editing FCP 7 Audio Sync

sfoster

sfoster

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This software is a little out of date, but a friend moved on to premiere pro and gave me his old copy of FCP7.

My question is this.. a few scenes have an extra camera and so need the audio synced .. I have put that in the timeline and sync them.. but there doesn't seem to be an easy way to after syncing in a timeline to then select clips from that footage for editing ..

do i have to export it as a video and then re-import it ? that seems awfully dumb, so I am assume there must be a more convenient workflow
 
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Unless you have PluralEyes or something similar there really isn't a shortcut; you'll have to do it manually. I hope that you have all of the audio/video clips properly labeled and organized. Metadata can be a huge help as well.

You just look for the same clip from the second camera (CamB_Sc1_Tk 2a-5c lines up with CamA_Sc1_Tk-2a). I have to do this manually all of the time when I'm doing the dialog edit and there are multiple tracks which, of course, were not properly organized, labeled or synced during the initial import and editing process.

Of course, during a complete DX edit I have to then line up all of the audio from the other takes as well; LOTS of fun when there were 10 or 15 or more takes and I have three lavs, a boomed mic and two camera audio tracks. It's a grueling, boring process that, in the end, can be quite rewarding.
 
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Ugh that sounds like hell with all those audio tracks, but I guess it's your bread and butter..

I think my current issue is more of a software thing, i should probably try asking on a FCP forum or something. I have a timeline where I was able to sync up the audio via a clap.. it's just AFTER the sync there is no easy way to edit it like a regular clip. regular clip i can hit i and o where i want it to start and stop, then drag and drop that somewhere.. but a timeline clip, there doesn't seem an easy way to just take a chunk out of it to mix in with other stuff. I would have to export the video first and then import it again in order for it to be treated like a normal clip. it's a pita. fortunately only three dialogue scenes left to edit

I'm not enjoying the editing, it feels somewhat tedious and more like work than writing or directing. I'm satisfied with my results but I wouldn't want to be an editor for a living. Definitely going to look into getting an editor for my 20 minute crime thriller, I had a friend that expressed interest in it last year. The only problem is will they be as good as me?
 
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Did you slate all of your shots? If not, take the time to rename all of your clips so the audio and the video have identifying information under each clip, then you have to eyeball it (or get pluralize -- or find someone with it willing to process your clips). If you did slate, then match the spikes in the audio waveform to the frame of the video where the slate claps (or flashes on them new fangled iPad ones).
 
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No export/import needed.

- After you sync the new audio, select the video & new audio and click MODIFY>LINK. Now, they act like one clip.

- You can also take these newly linked clips and drag&drop them into a bin (thus becoming a 'merged' clip) and you can pull it out for later cuts.

Thomas.
 
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_Rok_ said:
No export/import needed.

- After you sync the new audio, select the video & new audio and click MODIFY>LINK. Now, they act like one clip.

- You can also take these newly linked clips and drag&drop them into a bin (thus becoming a 'merged' clip) and you can pull it out for later cuts.

Thomas.
Click to expand...

Thank you!! that did the trick. And i've been procrastinating long enough tonight that I still needed to make use of this haha

I knew there had to be a better way
 
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