Lockit Buddy 2 User manual

Rev. 2.1.
Copyright © 2012 F.A.S.

INDEX
PAGE CONTENTS
2 INTRODUCTION
3 WARRANTY
4 FEATURES
5 PANEL DESCRIPTIONS / CONNECTIONS
9 SAMPLE SETUPS
13 OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
17 RE-CALIBRATING THE UNIT
22 CONNECTOR PIN ASSIGNMENTS
23 CONNECTION WIRING REFERENCE
25 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
1

INTRODUCTION
To all residents of the European Union
Important environmental information about this product
This symbol on the device or the package indicates that disposal of the device after its lifecycle could harm
the environment.
Do not dispose of the unit as unsorted municipal waste. It should be recycled by a specialized company.
This device should be returned to your distributor or to local recycling services.
Respect the local environmental rules.
If in doubt, contact your local waste disposal authorities.
All parts used in the production of this product are RoHS compliant according to directive 2002/95/EC.
Please read this manual before using this product as it contains important information about
operating the unit.
Thank you for using this product.
If it was damaged in transit, don’t install or use it and contact us at [e-mail]
2

WARRANTY
Starting on your date of purchase, your Lockit Buddy II carries a one year warranty to be free of defects in materials and
workmanship. In event of such defect, product will be repaired promptly without charge or, at our option, replaced with a new
product of equal or superior value if delivered to F.A.S., prepaid, together with the sales slip or other proof of purchase date.
Prior approval from F.A.S. is required for return.
This warranty excludes defects due to normal wear, abuse, shipping damage, or failure to use the product in accordance with
instructions.
This warranty is void in the event of unauthorized repair or modification. For return approval and shipping information, contact
F.A.S. via the email at [e-mail]
Except to the extent precluded by applicable local laws F.A.S. WILL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL,
OR SPECIAL DAMAGES. ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSE EXPIRES WHEN
THIS EXPRESS WARRANTY EXPIRES.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may have other rights that vary depending on your territory.
3

FEATURES
Lockit Buddy II is a small device that takes care of the level and impedance conversions needed to record
accurate and dependable time code signal and confidence audio track to Digital SLR Camera’s when these
are used for video acquisition.
Your Lockit Buddy II unit accepts standard SMPTE LTC via the built in BNC connector, and unbalanced line
or microphone audio level signal via a 5-pin Mini XLR (TA5M) connector. You now also have the option to
attach plug in power mic's directly to the unit via this connector, so you can use your lavaliere mic's or
external camera mics that require powering from the camera.
All connections into the Lockit Buddy unit are made with professional grade locking connectors to ensure a
trouble free long life and dependable signal transfer. Its sturdy metal casing provides optimum shielding
from hum and harmful interference. Note that your Lockit Buddy unit itself does not generate any signals.
Lockit Buddy introduces no noise whatsoever to your signal-chain as it is a completely passive device. It
keeps crosstalk between the input channels on your Digital SLR to an absolute minimum, while making
sure that no excessive levels are being sent to the camera.
Lockit Buddy provides a separate pre-set attenuation and impedance compensation circuit for both it's
inputs (time code and audio), so that any equipment attached is 'seeing' the right kind of conditions to
deliver it's signal into the camera without straining it's outputs. It also cancels out the 'plug in power'
from the camera microphone input if needed to protect the attached equipment.
With this device the Digital SLR is getting reliable signal into it's input at the level it's expecting.
Your Lockit Buddy II has been hand built in the United Kingdom.
4

PANEL DESCRIPTIONS / CONNECTIONS
5

1. Output
Stereo 3.5mm jack output that connects to the DSLR camera’s plug in power microphone level input.
The tip carries the reference audio signal, the ring carries the time code signal and sleeve is connected to
ground.
2. T.C. Input
This industry standard BNC connector accepts connection of external SMPTE – LTC time code signal.
This can be provided through connection of a standalone lockit box, a time code feed from an external audio
recorder or the time code output of a broadcast camera in a ‘DSLR second unit’ situation to name but a
few …
3. Ref. Audio Input
The TA5M (5 pin mini XLR) connector on the Lockit Buddy is used to connect unbalanced professional line
or headphone level and powered or unpowered microphone level audio sources to the unit to provide an
additional reference track for editing. This can be used as a failsafe in case something should happen to the
time code signal connected to the unit. The microphone level connection is an un-attenuated direct
connection to the camera audio input with the option to retain or remove the ‘plug in power’ from the
camera. (provided your camera has a powered audio inputs)
Please note that there are two Lockit Buddy versions, one for manual gain cameras and one for cameras
with AGC. (More about this later)
In case of the version for manual gain cameras, the audio level will remain true to the reference level you
have set when setting up the unit, even when the time code input signal stops.
6

In case of the AGC (automatic gain control) version of the Lockit Buddy, the camera will revert to AGC for
the audio track if the time code signal is no longer present. This is because the time code signal is also
being used to defeat the AGC circuit in the camera to provide an audio channel that is free from the AGC
artifacts and has around 18dB of useable headroom above your reference level.
If you don’t really need the time code for your shoot, an alternative use of the unit could be to feed a
constant tone into the T.C. Input (2) to provide you with a clean channel of audio with the AGC defeated.
This will work if you can provide a level that is on par with the time code signal. Lower signal levels can also
be accommodated, by recalibrating the unit. (More about this later)
4. Hot Shoe / Flash Bracket Mount
Lockit Buddy comes standard with an anodized aluminum flash bracket mount so it can be conveniently
placed on top of the camera for people who don’t use a rig with support bars. In the center of this mount
there is also the provision of a ¼inch industry standard thread to allow you to mount the Lockit Buddy in
various other places as needed.
Take care when mounting your Lockit Buddy on camera's that have the flash unit built in like the Canon (*)
7D/T2i/550D etc. as the flash unit may hit the housing when popping out.
In this case it's best to either attach an adequate strip of self-adhesive rubber to the bottom of the housing
to protect the flash unit or to mount the Lockit Buddy elsewhere.
No liability shall be accepted regarding damage caused as a result of ignoring this advice.
(*) F.A.S. is not affiliated in any way with any of the companies, brand names or products mentioned.
7

If you should prefer to attach the Lockit Buddy with alternative methods such as Velcro® or similar
products, then it’s also possible to remove the mount entirely from the bottom cover by unscrewing the
Phillips screws from the cover and subsequently removing the two M3 screws that hold the mount to it.
This will create a level surface for you to work with.
(Take care to put away the mount and screws safely)
The Lockit Buddy enclosure is square shaped for a reason … It allows you to remove the bottom cover and
turn it into four different directions, to put the connectors into the direction most suitable for your setup.
8

SAMPLE SETUPS
DSLR shoot with dual system sound
9

DSLR music video shoot
10

Hard-wired broadcast shoot with DSLR 2ND unit
11

DSLR Multi Camera Setup
12

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
AGC version
1. Make sure the camera is turned OFF
2. Plug the Lockit Buddy’s output jack into the microphone input of the camera
3. Slide the Lockit Buddy into the camera’s flash mount bracket with the attached mount, or mount the
Lockit Buddy elsewhere if this is more practical with the setup you’re using.
Try to take care that the Lockit Buddy output cable is not in the way for the camera operator to access
Camera’s controls as this will increase the risk of the 3.5mm jack getting pulled out of the camera.
This will result in signal loss and unusable time code and audio.
We have opted to use a 90° jack to reduce the risk of this happening, but it is always a good idea to
check the connection in between shots.
4. Attach a running SMPTE-LTC time code source to the BNC time code input on the Lockit Buddy if you
want to sync up using time code, or attach a constant tone signal (signal generator, MP3 player phones
out, etc…) to the unit to engage the AGC defeat function for the reference audio track.
5. If you want to record a reference audio track to the camera for safety, attach one of your setup specific
audio cables to the unit’s TA5M Ref. Audio input and send a 1Khz Pilot tone to the unit.
(*) F.A.S. is not affiliated in any way with any of the companies, brand names or products mentioned.
13

(note that if you’re using a wireless lFB/IEM system to send your reference audio to the camera it may
be necessary to experiment with the variable phones output level to set the correct level. It’s always a
good policy to tape off your levels so they don’t get changed involuntarily)
6. Turn the camera ON and make sure that audio recording has been engaged in the menu.
7. If you have never used the same setup before, now is a good time to record a short test file to make
sure signals are coming into the camera at expected levels. (Otherwise jump to item number 8)
For AGC cameras this would mean that your time code track has been recorded at around -6dB and your
tone should line up at around -18dB. (12dB lower) This will give you around 12dB of headroom above the
1KHz reference level of your audio track before the audio will clip.
Review the test file by loading it into a computer and checking the audio levels. If necessary you can
either make adjustments on the equipment you’re using to send signals into the unit (preferred) or you
can make internal adjustments to the Lockit Buddy.
(please refer to the ‘re-calibrating the unit’ section of this manual)
8. Shoot a short test clip and play it back with the camera using headphones to make sure you hear your
signals played back (tone will be much quieter than time code signal, this is normal)
That’s it! … You are now ready to start shooting !
14

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
Manual Gain version
1. Make sure the camera is turned OFF
2. Plug the Lockit Buddy’s output jack into the microphone input of the camera
3. Slide the Lockit Buddy into the camera’s flash mount bracket with the attached mount, or mount the
Lockit Buddy elsewhere if this is more practical with the setup you’re using.
Try to take care that the Lockit Buddy output cable is not in the way for the camera operator to access
Camera’s controls as this will increase the risk of the 3.5mm jack getting pulled out of the camera.
This will result in signal loss and unusable time code and audio.
We have opted to use a 90° jack to reduce the risk of this happening, but it is always a good idea to
check the connection in between shots.
4. Attach a running SMPTE-LTC time code source to the BNC time code input on the Lockit Buddy if you
want to sync up using time code.
5. If you want to record a reference audio track to the camera for safety, attach one of your setup specific
audio cables to the unit’s TA5M Ref. Audio input and send a 1Khz Pilot tone to the unit.
6. Turn the camera ON and make sure that manual audio recording has been engaged in the menu.
(*) F.A.S. is not affiliated in any way with any of the companies, brand names or products mentioned.
15

7. Bring up your audio meter screen on the camera if this is available and check the levels on the display.
Use your camera’s controls to bring both your levels up to -12dB
(note that if you’re using a wireless lFB/IEM system to send your reference audio to the camera or your
camera doesn’t offer a display option it may be necessary to experiment with the variable phones output
level to set the correct level. It’s always a good policy to tape off your levels so they don’t get changed
involuntarily)
8. Shoot a short test clip and play it back with the camera, checking your display meters and using
headphones to make sure you hear your signals played back correctly.
That’s it! … You are now ready to start shooting !
16

RE-CALIBRATING THE UNIT
Your Lockit Buddy comes factory calibrated with either a setting for Manual Gain cameras or AGC
cameras. This calibration has been done based on standard peripheral equipment signal levels.
Sometimes it may be necessary to re-adjust these levels internally. This could be because you are
connecting to non-standard output level devices or because you want to change your setup from AGC to
Manual Gain or vice versa. This can be accomplished very easily by adjusting two trim controls on the
inside of the enclosure
To access these, you will have to remove the bottom cover from the unit by removing the Phillips screws on
each corner. Use a small flat head screwdriver to turn the controls and take care not to use excessive
force.
17

Full Calibration
If you need to do a full calibration (e.g. you have lost all reference to how the unit was set up initially), the
easiest way to do this is to use an Apple Mac computer and download the demo version of the ProLevel
application at http://www.katsurashareware.com/
-Plug your Lockit Buddy output cable into the external microphone input of your computer
-Plug a running timecode source into the BNC TC IN connector on your Lockit Buddy
-Plug a line level XLR to TA5F lead (see wiring reference) into your Lockit Buddy on one end and
connect to a balanced audio mixer output with a 1KHz tone lined up at 0dB on the mixer display and
your output level set at professional line level (+4dBu)
-Access your Mac’s System Preferences panel and subsequently access the ‘Sound’ settings
18

-Make sure that your audio ‘Line In’ port has been selected and your input volume slider has been
set all the way to the maximum sensitivity level.
-Close your Preferences panel and start up the ProLevel application
-Turning the individual trim controls you should match one of the following settings
(time code is always shown on the right channel with the highest level on the display)
Manual Gain AGC
19