We recommend to work with one Tentacle for each recording device. It is the safest workflow. This way you sync your Tentacles once at the beginning of shooting, connect one Tentacle to each camera or audio recorder and leave it running the entire day without any hassle. Our Tentacles have identical calibrated clocks that keep a timecode signal in sync for up to 24h. Their batteries last even longer. That's why our Tentacles can output the correct timecode throughout an entire day. No re-synchronization needed!
However, if there is just one Tentacle available, you are still able to use it as long as you have at least one recording device with a built-in timecode generator such as a Zoom F8 or most Sound Devices recorders. Please use your Tentacle as a master and set the recorder to external timecode. Once the recorder is jammed to the Tentacle, you can connect the Tentacle to your Camera.
Note:
Some recorders are capable to keep an ingested timecode even when they are powered off and on again. Others lose the information and need to get re-jammed each time when you e.g. change batteries. It is advisable to run a test with your specific equipment to find out about it's timecode behavior and whether the timecode continues after it has been powered off. Please never set the timecode on the recorder to internal 24h mode. It might be misleading when you compare the Tentacle's timecode with the one on the recorder. They might look the same, but can still be different.
When working with a single Tentacle together with another device that has a timecode generator integrated, it requires more attention and monitoring of the timecode signal. Preferably each recording device gets the timecode signal from a Tentacle. This workflow is much easier and stress-free.