You need to set the output volume of your SYNC E / ORIGINAL timecode generator to AUTO, LINE or MIC to match the need level of your recording device.
Auto (recommended):
With AUTO enabled, the Tentacle switches automatically to MIC-level, when plugged into a device with plugin power (for 3.5mm mini jack inputs used on a Sony a7s or Lumix GH5 for example) or phantom power (for XLR inputs).
This helps preventing distortion on microphone inputs, in case you forgot to set the output level to MIC. Is AUTO enabled, the manual settings MIC and LINE are locked. This is the preferred setting for most devices.
Line:
Professional cameras with a dedicated TC-IN connector demand timecode with LINE level. Usually those are LEMO or BNC connectors. If the Tentacle device is set to Mic level instead of Auto or LINE level, the camera or audio recorder, which demand a Line level timecode will not recognize or sync to the external timecode of the Tentacle device.
Mic:
SYNC Es can also be used with cameras and recorders that don't have a dedicated timecode input. In such case you need to record the timecode signal as an audio signal to an audio track of that device. Some devices only accept microphone-level audio, so you have to adjust the output level through the setup app in order to prevent distortion of the timecode signal. These connectors are usually 3.5 mm Mic inputs or XLR inputs.