Tentacle Sync refreshes one of the most self-effacing — and most essential — accessories on a multicam shoot: the Sync E mkII, its new generation of pocket timecode generator. Still tiny, it gains a Bluetooth 5 link, revised power management and an even more stable clock. Enough to lock audio and picture without a second thought, in production and location recording alike.
A tiny box with a central job
The principle is unchanged: each unit generates and distributes a SMPTE timecode you feed into cameras and recorders, then aligns every source in the edit with a few clicks. The Sync E mkII weighs 30 grams at 38 x 50 x 15 mm: it tucks in anywhere and mounts via an integrated grip surface. A built-in microphone records a reference sound, handy as a sync safety net. It is the kind of tool that streamlines the whole post-production chain before it even starts.
What the mkII really brings
- Bluetooth 5: app pairing and control, with improved range and link stability for monitoring several units.
- Precision clock: a TCXO oscillator guarantees less than one frame of drift over 24 hours, from -30 to +85 °C — reliability you can use in the real world, from studio to outdoor shoot.
- Revised runtime: a built-in lithium-polymer battery for a working day, with optimised power management and USB-C charging.
- Rethought connectivity: a 3.5 mm mini-jack port (TC in/out) and USB-C, plus cable locks for right-angle connectors, an old weak spot finally addressed.
The unit works as a master clock or jam-syncs to an external timecode source, and covers every SMPTE frame rate, drop-frame included. Nothing spectacular on its own, but that is exactly what you want from a link meant to vanish the moment it does its job.
Who it is for
The Sync E mkII targets multicam shoots, drama, documentary, music video, ENG and any capture where audio from a separate recorder has to meet the picture without a fight in the edit. It is a close cousin of on-set production tools: barely visible, but able to save hours as soon as sources multiply. It ships in single or double sets depending on how many devices you need to sync.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Sync E mkII lock to an external clock?
Yes. It runs as a master clock to distribute its own timecode, or jam-syncs to an external source to align on a common reference. It handles every SMPTE frame rate, including drop-frame.
How accurate is the clock?
It relies on a TCXO oscillator rated for less than one frame of drift over 24 hours, from -30 to +85 °C. That is what lets you leave several units running all day without re-jamming them.
How does it connect to cameras and recorders?
Through a 3.5 mm mini-jack acting as timecode in and out, with locks for right-angle connectors. The USB-C port handles charging, and Bluetooth 5 drives control from the app.
Single or double set?
It depends on the number of sources: a single set syncs two devices via one unit, a double set covers more. The built-in microphone also provides a reference sound useful as a fallback.
My take
Timecode is insurance you pay for and hope never to use — except on a multicam, where you use it constantly. The Sync E mkII reinvents nothing, and that is the point: it firms up what needs firming, with a steadier clock, Bluetooth 5 that simplifies supervision and, at last, cable locks that fix a well-known frustration. At this size and weight, it stays the tool you forget in a pocket until the day it rescues a day’s rushes. The edit, for one, will be grateful.
