Sync-One2® v2 User Manual Sync-One2 is an easy to use hand held tool suitable for professional and amateur users to quickly and easily analyse audio/visual synchronisation problems. This manual is for Firmware release v2.1.x ! IMPORTANT ! To obtain the best results the use of supplied test files is recommended. These files consist of very brief flashes of light and sound beeps. As these flashes are brief and intense they may be perceived as stroboscopic lights.
Overview Within the digital Audio Visual (AV) world the audio and video signals are often processed by different pieces of equipment, which when combined with the processing delay introduced by digital display devices can lead to problems with audio video synchronisation – or lip sync problems. Within the realm of digital video editing, errors can also occur if tracks are not aligned correctly or frames are dropped during processing.
! IMPORTANT ! Do not cover the sensors, if covered readings may not be taken or will be inaccurate Do not insert anything into the sensor apertures, doing so may damage Sync-One2 and prevent correct operation. Take care not to permit liquid to enter the apertures. External interfaces There are two external interfaces, a 3.5mm stereo audio jack and a mini-USB port.
Operating Modes Sync-One2 runs in three distinct modes; • • • Measurement mode, where the actual readings are taken and displayed in real time Menu mode, to display statistics and set various system options API mode, where Sync-One2 comes under remote control Measurement Menu On Off Calibrating Readings Calibrating Command Menu Show Stats OK Menu Item Select Item Alter Value ↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ Menu API Commands API Moving between Measurement mode and Menu mode is via the Menu button.
What do all the numbers mean? All measurements are taken and presented with reference to the light pulse, so if the audio is ahead of the light the readings are positive. Should the audio be behind the video then the readings are negative. Readings are given in milliseconds ( ms ), and frames ( F ) if a frame rate has been entered.
Measurement Mode Basics The display only updates once a successful reading has been taken, which is indicated with a The symbol remains during the Mask Time, so only when the symbol disappears will Sync-One2 be ready to take the next reading. The display gives the latest detected reading in milliseconds, in this example the audio was detected as being 33ms ahead of the video as the reading is positive. If it were a negative number this would mean the audio lags behind the video.
Three flags could also be shown, which indicate when external audio is selected, or various features that impact readings have been set. External audio source is being used for measurements A speaker distance has been set and the displayed reading incorporates the adjustment A manual offset has been set and the displayed reading incorporates the adjustment More details on these settings are given in the Advanced Operation section.
Basic operation When powered on, Sync-One2 will start up and display its serial number and any configured splash screen then go into Measurement mode, following a brief self-calibration. For best results, hold the unit in the measuring position in relation to the display equipment during the calibration sequence, as this will give the best results.
Play Test File Take Measurements Analyse Results Delay Acceptable? No Adjust the Audio within the system under test Yes System OK This uses two modes of Sync-One2, Measurement mode and Menu mode. Measurement mode takes the readings and stores the most recent in a memory buffer. Always take a number of readings to determine the error, to smooth out the variances in signal processing. Once several readings have been taken, enter Menu mode and choose the Show Stats option.
Advanced Operation Within post production or video editing, workflow is based around video frames, rather than time in milliseconds. Within Sync-One2 you can set a frame rate between 1 and 120 frames/sec. Whilst some frame rates are fractional, for example 29.97, Sync-One2 uses whole frames, which is accurate enough. Simply pick the closest whole frame rate to the actual one of the systems you are working with.
Use in larger spaces Another example for Professional use is within large spaces, such as Lecture Theatres or Cinemas. Given sound travels much slower than light, in larger spaces setting the synchronisation delay at the screen could mean it is out for those in some areas of the space. The optimal would be to take readings when sitting in a central listening position. Depending on the ambient environment doing this may not result in accurate readings.
Menu Mode Menu mode gives access to the memory of stored readings and gives access to various options and settings; Show Stats Clear all Stats Display Size Display Average Frame Rate User ms Offset Speaker Dist Mask Length Gives access to the last 60 readings and various statistics Clears all the stored readings/statistics Changes the Measurement mode display size from normal to large Enables the running average during Measurement mode Sets a frame rate to be used for calculation and display Manually
Show Stats This allows you to view the memory of the latest 60 readings, with reading 01 the most recent and 60 the oldest.
Display Size When in Measurement mode a large number display can be activated for easier reading. This simply gives the reading in milliseconds without the additional data. However, all the normal statistics and readings are still stored, it’s just an alternate display mode should it be required. Display Average In Measurement mode, whilst readings are being stored for future analysis a running average of the current measurement session can be displayed.
Speaker Dist A speaker distance can be input, when set all readings are tagged with a to indicate the setting is active. The time it takes sound to travel from the speaker to the “target” point is automatically calculated by Sync-One2 based on the distance value entered. This delay is processed during readings and statistics calculations. Distances between 0m and 20m can be input, in 0.5m increments. The delay can quickly be reset back to zero by pressing the Menu key.
Audio In Select This option enables the ability to override the automatic detection of which audio input to use for measurements. The default is to autodetect during calibration, if a cable is connected to the 3.5mm audio input then it becomes the audio source. You can choose from Auto, Internal, or External depending on your requirement. Extended Mode Normally the maximum error that can be measured is ±750ms. Extended Mode increases the maximum error to ±3000ms.
Using Sync-One2 effectively There are some basic tips which when combined with an understanding of the statistics gathered will enable effective measuring of synchronisation errors. The light trigger is based on detecting the change from dark to light and is very sensitive. When testing involves projectors however, it may be required to put Sync-One2 into the projector beam (facing the projector, naturally) rather than rely on the reflected light from a screen.
Note when the low battery symbol comes on, it really does mean it’s time to change the batteries. The system will continue to operate until they get too low to effectively support operations, then the unit will display a message and switch itself off. Troubleshooting Unit does not power on? You must hold down the the unit on. On Off button for more than a second to turn Check the batteries are installed the right way around and that they are not discharged (i.e. flat).
Specifications The specifications of Sync-One2 are below: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 2 x AA (LR6) batteries, rechargeable AA batteries are fine too Power consumption is low, so a standard set of AA batteries should last for around 50 hours of continuous use. Whilst off, Sync-One2 does draw a tiny amount of battery power (less than 0.1 µA), however if not being used for some time, it is always best to remove the batteries. Dimensions (H x W x D) 144mm x 90mm x 30mm (5.6" x 3.5" x 1.2”) 165g (5.
Standards compliance EN 55103-1 Part 1 (EMC Emissions) EN 55103-2 Part 2 (EMC Immunity) EN 55103-2 (Magnetic Immunity) IEC 61000-4-2 (ESD) Sync-One2 is RoHS compliant and lead free For additional support or information please visit the website, or e-mail sync-one2@harkwood.co.uk sync-one2.harkwood.co.uk Sync-One2 is a registered trademark of Harkwood Services Ltd Sync-One2 is designed and manufactured in Cambridge, UK, by Harkwood Services Ltd.
