1. Timecode Systems
  2. UltraSync
  3. Configuration Settings - UltraSync ONE

  • Set the RF Country/Area - UltraSync ONE

    Set the RF Country/Area

    Your UltraSync ONE can communicate with other devices via radio (RF). Before you use your UltraSync ONE, you need to set it to use the correct radio frequencies for your region. This is because the regulations for the use of radio frequencies vary in different countries.

    Note: The RF Country/Area setting does not apply to units sold in North America and Canada. If you purchased your UltraSync ONE in the US or Canada and wish to use it in another country, please contact Timecode Systems. We can provide you with a free updater application that will allow you to set the country/area.

    To set the RF country/area:

    1. Make sure your UltraSync ONE is switched on (see Switch UltraSync ONE On and Off).

    2. Press the Select button.

    3. Use the Up and Down buttons to scroll to the System Settings option.

    4. Press the Select button.
    5. Use the Up and Down buttons to scroll to the Set RF Country/Area option.
    6. Press the Select button.
    7. Use the Up and Down buttons to select the appropriate area:
      • Europe/UK
      • Japan/China
      • US/CA/AU/NZ (for USA, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand).
    8. Press the Select button to confirm. Your UltraSync ONE will now communicate using radio frequencies that are appropriate for the region you selected.

    Tip: You can see which country/area your UltraSync ONE is set to use by looking at the main status screen (see Main Screen). In the bottom-right corner, the country/area is shown next to the channel (CE for Europe, JP for Japan/Asia, and FC for USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand).

  • Set the Timecode Mode - UltraSync ONE

    Set the Timecode Mode

    Your UltraSync ONE is a versatile synchronisation device, and can work in many different modes. You can find out about the different modes in the following sections:

    Note: These modes define how your UltraSync ONE synchronises with other devices, so it is important that you understand how they work.

    To set your UltraSync ONE to run in a particular mode, you need to use the Timecode Mode settings.

    To access the Timecode Mode settings:

    1. Make sure your UltraSync ONE is switched on (see Switch UltraSync ONE On and Off).

    2. Press the Select button.

    3. Use the Up and Down buttons to scroll to the Timecode Mode option.

    4. Press the Select button.

    5. Use the Up and Down buttons to scroll to the appropriate mode:

      Timecode ModeOperation

      Master TX

      		UltraSync ONE is a master in an RF network. Its timecode is transmitted to any slaves via radio.

      It can also send the timecode data to any devices that are connected via the LTC and SYNC ports.

      RF SlaveUltraSync ONE receives its timecode data from a master Timecode Systems product*. It can then send this timecode data to any devices that are attached via the LTC and SYNC ports.
      EXT LTC InputUltraSync ONE receives its timecode data from a device that is connected via the LTC port.
      Free Run/Jam-ExtUltraSync ONE has its timecode set by jamming to a signal from a device that is connected via the LTC port. Once jammed, the UltraSync ONE can be disconnected and it will continue to use the timecode. It needs to be re-jammed at regular intervals to remain synchronised.

      *When an UltraSync ONE is free running and in RF Slave mode, it uses its own clock settings but continues to search for a master in the same network. If it finds a master, the master will set the timecode.

    6. Press the Select button.

    7. If you are prompted to choose an RF Channel, use the Up and Down buttons to set the RF Channel that the UltraSync ONE will use for radio communications. The master device can only communicate with slave devices that use the same RF Channel as the master.
    8. If you are prompted to choose Non-Continuous or Continuous, select:
      • Non-Continuous - If the external device is disconnected from your UltraSync ONE, the UltraSync ONE will stop.
      • Continuous - If the external device is disconnected from your UltraSync ONE, the UltraSync ONE will free run until the external device is reconnected.
    9. If you are prompted to choose TX On or TX Off:

      • Choose Tx On (Master) to set your UltraSync ONE to output timecode to slaves in an RF network (via radio).

      • Choose Tx Off (Standalone) if you want your UltraSync ONE to output timecode via a wired connection only (no radio). Tx Off (Standalone) mode turns off the radio transceiver. This helps to extend the battery life, as radio consumes a lot of battery power.

    10. Press the Select button.

  • Set the RF Channel - UltraSync ONE

    Set the RF Channel

    If you are going to use your UltraSync ONE in an RF network, you need to set its RF channel to match the other Timecode Systems devices in the network. (An RF network is a group of Timecode Systems products that all use the same RF channel for radio communications).

    You need to set the RF Channel when:

    • You first set up your UltraSync ONE to join an RF network
    • You want to move your UltraSync ONE from one RF network to another
    • You are changing the master device in the RF network. Your UltraSync ONE needs to have its RF Channel reset if you introduce a different master device, even if the same channel is going to be used.

    Note: UltraSync ONEs can only be part of one RF network. To move an UltraSync ONE between networks, change the UltraSync ONE's RF Channel, and then restart the unit.

    To set your UltraSync ONE to join an RF network:

    1. Make sure your UltraSync ONE is switched on (see Switch UltraSync ONE On and Off).

    2. Press the Select button.

    3. Use the Up and Down buttons to scroll to the Set RF Channel No. option.

    4. Press the Select button.

    5. Use the Up and Down buttons to set the UltraSync ONE to the same channel number as the other devices in the RF network.

    6. Press the Select button to confirm.

    Look at the main screen to find out which channel a UltraSync ONE is set to use. The channel is shown in the bottom-right corner, next to the battery indicator.

    In the image above, Ch.CE03 indicates that the UltraSync ONE is set to run in the Europe region (CE) and use RF Channel 03.

    Example 1: Join an RF network

    Let's say you have three UltraSync ONE units and a :pulse unit. The :pulse unit is set to be the 'master' and uses RF Channel 4.

    To get the UltraSync ONE units to synchronise with the :pulse unit, you need to set all three of the UltraSync ONEs to use RF Channel 4. They also need to be set to the correct country/area and to run in RF Slave mode.

    With these settings in place, the master :pulse unit will connect to the slave UltraSync ONEs and provide them with timecode (as long as the slave UltraSync ONEs are within range of the master).

    Example 2: Multiple RF networks in range

    Let's say you have six UltraSync ONEs and two :pulse units and you want to arrange them in separate RF networks. For the purpose of this example, we will assume you want three UltraSync ONEs in each network, but you could allocate them differently if you wanted.

    For the first network, you set the :pulse and the three UltraSync ONEs to have the correct country/area setting and to use RF Channel 4. You set the :pulse to run as the master and the UltraSync ONEs to run in RF Slave mode. The :pulse and the three UltraSync ONEs are all in the RF Channel 4 BLINK network.

    For the second network, you set the :pulse and the three UltraSync ONEs to have the correct country/area setting and to use RF Channel 6. You set the :pulse to run as the master and the UltraSync ONEs to run in RF Slave mode. The :pulse and the three UltraSync ONEs are all in the RF Channel 6 BLINK network.

     

    The two networks are completely separate and the devices in one network will not communicate with devices in another network.

     

    Example 3: Replacing a Master in an RF Network

    If you need to change the master device in an RF network, you may need to set the RF channels again. This is because the slaves store the master and channel details in memory, and need to be refreshed if a different master is used.

    Let's say you have a :pulse as master and three slave UltraSync ONEs. They are all set to use RF Channel 05. The UltraSync ONEs all synchronise with the master correctly and filming begins.

    Unfortunately, there is an accident and the :pulse gets damaged. You have another :pulse unit available, and so you swap it for the damaged one. You set the new :pulse to use RF Channel 05, but the slave UltraSync ONEs do not connect with it. This is because they are 'locked' to the :pulse that was damaged.

    To get them to connect to the replacement :pulse, you can either turn the UltraSync ONE slaves off and then on again to refresh their memory. Alternatively, you can try setting them to use RF Channel 5 again.

    For details on country/area, see Set the RF Country/Area.

    For details on RF Slave mode, see Set the Timecode Mode.

    To learn more about master and slave relationships, see Networks and Modes.

  • Set the Timecode for the Master - UltraSync ONE

    Set the Timecode for the Master

    Note: This section only applies if you have set your UltraSync ONE to run in Master TX mode (see Master TX UltraSync ONE - Set Up).

    If your UltraSync ONE is set to run in Master TX mode, it means it is the master in an RF network. As it is the master, you need to set its timecode. The timecode will then be transmitted to the slaves in the network, so that they can synchronise with the master.

    To set your UltraSync ONE's timecode:

    1. Make sure your UltraSync ONE is switched on (see Switch UltraSync ONE On and Off).

    2. Press the Select button.

    3. Use the Up and Down buttons to scroll to the TC Generator option.

    4. Press the Select button.

    5. Use the Up, Down, and Select buttons to set the UltraSync ONE's time. Press Up or Down to change the value of a character, and then press Select to confirm that value and move to the next character (from left to right). When you have set the last value, pressing Select will confirm the time entry.

    You also need to Set the Frame Rate Per Second.

  • Set the Frame Rate Per Second - UltraSync ONE

    Set the Frame Rate Per Second

    Note: This section only applies if your UltraSync ONE is running in Master TX mode or is free running in Free Run/Jam-Ext mode. If your UltraSync ONE is running in Ext LTC Int or RF Slave mode, it will receive the FPS data from the master or external timecode source.

    The FPS (Frames-Per-Second) of your UltraSync ONE has to match the FPS of the cameras and sound mixers/recorders that are being used on the shoot. This is because timecode can only be applied accurately to each recorded frame if the same FPS settings are used.

    To set the FPS:

    1. Make sure your UltraSync ONE is switched on (see Switch UltraSync ONE On and Off).

    2. Press the Select button.

    3. Use the Up and Down buttons to scroll to the TC Generator option.

    4. Press the Select button.

    5. Use the Up and Down buttons to scroll to the Set FPS Rate option.

    6. Press the Select button.

    7. Use the Up and Down buttons to set the UltraSync ONE's FPS to the appropriate value.

    8. Press the Select button to confirm.

    You also need to Set the Timecode for the Master.

    Note: If your UltraSync ONE is running in Master TX mode, it will send the FPS to the slave units in the RF network, so that they also use the same FPS.

  • Set the User Bits - UltraSync ONE

    Set the User Bits

    To make it easier when editing your recordings, you can add metadata to the timecode data. For example, a common use of user bits is to add the date and scene number.

    The timecode mode and user bits settings of your UltraSync ONE affect what metadata it uses:

    • If your UltraSync ONE is a Master TX, it will send its user bits data to the slaves in the network. If you have not set the user bits, it will send the default user bits, which is four sets of 00.
    • If your UltraSync ONE is an RF Slave, you can choose whether the UltraSync ONE uses the user bits it receives from the master or uses its own user bits settings instead.
    • If your UltraSync ONE is running in EXT LTC Int or Free Run/Jam Ext mode, you can choose whether it uses the user bits it receives from an external source or uses its own user bits settings instead.

    Note: The user bits consist of four pairs of hexadecimal characters. The supported characters are in the range 0 to F.

    To add metadata to the timecode of a UltraSync ONE, you need to use the Set User Bits setting:

    1. Make sure your UltraSync ONE is switched on (see Switch UltraSync ONE On and Off).

    2. Press the Select button.

      If your UltraSync ONE is in Master TX mode, ignore steps 3 to 6 inclusive and continue from step 8.

      If your UltraSync ONE is in Ext LTC Int, Free Run/Jam Ext, or RF Slave mode, continue from step 3.

    3. Use the Up and Down buttons to scroll to the Local or EXT U/B option.

    4. Press the Select button.

    5. Use the Up and Down buttons to choose from:
      • Use Locally Set U/B - your UltraSync ONE will use its own user bits settings. It will ignore the user bits settings from the master/external source.
      • Use EXT Source U/B - your UltraSync ONE will use the user bits settings it receives from the master or external source. It will not use its own user bits settings.

    6. Press the Select button to confirm.

    7. Press the Select button.

    8. Use the Up and Down buttons to scroll to the TC Generator option.
    9. Press the Select button.
    10. Use the Up and Down buttons to scroll to the Set User Bits option.
    11. Press the Select button.
    12. Set the metadata. You can change the pairs of characters in turn, starting from the left. Use the Up and Down buttons to change the characters, and press select to confirm. The next pair of characters is selected automatically, and you can change those in the same way.

    13. Press the Select button.
  • Set the SYNC Output - UltraSync ONE

    Set the SYNC Output

    Your UltraSync ONE has a SYNC output port that can output word clock, genlock, or timecode (LTC). You should use the SYNC port if:

    • You want to output genlock to a camera for added accuracy
    • You want to output word clock to a sound mixer/recorder for added accuracy
    • You are using the LTC port as an input port and need to output timecode via a wired connection.

    Note: You can use the SYNC output in any of the UltraSync ONE modes.

    To use the SYNC port, you need to set the Sync O/P Mode. You may also need to set the Sync O/P Level.

    1. Set your external device (camera, sound mixer/recorder) to receive genlock, word clock, or timecode from an external source. Please refer to the manufacturer's instructions for more details.
    2. Connect your camera or sound mixer/recorder to the SYNC port. Use a suitable cable (the red DIN 1.0/2.3 to BNC cable that is supplied with your UltraSync ONE is suitable for some devices).

    3. Make sure your UltraSync ONE unit is switched on (see Switch UltraSync ONE On and Off).

    4. Press the Select button.

    5. Use the Up and Down buttons to scroll to the Sync Generator option.

    6. Press the Select button.

    7. Use the Up and Down buttons to scroll to the Set Sync O/P Mode option.

    8. Press the Select button.

    9. Use the Up and Down buttons to choose the output signal that is appropriate for your device. The manufacturer's instructions for your device should provide details on the type of genlock or word clock signal that is supported, and also its level.

      Note: Most cameras use 1080p genlock, but Sony cameras use 1080p PSF.

    10. Note: You can disable SYNC output by setting the Sync O/P Mode to Off.

    11. Press the Select button to confirm.

    12. Press the Select button.

    13. Use the Up and Down buttons to scroll to the Sync Generator option.

    14. Press the Select button.

    15. Use the Up and Down buttons to scroll to the Set Sync O/P Level option.

    16. Press the Select button.

    17. Use the Up and Down buttons to scroll to the appropriate level for your device. We recommend that you use Std. O/P Level first, and if there is no connection between your device and the UltraSync ONE, try changing the level to High.
      • Std.O/P Level
      • High O/P Level

      Note: If you are using the SYNC port to output genlock, the Std. O/P Level is a 170mVpp signal and the High O/P Level is a 2.7Vpp signal.

    18. Press the Select button to confirm.

    Your UltraSync ONE will now output a genlock, word clock, or timecode signal to your device via the SYNC port.

  • Set the LTC Output Level - UltraSync ONE

    Set the LTC Level

    If you set your UltraSync ONE up to output LTC (timecode) via the LTC port, you need to set the LTC level. This is a voltage for the LTC signal, and it has to match the voltage that is supported by the external device that will receive the LTC signal.

    To find out the voltage your external device requires, please refer to the manufacturer's instructions. When you have that information, you can set the LTC level.

    Note: If you are using your UltraSync ONE to output LTC via the SYNC port, you will need to set the level for the SYNC port (see Set the SYNC Output).

    To set the LTC Level:

    1. Make sure your UltraSync ONE is switched on (see Switch UltraSync ONE On and Off).

    2. Press the Select button.

    3. Use the Up and Down buttons to scroll to the System Settings option.

    4. Press the Select button.

    5. Use the Up and Down buttons to scroll to the LTC Output Level option.

    6. Press the Select button.

    7. Choose the LTC output that matches the LTC input voltage that is required by your external device:
      • Std Level - 3Vpp signal
      • MIC Level - 70mVpp signal
      • Low Level - 600mVpp signal

    8. Press the Select button to confirm.

  • Change the LED Brightness - UltraSync ONE

    Change the Status Indicator LED Brightness

    You can set your UltraSync ONE so that its status indicator LED is more/less bright, depending on your requirements.

    To change the LED brightness:

    1. Make sure your UltraSync ONE is switched on (see Switch UltraSync ONE On and Off).

    2. Press the Select button.

    3. Use the Up and Down buttons to scroll to the System Settings option.

    4. Press the Select button.
    5. Use the Up and Down buttons to scroll to the Set LED Brightness option.
    6. Press the Select button.
    7. Use the Up and Down buttons to change the value. The brightness range is 1 to 5, where 1 is the dullest and 5 is the brightest.

    8. Press the Select button to confirm.

  • Change the Screen Brightness - UltraSync ONE

    Change the Screen Brightness

    In certain conditions, you may need to change the brightness of the screen. For example, if you are filming in bright conditions, you may want to increase the screen brightness to make it easier to see.

    To change the brightness of the screen:

    1. Make sure your UltraSync ONE is switched on (see Switch UltraSync ONE On and Off).

    2. Press the Select button.

    3. Use the Up and Down buttons to scroll to the Display Settings option.

    4. Press the Select button.

    5. Use the Up and Down buttons to scroll to the Set Brightness option.

    6. Press the Select button.

    7. Use the Up and Down buttons to set the brightness value (1 is the dullest, 5 is the brightest).

    8. Press the Select button to confirm.

     

  • Change the Screen Saver Time - UltraSync ONE

    Change the Screen Saver Time

    By default, the UltraSync ONE's screen is lit at the set brightness level all of the time. This makes it easier to read the display, but uses up more battery power. If you want to reduce the use of battery power, or just prefer the screen to dim after a short amount of time, you should change the Display Settings.

    1. Make sure your UltraSync ONE is switched on (see Switch UltraSync ONE On and Off).

    2. Press the Select button.

    3. Use the Up and Down buttons to scroll to Display Settings.

    4. Press the Select button.

    5. Use the Up and Down buttons to scroll to your preferred screen light display time:
      • Always on to have the screen lit all of the time.
      • Short timed on to have the screen lit for approximately 10 seconds after the last button press.
      • Long timed on to have the screen lit for approximately 20 seconds after the last press of the Up, Down, or Select button. The screen will dim as long as you don't press any of the buttons.

      Note: As soon as you press the Up, Down, or Select button, the dim timer is reset.

    6. Press the Select button to confirm.
  • Flip the Display - UltraSync ONE

    Flip the Display

    In some situations, you may need to mount the UltraSync ONE so that it hangs upside-down. To make it easier to look at the UltraSync ONE display, you can set the screen to flip by 180°.

    To flip the display:

    1. Make sure your UltraSync ONE is switched on (see Switch UltraSync ONE On and Off).

    2. Press the Select button.

    3. Use the Up and Down buttons to scroll to Display Settings.

    4. Press the Select button.

    5. Use the Up and Down buttons to scroll to the Flip Display option.

    6. Press the Select button to confirm.

    7. Repeat steps 2-6 inclusive to rotate the screen display to its previous orientation.

     

  • Button Lock - UltraSync ONE

    Button Lock

    In some situations, you may find that your UltraSync ONE's control buttons are pressed accidentally, which can affect the settings. To prevent these accidental button presses from affecting your UltraSync ONE, you can turn on the Button Lock.

    Once button lock is enabled, you cannot get into the menus unless you first deactivate the lock.

    1. Make sure your UltraSync ONE is switched on (see Switch UltraSync ONE On and Off).

    2. Use the Up and Down buttons to scroll to the screen that shows Button Lock: at the top.

      The Button Lock screen presents you with one of two messages:

      • Press to Lock - This message is shown if button lock is currently disabled. If you press the Select button, button lock is enabled. UltraSync ONE will not allow you to access the menu options again until the button lock has been disabled.
      • Press to Un-Lock - This message is only shown if button lock is currently enabled. If you press the Select button, button lock is disabled. You will be able to access the menus again by pressing the Select button.

    3. Press the Select button to confirm.