Multi Camera and External Microphone Set UP

Taziamoma

Hey there, I shoot comedy videos and I have a question about multi-camera setups. I am not live streaming, everything will be shot and then edited later. I want to know how I can connect my cameras and external microphones to all start recording at the same exact time and stop at the same time. Is there a way I can do this by connecting it to the computer or maybe an external interface? I'm lost here.

I have two Sony A6500 and one A6000.

Terfyn

It may not be necessary to sync the cameras. Some video editors have multi camera sync. You download the videos into tracks on your VE and use, for example, the sound tracks to sync the various videos together. This is carried out by the editor which will align the tracks to the common sound signal.
Have a look at the advertising for Corel's VideoStudio to see what I mean.

Taziamoma

Thanks for the reply. I see what you're saying but I'm talking about the process of starting and stopping the recording. Sometime's I have a lot of cameras and I may forget to start recording on one of them or even on my microphone.

Terfyn

All you need to do is just set them all running but make sure that the cameras are picking up an audio track along with your mic.
There are other ways of syncing the video streams depending on the software you choose.

asik1

This is the solution

Terfyn

Many camcorders use "Near Field Communication" for controlling Zoom, Start/Stop etc. They use an "Image App" on a SmartPhone to give full remote.
My Example:- I use both an Android phone and an Android tablet. I have Panasonic's Image App loaded on both. The advantage of the 10" tablet is that it gives a bigger picture of what the camera sees. Another minor advantage is that the App also gives control over the Panasonic Pan/Tilt head.

12harry

Hi, I'm not clear "why" you need to have switch-ON/OFF in sync across multiple recording devices.... are these being used without operators?  You've not said.
As you will know, it is normal to use a clapper-board to indicate sound and shot-notes visually. Indeed often the clapper-boy will speak the shot number, so the audio-recorders will have this info. at the start of each file.

Perhaps some of your gear is remote, or inconvenient to reach - Is that it? Forgetting to operate all devices is a significant risk-factor . . . but having them numbered you should be able to run-round in a recognisable routine. You might number then in the Order of likely Battery-replacement; so the first one that coughs means you would swap all batteries...etc.

Cheers