How does NodeCam keep multiple cameras in sync?
A plain-language explanation of how NodeCam aligns separate phone recordings for editing.
Before you start
- Make sure you are signed in to NodeCam on the phone you are using.
- Open the correct recording session before changing settings or recording.
- If you are working with volunteers, confirm who is the session owner and who is contributing a camera angle.
Steps
- NodeCam first tries to sync phones directly over the local church WiFi.
- If local sync is not good enough, NodeCam can fall back to backend time sync, public time sources, or the device clock.
- During recording, NodeCam stores timing information with the video.
- After recording, cloud upload or export uses that timing information to help line up camera angles.
- Editors can use the exported synchronized timeline where available.
What to expect
- Best results happen when phones can communicate on the same local network.
- NodeCam is designed for sub-frame or near-frame accuracy when network conditions are good.
- Fallback modes are useful but may be less precise.
Common gotchas
- Local WiFi quality matters more than raw internet speed.
- Church guest WiFi may block phone-to-phone discovery.
- Starting all phones from the same session and keeping them connected improves final alignment.
If you still need help
Contact NodeCam support with your session name, device model, iOS version, and a screenshot of any warning or error message. Do not delete recordings until upload, export, or transfer has been verified.