what exactly does crystal syncing do

[Svideo925]

just wondering.

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[rollemfilm]

go here:
members.aol.com/fmgp
this web page will help. "crystal" sync is a way to perfectly regulate your camera or recorder drive system.

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[Alex]

I can give you a non-technical answer.

Imagine you could film at an exact pre-determined frame per seconds speed....

and when you went to transfer the footage to video, or play it on your projector.. (assuming your projector was also crystal syncd)

....you could play back your developed film at the exact same speed you filmed it at.

This "one-to-one" principal is critical for syncing up live sound to the film at a later date...and for creating a working uniformity between the sound world and the film/video worlds.

Imagine if every country in the world used a different hour structure...some places only had 50 seconds per "minute", but more minutes every hour, or 50 minutes per hour, but the minutes were more than 60 seconds to compensate...

Mass confusion...

Crystal syncing creates a uniformity.

There is an exact chosen speed for NTSC crystal sync...I think it's 23.97 (or something like) that the film frames per second travel for NTSC video transfer work.

I'll delete my guess when someone who knows the exact speed for Crystal answers.

-Alex





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[crimsonson]

Crystal sync basically uses a quartz crystal to send a pulse to the cam so the motor does not drift from a given speed. This pulse can be any speed. It just depends on the purpose. For example:
To ensure you audio sync with a 'double system'. Meaning anything other than the camera/film stock is recording the sound. (DAT, minidisc, Nagra)

To record a TV monitor. Since TV runs at 29.97 fps to prevent those scanlines you will need to be synced (and a proper shutter angle but that is another story)

BTW- 23.97 is used for film to Rank NTSC Video transfer. If you final product is video (Sitcom, docs, TV movies, etc) to properly use pulldown (the doubling of every 3rd frame) you will need it since video is actually 29.97 fps and not 30. If you shoot at 24 fps and Rank (1 to 1 transfer + pulldown) you will get an even 30fps. The slight difference is enough to put the audio out of sync ever 10(?) minutes by 1 sec.



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[jocko]

The basic Idea is based on two crystals that are like two very accurate clocks..the camera crystal regulates the camera motor and the audio crystal regulates the speed on the audio medium(tape/CD/minidisc) the two units(camera and audio deck) have no connection but they are accurate to each other within one frame in 10 minutes..very basic answer of course.crystal camera motors can be variable in more expensive units..but the basic film speeds are 24fps/25fps/30fps..the 23.97 is the Rank speed for 24fps transfers..29.97 for 30fps transfers..don't wanna get into pulldown, drop frame mumbojumbo..just think 24fps...24fps..unless your in europe that is.then 25fps!
What was the question again?

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[MovieStuff]

"Crystal synch" refers to the ability of new age film makers to come up with the same ideas for films at the same exact moment and to be able to manifest those ideas onto film simultaneaously, using new age crystals as their power source, thus translating themselves to the corporeal plane to, in effect, supplant the normal terrestrial based method of distribution used by mere mortals like Lucas or Spielberg. I hear it also is very effective for cold sores and keeping motors in synch on movie cameras and tape recorders.

Roger

[jocko]

YEA..Wasn't there a CAMP CRYSTAL SYNC in the Friday the 13th movies..Roger you should start one of those 1-900 lines were you consult your 24fps crystals..for filmakers...call me now...man

Neil
JOCKO FILMS & Psychic readings

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[Alex]

Playing back your film footage at the exact same speed it was shoot at is the simplified concept of crystal syncing.

Without Crystal intervention so to speak, the speed you shoot at would not be constant, nor would the speed you playback your footage at.

The ensuing drifting of speed because of no crystal would be a bad thing.

Back in the day when you could buy sound super-8 film and record your live sound on the film and were going to use that sound recorded ON the film as your live soundtrack....

.....crystal was not critical....

.....unless your camera ran at such a non-standard speed that when you played it at 24FPS (or 18FPS if you shot at 18FPS) the picture and sound were noticeably speeded up or slowed down.

-Alex

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[Hanthx]

Dagnabit Roger...
Your stole my reply!

Shucks.

Sc"Ott


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[8th Man]

Crystal Sync was a singer from the '70s recently featured on a VH-1 special about one hit wonders. Her song, "Drifting Away", was once performed live but People assumed she was lip syncing when her lips were still moving after the song ended. She went on to do voice over work for Hong Kong action movies.

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PRM