Ambient ALL601 User Manual

1

CLOCKIT LANC LOGGER

ALL601

Description and instructions for use

Rev. 1.01

Ambient Recording GmbH, Schleissheimer str 181c, D-80797 Munich, Germany

2

USER MANUAL „LANC LOGGER” ALL601

The Lanc logger is a very small hand held timecode device for use in
Film or TV. Its innovative timecode features makes it an ideal timecode
source, logger and timecode conversion unit when working with DV and
HDV cameras and computer based audio recorders with and without a
timecode input/output. The LANC LOGGER can offer solutions both on
location and in Post production.

Timecode source with 0.2 ppm accuracy from Ambient Clockit XTAL Ref.

The LANC LOGGER is a Clockit device and the VCTCXO Xtal reference
can be calibrated to an accuracy of under 0.2 ppm relative to other
Clockit units such as the Lockit box and the Controller. Timecode drift
between boxes is well under 1 frame a day. A new IR port allows the
device to be set with Timecode and offset checked, without cables, using
the Aaton ASCII Protocol and the Controller ACC501.

Using the Standard TC Lemo 5 pin interface socket with TC in, TC out,
Tuning and ASCII port, the ALL 601 is fully compatible to all portable
timecode equipment including the Aaton Origen C unit.

The audio port with timecode as a burst or as a continous signal with
adjustable timecode levels –55dB to 0dB (1mV to 0.5 Volt ) and with
additional –20dB pad, allows connection to all camera audio inputs
using Minijack or Cinch connectors, without overload and crosstalk

Timecode logging from various sources. LANC, MIDI, LTC, Manual

The LANC LOGGER is fitted with a 512 MB flash card and can write logs
into this memory. Complex logs for use in Post production can be made,
using camera start/stop signals, and the Record Run (Rec.Run.)
timecode of the cassette from the LANC port of a Sony camera and
logging to its accurate internal time of day (TOD). The LTC out of a
camera can be used as Rec. Run. timecode source. The logger analyses

the timecode and only logs when the camera is in record, not in playback
or when spooling. Events can be Logged manually to TOD and given a

value using the keys with ASCII symbols. The ALL is a mass storage
device and the logs can be downloaded to a computer is via USB. The

logs can be converted to a EDL using the CB EDL master Program.

Timecode conversiom

With the increasing use of a computer and USB audio hardware for
portable recording or playback, the timecode conversion features in the
ALL can be very useful. The following conversions are possible.

3

Conversions
LANC TC to MIDI TC (USB Port) and LTC (Lemo, Audio)
LANC TC to LTC with or without OFFSET
EXT LTC to MIDI TC (USB Port)
EXT LTC to LTC with or without OFFSET
INTERN GEN TC to MIDI TC (USB Port) MIDI
MIDI TC (USB) to LTC with or without OFFSET
EXT LTC to LTC with or without OFFSET

Uses

• A laptop computer is being used as an audio playback or recording
device. The Playback TC is available as a MIDI Timecode. The ALL is
connected to the USB port of the computer and converts the MIDI TC to
LTC for transmission to a timecode slate etc.

• A film camera is connected to an editing System (FCP, Avid Express) to
digitalise the cassette. The LANC TC can be converted and transferrerd
to the computer via MIDI TC or LTC. LTC on an audio track of the camera
can be converted to MIDI TC and sent to the computer via USB.

• The internal Generator TC of the ALL (TOD) can be used as timecode
source (via MIDI) for a computer recording Audio.

4

Mic/Audio

ALL 601

DEVICE DESCRIPTION

IR

Comms

TC out to Camera

ESC / Enter
Command Keys

Batteries

PORTS AND

ACCESS

Mic/ Audio
TC/ Mic in

Display

Lanc to
Remote

Lemo: Aaton, Ambient TC Interface

Lanc from
Camera

USB

Cursor Keys

AUDIO INTERFACE AND LTC INPUT OUTPUT

The audio interface ist a two channel unbalanced input/output with
Electret power supply (5.6Volt) on channel 1 of the input, switchable
LTC out on channel 2 output, and an auxiliary LTC input on channel 1
(when the mike is not being used).
The LTC level can be adjusted from 0db to –55db with an extra –20db
switched pad at the LTC output to audio, allowing LTC input to every
type of microphone or line input without distortion or crosstalk. On
channel 1 at the mike side is a switchable Powering of 5.6 volts that
covers the requirements of all Electret microphones.
The LTC ouput on channel 2 can be set to either off, continous ,or burst,
(triggered by the record on signal from camera LANC), allowing audio to
be recorded on channel 2 aftewr the burst.

• Electret Mike power supply

• LTC output with adjustable levels,

• LTC switchable as burst, continuous, or off

• LTC auxiliary input

5

Uses

Audio track LTC recording
To record the exact TOD (Userbits inserted from Logger) of the ALL to an
audio track of the camera being used, thus allowing this timecode to used
in post production to sync sound and picture.

Note: Recording Audio track LTC can be done simultaneously to logging

Burst LTC
LTC can be recorded at the beginning of a take for 1 second, using the burst
LTC triggered by the camera start/stop info from the LANC or external TC
input. After this the Audio channel is free for audio recording ( 2 channel
audio with Timecode)

Logging using Aux. TC input .
Using an external Rec.Run. LTC to make a log against ALL internal TOD.
Internal timecode software filters and checks the LTC in signal and only
makes a log when the camera is in record. Spooling or shot playback
timecode does not trigger a log.

LANC INTERFACE

The ALL’s LANC interface can read the LANC signal of a Sony** camera
and the through output allows a zoom control to still be connected to the
camera via the ALL. The ALL takes its powering from the LANC socket,

Note:Available current at the camera LANC socket is about 70mA at 5
Volts. The ALL takes 50 mA. Leaving 20 mA for a zoom control, this is as
adequate for most zoom controls but can lead to malfunction if more
than 15mA is used.

Alternative powering is through the Lemo socket with 6 to16 Volts
voltage range.

** other manufacturers using the Sony LANC protocol (Canon) do not
adhere to the Sony protocol. Neither the message framerate nor
timecode values are ouputted correctly. The ALL can only read the
LANC from Sony cameras. Panasonic control M is only suitable for
remote zoom connection and does not output Rec.Run. timecode values
as does the Sony LANC.

LANC Signals read
Camera start stop
Rec.Run. Timecode
Any other available data that could be useful to log

TIMER
The ALL can be used to start and stop the camera at specific TODs
allowing remote start and stop, for example slow motion shots**.

**Not yet implemented

6

Uses

LOGGING. The ALL makes logs of Rec.Run. Timecode from the LANC
out of the camera gainst internal TOD. Ancilliary data such as cassette
number, camera ID, (entered manually to the ALL), and Event Number,
(automatically incremented) and RTC date and time are also recorded in
the log. Log format is open so that future extensions and IXML
conformity are possible. The TOD Timecode with the ancilliary data in
the Userbits can be simultaneously recorded on a camera audio track.
thus giving a second method of syncing audio and picture.

The logs are stored on a built in 512MB flash card and can be
downloaded through the USB port to any computer. They can then be
converted to an EDL using the CB EDL master program which can then
be used to sync the sound and video to a TOD timeline.
A complete solution for FCP is being developed by Andreas Kiel of
Spherico com.

USB PORT

The USB port is configured as a USB audio device and can be connected
to any computer with a USB port.

Uses

External power supply of the ALL
MIDI TC input and Output
ALL program updates upload eg from www.ambient.de
Mass storage download of logs

KEYPAD AND IR PORT

On the top of the ALL is are the keypad, display and Infra Red (IR)
windows. In addition, the sockets and battery polarity are indicated.

KEYS

There are 6 keys used to configure the ALL and to call up system data,
Some have additional special functions. A few functions such as
jamming the internal TOD generator from Ext TC or incrementing the
cassette number can be carried out using a quickkey combination.