TENTACLE SYNC E OPERATING MANUAL V 1.
GETTING STARTED 4 OPERATING MODES SETUP APP FOR IOS & ANDROID BLUETOOTH & CABLE SYNC 7 WIRELESS SYNC WIRELESS MASTER SYNC SYNCHRONIZATION VIA CABLE MONITORING LIST DEVICE WARNINGS TENTACLE SETTINGS 12 TIMECODE DISPLAY CUSTOM TIMECODE / SET TO PHONE TIME CUSTOMIZE ICON AND NAME OUTPUT VOLUME LINE / MIC / AUTO SET FRAME RATE AUTO POWER OFF TIME GENERAL INFORMATION USER BITS CONNECTION TO RECORDING DEVICES 17 ADAPTER CABLE TENTACLE CLAMP - LOCK YOUR CABLE RECHARGEABLE BATTERY 20 BUILT-IN MICROP
OVERVIEW: TIMECODE INPUT / OUTPUT SWITCH ON Tentacle will automatically switch off after 2 hours if no cable is connected. MICROPHONE BLUETOOTH LED Short hold Tentacle will start in Red Mode. Now it waits to jam-sync to external timecode. Long hold > 3 seconds Tentacle will start in Green Mode. It generates and outputs timecode. The time will be the „time of day“ fetched from the internal clock (RTC).
GETTING STARTED OPERATING MODES Tentacles can be started in two operating modes: Red Mode: During switch-on, just slide the power button down shortly (approx. 1 sec.). The status LED is flashing red now. In this mode your Tentacle is waiting to be jam-synced by an external timecode source through the 3.5 mm jack. The Sync E is not outputting timecode. Green Mode: In this mode your Tentacle is outputting timecode. During switch-on, slide the power button down until the Status LED is flashing green (> 3 sec.
Enable Bluetooth on your mobile device The Setup App will need to communicate with your SYNC E devices via Bluetooth. Make sure Bluetooth is activated on your mobile device. You must grant the app the necessary permissions as well. The Android version also asks for a ‚location permission‘. This is only needed to receive Bluetooth data from your Tentacle. The App does not use or store your current location data in any way.
Add a new Tentacle If you open the Setup App for the first time, the monitoring list will be empty. You can add new SYNC E devices by tapping on + Add New Tentacle. This will show a list of available Tentacles nearby. Select the one, you would like to add to the list. Hold your Tentacle close to your phone to finish the procedure. SUCCESS! will appear when the SYNC E is added. This ensures that only you have access to your Tentacles and not someone else nearby.
BLUETOOTH & CABLE SYNC The Setup Software for Tentacle SYNC E allows you to wirelessly sync a number of Tentacle SYNC Es with each other via Bluetooth (tested with up to 44 units). WIRELESS SYNC To perform the Wireless Sync, just open the Setup App on a mobile device and add all Tentacle SYNC Es to the monitoring list. In that list you will find the button WIRELESS SYNC.
WIRELESS MASTER SYNC If you want to use your audio recorder with a built-in timecode generator as master or another timecode source, please proceed as follows: • Start one Tentacle in Red Mode and connect it with the suitable adapter cable to your timecode source and jam-sync the Tentacle to it until it runs in Green Mode.
SYNCHRONIZATION VIA CABLE If you don’t have a mobile device at hand, you can synchronize Sync E units with each other via the included 3.5 mm cable through the mini jack port as well. • Start one Tentacle in Green Mode (master) and all other Tentacles in Red Mode (JamSync). • Consecutively, connect all Tentacles in Red Mode to the one Tentacle in Green Mode with the mini jack cable enclosed in the Set. Each Tentacle connected to the „master“ will change from Red into Green Mode.
MONITORING LIST Once your devices have been added to the list, you can check the most important status information of each unit at a glance. You will be able to monitor the timecode with frame accuracy, battery status, output level, frame rate, Bluetooth range, name and icon in this view. If a Tentacle is out of Bluetooth range for a less than a minute, the status and timecode of it will be maintained.
DEVICE WARNINGS In case, there appears a warning sign in the monitoring list, you can tap directly on the icon and a short explanation is displayed. • Cable unplugged: This warning appears if the device is running in Green Mode, but no cable is plugged into the 3.5 mm jack Please note: This will not test an actual connection between your Tentacle and the recording device, but only the physical presence of a 3.5 mm cable plugged into the timecode output of the Tentacle.
TENTACLE SETTINGS Pressing briefly on aTentacle in the monitoring screen, will start a connection to this device and allows you to set timecode, frame rate, user bits and more. The general parameters are the same across all setup apps for the different operating systems. An active Bluetooth connection will be indicated by a pulsing blue LED at the front of the SYNC E. TIMECODE DISPLAY The currently running timecode of the connected Tentacle is displayed here.
CUSTOM TIMECODE / SET TO PHONE TIME You can set a custom timecode or set your Sync E to phone time by tapping on the timecode display. A window will pop up, where you can select one of the options. Important note: The timecode display of the settings menu is for informational purposes only. It is not guaranteed to be 100% frame accurate with the timecode running on the device. If you want to check the timecode with frame accuracy, you can do that in the monitoring view.
Changing the device name For a better differentiation of multiple Tentacles, the name of each Tentacle can be changed individually. Simply click on the name field, change the name and confirm with Return. OUTPUT VOLUME LINE / MIC / AUTO According to your recording devices, you have to set the output volume of the Tentacle to AUTO, LINE or MIC. AUTO (recommended): With AUTO enabled, the Tentacle switches automatically to MIC-level when plugged into a device with plugin power (for 3.
the timecode signal as an audio signal on an audio track of that device. Some devices only accept microphone-level audio, so you have to adjust the output level through the setup app in order to prevent distortion of the timecode signal SET FRAME RATE Choose your project frame rate by selecting the appropriate one from the pulldown menu. Tentacle generates the following SMPTE Standard frame rates: 23,98, 24, 25, 29,97, 29,97 DropFrame and 30 fps.
USER BITS User bits enable you to embed additional information into the timecode signal such as the calendar date or a camera ID. These bits usually consist of eight hexadecimal digits, which are able to handle values from 0-9 and a-f. Currently active User Bits: The currently running SMPTE timecode user bits are displayed here. User Bits Preset: You can select a preset for the user bits. The selected Preset will be set and saved to the device for recall, when powering up next time.
CONNECTION TO RECORDING DEVICES Tentacles can be used with nearly any recording device: Cameras, audio recorders, monitors and more. All they need in order to work with a Tentacle is either a dedicated timecode input or at least one audio channel. There are basically two groups of equipment: Dedicated TC-IN: Equipment that has a dedicated timecode/ sync input or even a built-in timecode generator of its own.
To use timecode on these devices, you have to record the timecode signal onto one free audio track. To make use of this recorded timecode later in editing, you need either an editing system that has support for so-called ‚audio timecode‘ or you can use our included software to translate audio timecode to standard metadata timecode.
Tentacle ◀▶ BNC: To send timecode to your camera or recorder with a BNC TC IN. The BNC cable is bidirectional and enables you to sync your Tentacle to an external timecode source as well such as Canon 300, Zoom F8/N Tentacle ▶ LEMO: Straight 5-pin Lemo cable to send timecode to a device with a TC IN such as Sound Devices recorders or ARRI Alexa cameras LEMO ▶ Tentacle: 5-pin Lemo cable to send timecode from your a device with a Lemo TC OUT connector (e.g.
Tentacle Clamp - Lock your cable To ensure that the angled jack plugs are not accidentally pulled out of the device, the cables can be easily and securely fastened using the clamp. Slide the clamp into the recess on the Tentacles until it clicks. Now you can be sure the cable and the clamp will not come loose. RECHARGEABLE BATTERY Tentacle has a built-in, rechargeable Lithium-Polymer battery. Charging is possible via USB at the rear. The charging status will be shown by the LED right next to the USB port.
BUILT-IN MICROPHONE Tentacle features a small built-in microphone, which can be used to record reference sound on DSLR Cameras or devices with a stereo 3.5 mm mic input. It is located in the little notch behind the rubber band on top of the device. By using the mini jack cable, the timecode signal will be recorded on the left channel, reference sound will be recorded on the right channel.
If there is a more recent version available, it will ask you to update the firmware. If you agree to the update, the setup app will activate the Bootloader mode on the Tentacle. On a Windows computer it may take some time, because Windows might have to install a Bootloader driver first. During the firmware update ensure that your laptop has sufficient battery or is connected to the mains. Also ensure you have a proper USB connection during a firmware update.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS • Size: 38 mm x 50 mm x 15 mm / 1.49 x 1.97 x 0.59 inches • Weight: 30 g / 1 oz • Switchable mic/line output + built-in microphone for reference sound • LTC timecode according to SMPTE-12M, frame rates: 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 29.97DF and 30 fps • Bluetooth Low Energy 4.
INTENDED USE This device is only intended for use on suitable cameras and audio recorders. It must not be connected to other devices. The device is not waterproof and should be protected against rain. For safety and certification reasons (CE) you are not permitted to convert and/or modify the device. The device can be damaged if you use it for purposes other than those mentioned above. Moreover, improper use can cause hazards, such as short circuits, fire, electric shock, etc.
DISPOSAL / WEEE NOTIFICATION This product must not be disposed of together with your other household waste. It is your responsibility to dispose of this device at a special disposal station (recycling yard), at a technical retail center or at the manufacturer. FCC DECLARATION This device contains FCC ID: 2AA9B05. This device has been tested and found to comply with part 15B of the FCC rules.
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions. (1) This device may not cause harmful interference. (2) This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. INDUSTRY CANADA DECLARATION This device contains IC: 12208A-05. This device complies with Industry Canada license-exempt RSS standard(s).
