Multi-Video Sync
Synchronize up to 8 camera feeds using timestamp, audio fingerprint, or visual cues, and view them on a unified timeline.
Multi-Video Sync#
Criminal encounters are frequently captured by multiple cameras simultaneously, including body cameras from different officers, dashboard cameras, surveillance systems, and bystander cell phones. FrameCounsel's Multi-Video Sync module aligns these sources into a unified, synchronized view so you can see every angle of an event at once.
Synchronization Methods#
FrameCounsel offers three methods for aligning video sources, from fully automatic to manually assisted:
Timestamp Sync#
If your video files contain reliable embedded timestamps (common with body camera systems like Axon and Motorola), FrameCounsel can align them automatically using metadata. Import all videos into your case, then select Sync > Auto-Sync by Timestamp from the menu.
Clock Drift
Body camera clocks can drift by several seconds over the course of a shift. After automatic timestamp sync, verify alignment by checking a known shared event (such as a radio transmission or door slam) across all feeds. Adjust offsets manually if needed.
Audio Fingerprint Sync#
When multiple cameras capture the same ambient audio, FrameCounsel can align them by matching audio signatures. This method works even when cameras have no reliable timestamp metadata. The algorithm identifies shared audio events such as:
- Gunshots, sirens, or car horns
- Specific words or phrases spoken loudly enough for multiple microphones to capture
- Door slams, glass breaking, or other transient sounds
Select all videos to sync and choose Sync > Audio Fingerprint. Processing time depends on video length but typically completes in under 30 seconds for clips under 10 minutes.
Visual Cue Sync#
For cases where audio is unavailable or unreliable, you can manually sync videos using visual cues. Mark the same event (a muzzle flash, a hand gesture, a traffic light change) in two or more videos, and FrameCounsel calculates the time offset between them.
Press to place a sync marker on the current frame, then switch to another video and place a corresponding marker.
Unified Timeline#
Once synchronized, all video sources appear on a single unified timeline. The timeline shows:
- Color-coded tracks for each camera source
- Overlapping coverage periods highlighted
- Gaps where no camera was recording, shown in red
- Events from all sources merged chronologically
Gap Detection
Coverage gaps are often the most important finding in a multi-camera case. FrameCounsel automatically flags periods where body cameras were deactivated or buffering, and calculates the exact duration of each gap.
Multi-View Playback#
FrameCounsel supports simultaneous playback of up to 8 synchronized video streams. Available layouts include:
| Layout | Streams | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Side-by-side | 2 | Comparing two officers' perspectives |
| Quad view | 4 | Multi-officer encounters |
| Grid | 6-8 | Complex scenes with surveillance cameras |
| Picture-in-picture | 2 | Primary view with secondary reference |
All streams stay synchronized during playback, scrubbing, and frame-by-frame navigation. Press to toggle any stream to full screen while maintaining sync.
Performance Tips#
Multi-stream playback is GPU-intensive. For best performance:
- Use ProRes or H.264 codec footage when possible (H.265 requires more decoding power)
- Close unnecessary panels to maximize GPU resources for video decoding
- On M1 hardware, limit simultaneous playback to 4 streams
- Enable proxy playback in Settings > Performance for initial review, then switch to full resolution for detailed analysis
Next Steps#
Expand your investigation capabilities with OSINT Tools to supplement your video evidence with open source intelligence.