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Blackmagic Pocket 6K Has No Sync Output — Timecode Trigger Workaround

Summary

The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K (and 6K Pro) does not have a sync output. This means it cannot provide the frame-accurate camera shutter pulse that Flair requires for proper motion control synchronisation. Multi-pass work (layered compositing) with this camera is therefore problematic.

The only available workaround is a timecode trigger: use an external timecode generator to fire the robot move at a specific TC point. This is not frame-accurate sync — it is only trigger-level synchronisation. For true multi-pass work (repeated moves that must align frame-for-frame), a camera with a proper sync output is required.

For multi-pass layered compositing, substitute a camera with sync output (e.g. ARRI Alexa Mini or similar). The BMPCC 6K cannot guarantee frame-accurate pass alignment.

Symptoms

  • BMPCC 6K is the requested camera for a motion control shoot.
  • No sync output available — Flair shows no sync signal from camera.
  • Standard MRMC sync cable does not connect to BMPCC 6K.
  • Camera is not in the MRMC Camera Sync and Trigger Chart.

Timecode Trigger Workaround

The BMPCC 6K can accept external timecode via its 3.5mm audio jack input (as per camera manual). This allows Jam-Lock to an external TC source.

To use TC trigger with Flair:

  1. Obtain an external timecode generator (e.g. Tentacle Sync, Ambient Lockit ACN, Timecode Systems).
  2. Split the timecode signal — send it both to the camera (3.5mm audio jack for Jam-Lock) and to the RT14 (which Flair uses to trigger the move at a specific TC point).
  3. In Flair, set the timecode trigger to fire the move at the desired TC point.

Limitation: Flair can trigger from timecode but cannot frame-accurately sync to it. Each pass may drift by a frame or two. The camera and robot will both start at the same timecode point, but phase drift across a long move is possible.

Confidence: 0.80 for trigger-level reliability; 0.0 for frame-accurate multi-pass sync.

PDF Reference

MRMC Camera Sync and Trigger Chart — reference chart for all major cameras including which have sync outputs.

Camera Sync and Trigger Chart

Source

Timestamp User Evidence
2021-03-13 TimHC "BMPCC6K is not included in the table... Absence of a proper Sync Output from Camera. It is nevertheless possible to get the camera to Jam-Lock to an external Timecode provided through the 3.5mm Jack Audio Input. But Flair synchronises only to SD/HD Sync sources and not to Timecode."
2021-03-13 gordon_admin (MRMC) "Yes if the camera does not provide sync. Please also refer to the Camera Sync and Trigger Chart."
2021-03-14 TimHC "Synchronisation is paramount when you want to do repeated moves for multiple layering shots. Alexa Mini will certainly be a better choice."