How SmartLog Jams Timecode by Camera: The Full Detail
under the hood · 01
How jam by camera works.
No cable, no sync box. The phone's camera looks at the camera's own timecode display, learns its digits, and locks the two clocks together. All of it happens on your device.
the read
What happens when you point it
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Frame the digits
Fill the box with the timecode and nothing else, hold steady for a few seconds, keep the display in focus.
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Works with your camera
SmartLog reads the timecode as your camera draws it, whatever make or model is in front of you. Nothing to configure.
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Find the rate
SmartLog works out the frame rate for itself and locks on. You do not have to tell it anything.
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Tell you how close
The lock is reported in plain numbers: milliseconds, fraction of a frame, and how many frames were read to get there.
the honest bit
When a cable is still better
A cable into the audio input is still the most accurate way to jam. Reading a screen has to allow for the camera's display lag, so if the two clocks look a frame off, nudge a frame either way. Feed LTC down a cable and SmartLog locks to that instead.
- Camera readtypical lock within a few ms, display lag allowed for
- LTC by cableframe-perfect, via the audio input
- Manual trim-1 / +1 frame nudge, then jam to this
- Privacyreads the picture on this device, sends nothing anywhere
- Hold it steadygive it a couple of seconds on the display rather than a single glance, and it has what it needs
- Any cameracameras, recorders, monitors and timecode boxes all draw timecode differently, and SmartLog reads them without being told which is which
- The rate24, 25 and 30 fps displays, including the fractional rates they stand for, drop frame included
- The locktypically lands within a few milliseconds, and the figure on screen is the accuracy it actually measured, not a claim
- When unsureit refuses and says so. A capture that cannot see every digit change is thrown away rather than guessed at.
- Bench honestyproven against synthesised displays at every supported rate; camera-in-hand reports are welcome and credited