SyncDNA Documentation

Understanding Session Modes in Various Workflows

SyncDNA's Session Modes are designed to circumvent the consequences of latency in everyday remote collaboration.

The SyncDNA Session Modes were designed to be quickly toggled between various modes throughout a session. Using Key Bindings are a good way to quickly toggle session modes during sessions.

Screening Mode (Sample & Frame-accurate)

• If desiring to playback a section of material from the DAW to participants and have all participants synchronized, use Screening Mode.

  • In Screening Mode, the local studio session is delayed by a few seconds upon rolling the DAW transport while media is synchronized to all participants.

    • This is done in two parts:
      1. The SyncDNA Delay Plugin introduces a sample-accurate delay into the DAW monitor output path to delay the audio to match all participants
      2. The SyncDNA standalone app delays the video (either uploaded or inputed over Blackmagic video hardware) to match all participants
    • If viewing picture in Pro Tools, monitor video in the SyncDNA standalone app via the video hardware input which will be shown in the application, or via an imported video file.
    • Most users prefer to monitor SyncDNA's video window which can be undocked at the bottom of the application and moved to an extended monitor

  • Hands must be off faders in Screening Mode as the audio and video are being rendered in the background and will audibly and visually be synced, however a few seconds out sync relative to the DAW

Mix Mode (Sample & Frame-accurate)

• If desiring to mix (hands on faders) while maintaing sample and frame-accuracy, switch into Mix Mode
  • In Mix Mode, the mixer/engineer can mix in real-time while guest participants are slightly delayed downstream, however guest participants are receiving high resolution audio and video (frame and sample-accurate)

Live Edit Mode (Lossy Stream)

• If desiring to quickly address areas in the DAW timeline without needing to wait the few seconds for synchronization, use Live Edit Mode
  • In Live Edit Mode, audio feed is switched to a maximum of stereo with lossy compression and transmission is switched to WebRTC streaming quality. Video is also compressed and streamed over WebRTC
  • This mode is not frame and sample-accurate, however, it is very quick and designed for short duration playbacks, spotting, identifying, etc.

Isolate Mode

• If desiring to address notes given in a session or make adjustments without participants receiving audio and video, use Isolate Mode
  • Isolate Mode terminates the audio and video transmission from the studio/host to the guest participants and essentially acts as a disconnect allowing the mixer/engineer to work solo without guests reviewing.
  • Isolate Mode can pair nicely with Focus Mode allowing the guests to continue their conversation while the mixer/engineer addresses notes privately without the distraction of the video conference.