Recording Best Practices

Get the most out of multi-camera sync

Camera Setup

✅ Start recording before engine start — the startup sound makes a perfect audio sync cue.
✅ Opt to use the same frame rate on all cameras (e.g., all at 60fps or all at 30fps)
✅ Start all cameras within a few seconds of each other — Synclay auto-pairs by recording timestamp
✅ Mount cameras securely to minimize vibration — shaky footage still syncs but looks worse in PiP
✅ Position cameras to capture different angles (front-facing + rear, or helmet + bumper)
❌ Do not mix wildly different resolutions — 4K + 720p will work but the quality mismatch is noticeable
❌ Do not cover or disable microphones — audio is used for frame-accurate sync

Audio Settings

✅ Leave audio recording enabled on ALL cameras — even if you only want audio from one angle
✅ Use the highest audio quality your camera supports
✅ Ensure microphones are not obstructed by cases or mounts
❌ Do not use external Bluetooth microphones — they add latency that breaks sync
❌ Do not use wind noise cancellation if it aggressively filters engine/exhaust sounds — the audio cross-correlation needs shared ambient sound

Note: Synclay's audio sync works by matching the shared ambient sound between cameras. Engine noise, tire squeal, and wind are ideal signals. Silent or heavily filtered audio will reduce sync accuracy.

Telemetry Recording

✅ Start telemetry recording before you start driving — this gives Synclay a first-movement signal for auto-sync
✅ Use GPS-equipped loggers (AIM or Alfano) for mini-map and track-aware widgets
✅ Export AIM data as CSV from Race Studio — one file per session
✅ Export Alfano data as ZIP from ADA PROFESSIONNEL — one archive per session
❌ Do not trim or edit telemetry files before importing — Synclay needs the complete recording

Note: See the Supported Telemetry Formats page for details on what data each device provides.

File Management

✅ Keep all files from one session in the same folder — Synclay watches a single folder
✅ Use original filenames from cameras (GoPro: GXnnnnnn.MP4, DJI: DJI_nnnn.MP4) — auto-grouping depends on naming patterns
✅ For GoPro HERO6+, keep chapter files together (GX010144.MP4, GX020144.MP4) — Synclay auto-concatenates them
❌ Do not rename video files — metadata-based grouping relies on original camera filenames
❌ Do not split or re-encode videos before importing — sync accuracy depends on original audio tracks

Common Mistakes

❌ Incorrect recording start: Starting recording after the engine is already running gives audio cross-correlation sync little to work with
❌ Covering the microphone: Cases and mounts that block the mic eliminate the audio signal needed for sync
❌ Different frame rates: Mixing 30fps and 60fps cameras causes visible stuttering in PiP playback
❌ Incorrect clock: If your camera's date/time is wrong, auto-grouping by timestamp will fail — set the clock before each session
❌ Trimming before import: Editing tools that re-encode audio will break cross-correlation sync