When the audio cables are dirty or not fully inserted, it is possible the LTC audio cannot be decoded by Protern Video. Here are some tips to ensure you get a valid timecode for syncing.
Warning: Protern Video will try to recover from a corrupt LTC audio signal, but the sync may not be as accurate. We highly recommend following these steps to ensure you capture a clean audio signal.
Check the audio cables are fully inserted
The most common cause of an corrupt LTC audio signal is that the audio cable is well seated in the LTC generator or the camera. If the connection feels loose and you can't push the cable in any more, it may be necessary to add some tape to keep the cable from moving.
Clean the audio cables
Some dirt or water can impact the audio signal and corrupt the LTC code. With a microfibre or lens cleaning cloth, give the metal contacts of the audio cables a bit of a wipe.
Clean the microphone ports
Similar to the dirty audio cables, it is possible some moisture or dirt has gotten into the microphone port of the camera, Dish or phone. The best way to clean the camera and Dish microphone ports is to use compressed air. Whatever dirt is in there is likely easily going to come out.
To clean a phone's port, which could USB-C, Lightening or an audio port depending on the phone model, we suggest looking at what the manufacturer recommends. Phones can easily collect dust and lint over time as they go in pockets and travel around. Cleaning the ports usually requires more than compressed air and may require a professional with some specialized tools to avoid damaging the phone.
Ensure the audio cables are not disturbed while filming
When filming with gloves, it is quite easy to jostle the audio cable on the camera. Or while removing a camera from inside a jacket, the cable can become lose at the LTC generator end (i.e. Dish or Protern Clock). If this happens frequently, it may be worth adding some tape to the connections to ensure they remain secure.