Cameras: RED, Blackmagic RAW, Sony MXF, GoPro, Insta360, iPhone
MultiSyncer Studio recognises a camera by its files and takes the model and shooting settings from them. With most cameras everything just works. The special cases are RAW formats (RED R3D, Blackmagic RAW, ProRes RAW, Canon RAW, ARRIRAW): their picture and sound cannot be read without the maker's software, so sync needs a proxy with sound.
MultiSyncer recognises a camera by its files: the maker and model come from the metadata, and the shooting settings (ISO, shutter, white balance, iris, lens, gamma) go into “Footage” and the colorist report. Below are the specifics of popular cameras.
| Camera and format | What MultiSyncer does | What to keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Sony (MXF, MP4) | The model and serial number come from the file or from the XML next to the clip (…M01.XML). XDCAM cards are copied with their own names | Do not rename files on an XDCAM card, otherwise editing apps will not open them |
| RED (R3D) | Reads the frame rate, frame size, length and timecode from the header. A long clip in parts _001, _002… counts as one clip. Proxies with sound are made if REDline is installed | R3D sound is read only through RED's software: sync needs a proxy with sound. RED cards are copied with their own names |
| Blackmagic RAW (BRAW) | Copies and checks it like any file | The app cannot read BRAW picture and sound without the maker's software: sync needs a proxy with sound. The app does not make BRAW proxies. Final Cut Pro does not open BRAW, so those files are left out of its export |
| Canon RAW (CRM), ARRIRAW, ProRes RAW | Copies and checks | As with BRAW: the picture cannot be read without the maker's software, so sync needs the sound from a proxy |
| GoPro | Recognises the model even if the resolution, frame rate and codec changed between takes. LRV lightweight copies are matched to their originals | Two GoPros of the same model are best copied from different cards or kept in different folders: in one folder the app separates them only if they were shooting at the same time |
| Insta360 and 360° cameras | A dual-lens recording (VID_…_00_ and VID_…_10_) counts as one take: the sound and time are in the _00_ file. LRV_… lightweight copies are matched to the originals | Sync uses the _00_ file |
| iPhone and other phones | Recognises the phone by model even if it changed resolution, frame rate and codec (4K and 1080p, 30 and 60 fps, vertical video) | Phones often record with a variable frame rate: such clips are flagged, see the article on VFR |
What the app does with any camera
- Recognises the card by its files and sorts the footage into the devices' folders.
- Every next card from the device gets the number and angle from the project setup.
- Checks the picture and sound after the copy: black and frozen frames, a stuck pixel, clipped highlights, clipping and more.
- Places clips by sound, timecode or slate. A clip with no shared sound is placed by file time and marked.
- Skips service files, photos, renders and music.