Saramonic recently announced TC-NEO, a wireless timecode generator designed for use in multi-camera and multi-recorder workflows.
The system is designed to support frame-accurate synchronization across various devices, minimizing setup time, physical footprint, cabling needs, and eliminating the hassle of manual syncing in post.
Up until now, Tentacle Sync and Deity have been the only ‘affordable’ wireless timecode devices available. Yes, there is the Atomos UltraSync BLUE, but that is only compatible with a handful of devices, and it only utilizes Bluetooth. It is good to finally see more affordable timecode solutions coming to market.
Key features
- High-precision with ±0.05 ppm accuracy keeps drift under 1 frame over 48 hours
- Generates SMPTE-12M LTC or Audio TC, with 10+ optional cables to fit a wide range of setups
- Bluetooth connects to the Saramonic System App for syncing up to 48 devices; also supports local sync between units or wired with external timecode sources
- 1.1″ high-resolution OLED display offers clear, real-time monitoring with easy dial-based controls
- Industry-first 3-unit charging kit for seamless multi-camera sync, with one-press clock mode activation
- 22 hours of battery life with pass-through charging for all-day operation
Back at NAB 2025 in Las Vegas, Saramonic was showing a prototype of its NEO timecode sync device. Above, you can see my interview with them from the show.
The TC-NEO will work with Saramonic’s K9 wireless microphone system, as well as any other camera, audio device, etc. that can output or receive timecode. As NEO has the ability to take a timecode signal or output one, you can use it with other timecode devices such as those from Tentacle Sync and Deity.
The TC-NEO complete kit ships as a three-unit charging kit, with each unit including a 1.1-inch OLED display and supporting up to 22 hours of operation on a single charge. The units can also be powered via USB-C passthrough, which allows for continuous use on extended shooting days.
TCXO oscillator
Unlike some existing timecode generators, TC-NEO is built around a high-precision TCXO oscillator, offering a claimed drift of less than one frame over 48 hours.
A TCXO (Temperature Compensated Crystal Oscillator) is a crystal oscillator that is designed to maintain high frequency stability over a defined temperature range. A TCXO consists of a quartz crystal resonator, which oscillates at a specific frequency when an electric field is applied.
It supports SMPTE-12M LTC/ATC timecode and covers a wide range of frame rates commonly used in production, including 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 50, and 60 fps.
Bluetooth or 2.4GHz Wireless
Timecode can be synchronized via Bluetooth or 2.4GHz wireless, either directly between units or through the Saramonic System App, which supports up to 48 devices.
The TC-NEO is fully integrated with the Saramonic K9 UHF wireless microphone system, providing an optimized solution for location sound that simplifies both synchronized audio capture and post-production editing workflows.
The system also supports Auto Jam Mode, allowing it to receive timecode from other brands’ generators, making it easy to integrate into existing professional setups. For applications that require even greater precision or hardware-specific compatibility, TC-NEO offers broad device compatibility with Line Input (L-IN), Line Output (L-OUT), and Audio Output (A-OUT) via 3.5mm and USB-C. These allow integration with other types of equipment from mirrorless cameras to audio interfaces and recorders.
The TC-NEO is compatible with nearly all types of recording or video devices, including cameras, camcorders, audio recorders, smart slate boards, and more. As long as the device has a timecode input port or supports audio input, timecode synchronization can be achieved.
Devices With Timecode Input
For professional devices equipped with timecode input (such as certain cameras and audio recorders), the TC-NEO can be directly connected to the external device using the included or optional timecode cables.
• If the TC-NEO needs to sync with an external device’s timecode signal, set the TC-NEO’s timecode mode to “Auto Jam” or “Jam Once and Lock,” and set the out type setting to “L-IN.”
• If the TC-NEO needs to output its timecode signal to other external devices, set the TC-NEO’s timecode mode to “Master Run” and set the out type setting to “L-OUT”. This will allow the TC-NEO to output the timecode signal to the external device, ensuring precise synchronization.
Devices That Only Support Audio Input
For devices that lack a dedicated timecode input (such as DSLR cameras or small audio recorders), you can use the included or optional compatible timecode cable to output the timecode as an audio signal through the TC-NEO in “A-OUT” mode. The timecode will be embedded in the audio track for recording. This method is suitable for post-production editing, where the timecode can be extracted from the audio track to ensure audio-video synchronization. Be sure the audio input type is properly configured to avoid distortion or recording failure due to excessive signal levels.
It is recommended to confirm that the frame rate of TC-NEO matches the recording device before connecting to avoid synchronization issues.
When TC-NEO is in “A-OUT” mode, it is advisable to set the camera or recorder’s input level to “MIC” to ensure the timecode audio signal is compatible with the input device, preventing signal distortion or recording failure.
What do you get?
In the Saramonic TC-NEO Kit, you get the following:
- Timecode Generator x 3
- Charging Case x 1
- SR-TRS-C01 Locking 3.5 mm to 3.5 mm Audio Cable x 1
- SR-TRS-C06 Locking 3.5 mm to BNC Cable x 1
- SR-TRS-C03 Locking 3.5 mm to Right-Angle 5-Pin Cable x 1
- SR-USB-C01 USB-C to USB-C Charging Cable x 1
- USB-C to USB-A Adapter x 1
- Female Hook-N-Loop x 6
- Rotary 1/4″-20 Thread Cold Shoe x 3
- Thumb Screw 1/4″-20 Thread Cold Shoe x 3
- QR Code Card for Instructions x 1
- QR Code Card for APP Installation x 1
- Semi-Transparent Protective Case (Orange, Blue, and Yellow) x 3
- Carry case
Size & Weight
At just 1.49 oz / 42.5g per unit, the TC-NEO is compact enough for on-camera use or discreet rigging.
As a comparison, the Tentacle Sync E mkII weighs 1.1 oz / 30 g, and the Deity Microphones TC-1 tips the scales at 1.4 oz / 41g.
Build Quality
The TC-NEO is solidly constructed and they come with a semi-transparent protective case.
The buttons and dial are tactile and responsive.
Operating Time & Charging Case
The TC-NEO devices feature a built-in 1150 mAh lithium polymer battery. The battery life is claimed to be 22 hours, which will be more than enough for most users.
As a comparison, the Tentacle Sync E mkII Timecode Generator with Bluetooth 5.0 (Single Set) has a battery life of up to 35 hours, and the Deity Microphones TC-1 Wireless Timecode Generator Box has a battery life of 28 hours.
What is nice is that the USB-C port supports charging while in use. This is handy as a lot of camera batteries these days tend to have USB-C outputs.
If you buy NEO in a three-kit version, it comes with a nice rechargeable case, which is something I personally haven’t seen before. The case gives you a convenient way to store and charge the TC-NEOS.
The charging case weighs in at 265g / 9.34oz.
When the charging case is not connected to power (not in charging mode), opening the case or placing the TC-NEO into it for charging, this indicator will display the case’s current battery level.
A single TC-NEO takes 2 hours to charge, and the TC-NEO Kit charging case takes 4.33 hours to charge all three devices.
Mounting
The TC-NEO can be connected to a camera cold shoe, tripod, or other recording devices using the included rotary 1/4″-20 thread cold shoe or thumb screw 1/4″-20 thread cold shoe. You can also use the included Female Hook-N-Loop fasteners.
I tried these out and they all worked well.
It is good that Saramonic includes a variety of different mounting solutions in the kit. If you don’t want to use any of the included solutions, some Velcro always does the trick.
Built-in reference microphone
The TX-NEO units feature a built-in reference microphone. This records a sync or reference audio track for post-production.
Separate from the timecode signal, when both are recorded, timecode is written to one channel (e.g., left), while reference or ambient audio is recorded to the other channel. This is handy when utilizing ATC (Audio Timecode).
USB-C Timecode
I couldn’t test this, but the TC-NEO supports standard Jam Sync via optional USB-C timecode cables. This means it is compatible with a Sony camera that has a Multi-Port input.
Control
Each device includes a pyramid-texture control dial for quick frame rate and mode adjustments, and color-coded silicone sleeves are included for fast unit identification during shoots.
There is a very clear and concise screen that gives you detailed information and allows you to make changes. You can also control NEO through an app.
Having a built-in screen is helpful for checking sync and the status of the device. With the competing Tentacle Sync E mkII, you need to use an app to see a lot of the information and make changes.
In saying that, you can make all of the changes you need to directly in the Tentacle app, which is something you can’t do in the Saramonic System App.
Making changes isn’t too difficult once you get used to the OS, but I did find the screen lock/unlock display very hard to see. At least in my opinion, it would have been better to have a lock symbol when it’s locked and no symbol at all when it isn’t.
As the screen locks automatically after a preset period of time, however, you can change this in the settings. If you don’t read the manual carefully, it can be very confusing trying to work out how to turn the unit off or enter the menu.
While the screen and control system are handy to have, I found the setup time to be a lot slower than the competing Tentacle Sync E mkII. What I like about the Tentacle Sync E mkII is that it is super easy and quick to set up and use. Timecode shouldn’t be overly complicated or hard to set up and use. The easier a company can make it, the better.
Timecode Modes
Based on your needs, you can rotate or press the knob to select the TC Mode, including Master Run, Auto Jam, Jam Once, and Lock.
Master Run: In this mode, TC-NEO can wirelessly output timecode to other Saramonic devices that support timecode. The devices that accept the timecode signal must be set to Auto Jam mode or Jam Once and Lock mode. The TC-NEO and other devices should be assigned to the same channel or group. Additionally, synchronization can also be achieved via included or optional compatible cables when connecting to external devices.
Auto Jam: In this mode, TC-NEO waits for an external timecode signal input to synchronize. The default setting of TC-NEO is Master Run mode.
Jam Once and Lock: In this mode, TC-NEO automatically synchronizes the timecode once and then locks it; it will not sync again until the mode is switched.
Timecode Out Settings
Line Input (L-IN): Accepts an external timecode signal via a timecode cable. Suitable for scenarios where TC-NEO needs to synchronize with an external timecode source.
Line Output (L-OUT): Outputs the timecode signal generated by TC-NEO via a timecode cable to other devices. Suitable for situations where TC-NEO serves as the master timecode device, transmitting timecode signals to other equipment.
Audio Output (A-OUT): Outputs Mic level timecode to external devices, recording it as a reference audio signal on an audio track to facilitate post-production synchronization and alignment. Ideal for cameras that do not have a dedicated timecode input but support audio input.
Timecode Settings
When TC-NEO is set to Master Run mode, there are three timecode setting options:
SYNC: Transmits timecode signals to other devices for synchronization.
External: Detects and accepts external timecode signals via the 3.5 mm port for synchronization.
Reset: Starts timecode from 00:00:00:00 or any user-defined starting timecode.
Channel Settings
TC-NEO supports channel management, allowing devices to be assigned to channels A-H. Once TC-NEO devices are set to the same channel, timecode synchronization within the channel can be achieved through wireless synchronization technology. The default channel is Channel A. If TC-NEO needs to synchronize timecode with other Saramonic devices that support timecode, the other devices must also be set to the same channel or group to enable synchronization. Channels and groups have the same meaning.
Bluetooth Settings
Turn On/Off: After turning on Bluetooth, you can use the Saramonic System app for wireless control, device management, and firmware upgrades. Turning off Bluetooth reduces power consumption but disables remote control via the app.
Reset: This function forgets the current Bluetooth pairing information and restores Bluetooth to its default setting. It is applicable to troubleshooting Bluetooth connection issues or when re-pairing is required. After resetting, the screen will display a “Succeeded” message.
How do you use the Saramonic System App to set up Wireless Sync?
① Launch the Saramonic System app on your mobile device, add all TC-NEO devices to the device list, and click “Confirm.”
② Click “Sync All” to synchronize the timecode of all TC-NEO devices with the master timecode or user-defined timecode.
③ Tap the “SYNC” button on each TC-NEO device individually to synchronize it with the master timecode or user-defined timecode.
Setting it up to work with the Saramonic K9
In the app, you can see the Saramanic K9 TX units, as well as the TX-NEO, as long as they have all been added and set up. What puzzles me is that the app doesn’t show all the units having the same exact timecode, nor does it actually tell you if everything is synced correctly.
With the Tentacle Sync app, you get a clearly defined view that tells you if the devices need to be synced, are syncing, and are synced correctly. It also shows all the timecodes to be exactly frame accurate.
Wireless Sync without the app
TC-NEO can wirelessly synchronize with other TC-NEO devices or Saramonic devices with timecode functionality without using the app.
Wireless Sync Steps for the Devices:
① Set one TC-NEO device to Master Run mode, and set the other TC-NEO devices or other Saramonic devices with timecode function to Auto Jam mode or Jam Once and Lock mode.
② Before wirelessly synchronizing the TC-NEO timecode, ensure all devices are set to the same channel/group (e.g., Channel / Group A).
③ Select and confirm the “SYNC” option on the TC-NEO in Master Run mode. Devices accepting the timecode signal will synchronize with the master device’s current timecode within a few seconds.
④ Select and confirm the timecode information on the TC-NEO in Master Run mode. You can customize the start timecode, click “SET,” and then click “SYNC.” Devices accepting this timecode signal will start from the user-defined start timecode or 00:00:00:00.
Wired Sync via a Timecode Cable
TC-NEO supports timecode synchronization with external devices via the included or optional compatible timecode cables.
Operation steps for TC-NEO in Auto Jam mode or Jam Once and Lock mode:
① Set the TC-NEO timecode mode to “Auto Jam” or “Jam Once and Lock”.
② Set the output type setting to “L-IN”.
③ Connect the external device via a compatible timecode cable. Once connected, the TC-NEO will automatically detect the external device’s timecode signal and synchronize with it.
I tried doing this by hooking up a Tentacle Sync E mkII directly to a TC-NEO and jamming the timecode. This worked by setting the TC-NEO in Auto Jam and then changing the output setting to L-IN. (Please ignore the 2-frame discrepancy; this is just a display issue when taking a photo.)
To sync up multiple TC NEO units, I had to do the same steps again for each individual unit, as there doesn’t seem to be any way of doing this in the app.
Operation steps for TC-NEO in Master Run mode:
① Set the TC-NEO timecode mode to “Master Run”.
② Set the output type setting to either “L-OUT” or “A-OUT” based on the connected device type.
③ Use the compatible timecode cable to connect the external device. Once connected, the TC-NEO will automatically output the current timecode signal to the external device.
Syncing the Saramonic K9 TX units with the TC-NEO
To sync up the Saramonic K9 TX units with the TC-NEO, I found that it was best to just directly attach them together using the included locking 3.5mm to 3.5mm Audio Cable. You can also use the app to do this.
You can input an external timecode signal into the K9 TX.
Once you have jammed it, you can have matching timecode on all of your devices. If you are working in a Saramonic ecosystem, this is obviously very handy (please ignore the 1 frame discrepancy, this is just because I am photographing the screens).
Things you need to be aware of
Unlike most timecode devices, when you turn the TC-NEO off and then back on again, the timecode automatically reverts to 00.00.00.00. This is strange because it doesn’t happen with the Saramonic K9. If you turn that off and then back on, it still keeps the same timecode.
Another issue is that if you have all three TC-NEO units on at the same time, and you go to physically connect one of them to an external timecode device, it won’t let you choose L-IN. I found that the only way to get the option back was to turn off the other two devices.
Another quirk is that the Saramonic System app sometimes shows the incorrect timecode. In the picture above, the app is showing that the TC-NEO devices are synced; however, on the devices themselves, that is not the case. Saramonic really needs to improve the app to make this a lot clearer.
Real World Thoughts
The Saramonic TC-NEO generally works well once it is set up and configured correctly. I tried it with lots of different cameras, the Saramonic K9 Wireless audio system, and with other competing timecode systems. Despite the app showing timecode discrepancies, everything was fine once I brought the material into an NLE.
It will work with other timecode systems from say Deity and Tentacle Sync, but I personally don’t like to mix and match timecode devices as it can get confusing and messy.
Combining the Saramonic K9 wireless audio system and the TC-NEO is very handy, but it’s not as easy to set up as, say, the Tentacle Sync E mkII and Track-E.
Timecode devices need to be easy to use and bulletproof. Sometimes, the most simplistic systems are the best because there isn’t much that can go wrong. Once you start adding too many menus and options, you can add a layer of confusion that could ultimately end up causing a problem.
The Saramonic System App needs some work, and it needs to more clearly indicate that all devices are synced and then show frame-accurate synchronization with all of the devices. Without this, it leads to confusion for users.
It would be good if Saramonic talked to some of the camera companies, especially those that can receive timecode via Bluetooth, to implement compatibility.
As I mentioned at the start of the review, it is good to see another player enter the ‘affordable’ timecode market, and the Saramonic TC-NEO is a solid offering that is competitively priced given its feature set.
The TC-NEO complete kit offers good value for money, given all of the included accessories and the fact that it comes with a charging case.
Pricing & Availability
The Saramonic TC-NEO is expected to be available globally on July 3rd, 2025, with the base unit priced at $149 USD and the complete kit at $499 USD.
As a comparison, a Tentacle Sync E mkII Timecode Generator with Bluetooth 5.0 (Single Set) is $249 USD, and the Deity Microphones TC-1 Wireless Timecode Generator Box (Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz) is $199 USD.
Optional Accessories
Saramonic also has a wide array of cables, so you can use NEO with a wide array of products. Here is what is available:
- SONY FX3/30-TCH Timecode Holder / Bracket
- SR-TRS-C04 Locking 3.5 mm to 5-Pin LEMO Cable (Straight)
- SR-TRS-C05 Locking 3.5 mm to 5-Pin LEMO Cable (Bent Angle)
- SR-TRS-C06 Locking 3.5 mm to BNC Cable
- SR-TRS-C07 Locking 3.5 mm to 4-Pin Cable (Straight)
- SR-TRS-C08 Locking 3.5 mm to 9-Pin Cable
- SR-TRS-C09 Locking 3.5 mm to 9-Pin Cable (Straight, for Canon Cameras)
- SR-TRS-C10 Locking 3.5 mm to Sony Multi-Port Cable