Tentacle Sync while at the NAB show in 2016. I was impressed by what their Tentacle Sync timecode generators could do and they were priced more reasonably than many of their competitors' generators. Here is the original interview we did with them in 2016:

We also ran through an overview of how timecode works and how it simplifies the process of syncing audio to video in this previous Sound for Video Session:

This year at the NAB show, several timecode companies announced new, smaller timecode generators, including Tentacle Sync. Here is an overview of their newest offering, the Tentacle Sync E.

Thanks to Cary Judd for the camera work. Tricky job since we decided to go without a tripod.

Pricing and exact time of availability are still to be determined, but the original Tentacle Sync was the most affordable way to get into timecode generators of which I am aware. Keep an eye on Tentacle Sync for updates on release and pricing.

In the meantime, their original Tentacle Sync does a nice job. And they didn't pay me or give me anything to say that, I'm just speaking from personal experience.

Sound for Video Session: Practical Timecode 13 July 2016

In this session we ran through a demo of how timecode works at a practical level. I'm not suggesting that we all need to drop $500 USD on a Tentacle Sync Timecode kit for our no-budget passion projects. But some day when you're the sound guy on a production with a budget and they are willing to pay for timecode, you'll look like a sound ninja because you'll know exactly how to do it.

Get out and make some great recordings!

Tentacle Sync: Simplify Sync of Audio to Video

At NAB 2016, we talked with Ulrich of Tentacle Sync about their new little timecode devices and software to simplify syncing audio to video when you recorded them separately. We know that to get the very best sound, you usually need to record your audio to a proper audio recorder, separate from the camera. But then you have the manual process of syncing the audio back up to the video in post production. Tentacle Sync makes this much simpler by automating the sync process for you, even if your camera or audio recorder don’t have timecode features.

Tentacle Sync is the result of a recent successful Indigogo campaign and it looks like their first round of product have sold out but more should be available by the end of May according to their site. Also note that the software to automatically sync is currently Mac only and is included in the kit. The kit also includes a utility for Windows which takes the camera tracks and converts the audio timecode to file timecode so that when you do import the camera footage and your audio files into your NLE (video editing app), you can sync from there (not quite as fast as the Mac app, but still much quicker than manually syncing).

Special thanks to Scott Vanderbilt who was kind enough to bring his brand new Sony FS5 camera to film this series.

You can learn more about Tentacle Sync at their site.