Multicam sync - how to ignore timecode and use strictly audio?

Hi,

My question is related to multicam sync. I apologize in advance if this question has been answered, I've been searching for 6 hours today and haven't found an answer.

I have one, long continuous audio-only clip, and I have many "non-continuous" video clips (i.e., I stop and start recording many times). I am trying to sync the video clips with the single long, continuous audio clip.

When I create a multicam clip with just two of the video clips and the audio clip, the clips are synced "correctly":
s10.postimg.org/cw6qr3451/two_clips.jpg

However, when I create a multicam clip with three or more of the video clips (in addition to the audio clip), it seems as though FCPX is choosing to ignore audio syncing and instead use timecode. Thus, although all the video clips are correctly placed in a single angle, (edited) it arranges them consecutively and adjacent to one another, rather than syncing with the audio clip angle, and thus leaving gaps between the video clips representing time when the camera was off:
s18.postimg.org/sbhl10l39/three_clips.jpg

(Note that the timecode on my DSLR (5d Mark III) runs only when recording. The timecode doesn't elapse when the camera is not recording or turned off.)

Is there any way to force FCPX to ignore the timecode data? Can I force it to sync only with the audio angle? Or maybe there's a way to simply remove the timecode data from the video clips?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Assign camera angles in the inspector to the clips that are different angles before you make the multicam.

I already assigned both camera names and camera angles to all of the clips, and no matter what combination of sync settings I've tried, FCPX puts clips in the correct angle.

The issue rather is that WITHIN an angle, the video clips are not synced correctly to the audio angle.

Did you try syncing them all at once?

If you are doing them individually, place the item in the angle you want it, select it, and them choose sync selection to monitoring angle, making sure the audio is set as the monitoring angle.

If that doesn't work, you might have to sync manually.

FCP uses the sync method that was first assigned when you created the multicam.

I'll second what Tom is saying here.

I'll often have to sync 5 camera shoots from DSLRs, I'll usually sync all the footage from one camera to the audio, then build from there one camera at a time, and often one clip at a time. luckily, I rarely have to use "manual sync methods" but for some reason, if you throw too much footage at FCPX at once it does seem to mess things up. That is, unless everything has timecode, or appropriate metadata. taking the time with Metadata first, can save a lot of time in the long run. for example use "camera angle/camera name" metadata fields

If you do this often, I suggest "plural eyes", or something of the like. It may be worth the money, in my case, it is not worth the money.

You may want to try a different choice under "Angle Synchronization". It defaults to "Automatic", but as that is not giving you the right results, you could try a different option - perhaps by setting a marker roughly at a corresponding place in the clips and choosing "First Marker on the Angle"

Hi Paul,
I think the synching in FCPX is pretty amazing. It is very rare that I have to manually help it out even with multiple stops and starts with multiple cams for a clip.
I also support Tom's suggestions, starting with making sure that the Audio clip is selected as the monitoring angle. Double check it.
Make sure to select, Sync with Audio. Looks like FCPX is reverting to timecode after initial start sync.
If need be, rebuild the multi-cam clip.
While it appears that the audio is in each DSLR clip, double check the audio to make sure it is clean and loud enough.
Adding the clips in individually may help.
If nothing else works for audio syncing, then you will need to manually find points in each clip and add markers to sync to.
While shooting, it does help to clap your hands or use a clapper slate at the beginning of each take to help provide a sync point, so try that in the future. When you do, try to get the hands/slate in view to all the cams for a manual visual sync if needed.

Sounds like FCPX is placing the clips in the correct angle, but when I use two cams with the same name, I rename one of the cameras as well as the angle in the inspectors. If nothing else, it helps me.
Hope this helps, Greg

Thanks guys, this was very helpful. What I ended up doing is making the audio the monitoring angle, and then used "Sync Selection to Monitoring Angle." This worked reasonably well, although there were a few clips that didn't have good enough audio. Point being, the solution here is to manually sync the clips from within the the multicam clip.

Thanks again.