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Home: Video University Forums: Mac Video:
Edited my first piece on FCP (the saga continues)

 
 


GmElliott
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May 31, 2006, 12:53 PM

Post #1 of 10 (1764 views)
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Edited my first piece on FCP (the saga continues) Can't Post
Edited my first piece on FCP last night. It was a very small straight forward project, mostly talking heads at a podium with only light clean up editing required with some audio sweetening.

I don't know if I did it the most efficient way but I dropped the entire 40 minute clip in it's entirety into the timeline. I used a combination of the razor tool and the ripple tool to cut out the long pauses between speakers, etc. The blade tool works well but isn't quite as dynamic as simply hitting "S" and splitting whereever the timeline playhead is (al'a Vegas) though I think there is an option to (cmd-V or ctrl-V) to work the same way but am not sure. Anyway the ripple tool was fantastic- I love it.

The audio is where I had my biggest problem. It some of the speakers were a little low and needed a boost. Overall the audio needed normalizing which I've come to find out FCP lacks. Thumbs down on that one FCP. Unsure Anyway I go and right-click on my audio and choose "Open in Editor" ...soon after I'm greeted with the Motion banner as it loads. Motion?! I wanted Soundtrack! Apparently I have to undo linking and select ONLY the audio to get it to load into Soundtrack. Fair enough, backe dout and was able to load the audio into Soundtrack for normalizing (at least that is what I hoped to do).

When I got into Soundtrack I noticed it didn't take just the clip of audio (from cut to cut) but the ENTIRE audio track on my 40 minute DV clip.
* Is there a way to import just a section of audio (from cut to cut) into Soundtrack?

When soundtrack loaded I noticed a bar that was "analyzing" my audio which took quite a while to finish. I tried to access some options during this time but they were greyed out (including the "normalize" option). I waited till it finished and normalized my audio. However then there was ANOTHER bar to the right of the audio timeline that was slowly growing as the Normalize command analyzed the audio for normalization. WTF?!

After the normalization was complete it didn't seem to change the audio any. I think that's because the audio already PEAKS during the times the crowd appluaded. I had these peaks in there because Soundtrack took the ENTIRE clip rather than just a section of it.
*Is there a way to selectively apply normalization to a clip?
*Was there a better tool to use to sweeten the audio (compression perhaps)

I tried experiementing with the compressor/limitor but the dialog was very cryptic and I didn't understand what changes I was making. How do I learn how to use these tools? I think the instruction guide and my Diana Weynard Apple Pro Training series book only glosses over it.

Overall I like the organization and speed of cutting up the timeline with the razor and ripple tools but have been less than impressed with FCP's ability to process audio. Unsure

Lastly a few "qirks" I noticed that I'm not sure are normal or not:
* Sometiems during playback (with show audio waveforms on) I get blank areas in the audio track with little x's like it isn't drawing the waveforms correctly. They usually pop back up after I stop the playhead. Is this normal?

* At some zom levels I can't "see" my edit selection. For example when I use the normal selection tool (A) and highlight an edit point to add a transition sometimes I dont' get the visual feedback that I'm selecting the edit point depending on my zoom level. It's doesn't have to do with beeing zoomed too far out because I'd not see it, then zoom out another notch and it would re-appear. Is this a known issue?








Glen Elliott
http://www.GmElliottVideo.com


GmElliott
Veteran

Jun 1, 2006, 6:37 PM

Post #2 of 10 (1714 views)
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Re: [GmElliott] Edited my first piece on FCP (the saga continues) [In reply to] Can't Post
This forum has has died. R.I.P








Glen Elliott
http://www.GmElliottVideo.com


bbalser
User

Jun 2, 2006, 11:56 AM

Post #3 of 10 (1658 views)
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Re: [GmElliott] Edited my first piece on FCP (the saga continues) [In reply to] Can't Post
Get the book, "Apple Pro Training Series, Final Cut Pro 5" and in the same series of books, SoundTrack Pro. What you're asking are super basic questions for FCP. And since you like to bash it so much, why not go back to Vegas? Why did you switch to FCP in the first place? Get those two books, learn the application. At least do the tutorials that come with the suite! These are just such basic questions, I don't know what to tell you.

You obviously need to learn more about audio engineering, which space doesn't allow here. You've not configured your FCP system properly if your external editor has Audio clips set to open in Motion. And opening in editor is NOT the proper workflow. You want the "Send To SoundTrack Pro Audio File" function.

Get those two books, take a class, learn the application. It's not counter intuitive and on a hobbiest level like Vegas. This puppy edits major motion pictures, majore TV shows, it's about as professional and proven as it gets.

Also, if you keep knocking it every post you place, no one will want to help you. Whey did you leave Vegas if you think FCP sucks?

I'm just being honest here. Just trying to understand why you insist on trashing one of the most professional NLE's on the market? Seriously, why are you useing FCP?


GmElliott
Veteran

Jun 2, 2006, 2:21 PM

Post #4 of 10 (1646 views)
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Re: [bbalser] Edited my first piece on FCP (the saga continues) [In reply to] Can't Post
In Reply To
Get the book, "Apple Pro Training Series, Final Cut Pro 5" and in the same series of books, SoundTrack Pro. What you're asking are super basic questions for FCP. And since you like to bash it so much, why not go back to Vegas? Why did you switch to FCP in the first place? Get those two books, learn the application. At least do the tutorials that come with the suite! These are just such basic questions, I don't know what to tell you.

You obviously need to learn more about audio engineering, which space doesn't allow here. You've not configured your FCP system properly if your external editor has Audio clips set to open in Motion. And opening in editor is NOT the proper workflow. You want the "Send To SoundTrack Pro Audio File" function.

Get those two books, take a class, learn the application. It's not counter intuitive and on a hobbiest level like Vegas. This puppy edits major motion pictures, majore TV shows, it's about as professional and proven as it gets.

Also, if you keep knocking it every post you place, no one will want to help you. Whey did you leave Vegas if you think FCP sucks?

I'm just being honest here. Just trying to understand why you insist on trashing one of the most professional NLE's on the market? Seriously, why are you useing FCP?

I have nothing to add. Unimpressed

I won't be coming back here again for advice. Thank you.








Glen Elliott
http://www.GmElliottVideo.com


Derek
Enthusiast


Jun 6, 2006, 10:22 AM

Post #5 of 10 (1570 views)
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Re: [GmElliott] Edited my first piece on FCP (the saga continues) [In reply to] Can't Post
The mac forum has never been very active here and with the loss of RatVega it will be even worse. He was pretty much the moderator on this board.

I have a lack of experience with soundtrack and don't do much audio sweeting.

Derek ~


LarsCA
User


Jun 6, 2006, 3:46 PM

Post #6 of 10 (1562 views)
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Re: [Derek] Edited my first piece on FCP (the saga continues) [In reply to] Can't Post
We lost RatVega? Why? What happened? I depend(ed) on him for all things Mac-related.



---
So many toys, so little time. And no money so it doesn't matter anyway...


Mark Foley
Veteran


Jun 7, 2006, 10:31 AM

Post #7 of 10 (1521 views)
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Re: [bbalser] Edited my first piece on FCP (the saga continues) [In reply to] Can't Post
Quote
You obviously need to learn more about audio engineering,
Why the condescending tone in your response?


_________________________
Mark



Bill Kinkle
Veteran


Jul 21, 2006, 10:22 PM

Post #8 of 10 (1280 views)
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Re: [LarsCA] Edited my first piece on FCP (the saga continues) [In reply to] Can't Post
In Reply To
We lost RatVega? Why? What happened?
$$$$$$$$$$$


Dave Williams
Veteran


Jul 23, 2006, 1:19 PM

Post #9 of 10 (1268 views)
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Re: [bbalser] Edited my first piece on FCP (the saga continues) [In reply to] Can't Post
That was rough, Ben. Sometimes silence speaks volumes.


Psynema
Veteran


Jul 24, 2006, 1:33 AM

Post #10 of 10 (1254 views)
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Re: [bbalser] Edited my first piece on FCP (the saga continues) [In reply to] Can't Post
In Reply To
Get the book, "Apple Pro Training Series, Final Cut Pro 5" and in the same series of books, SoundTrack Pro. What you're asking are super basic questions for FCP. And since you like to bash it so much, why not go back to Vegas? Why did you switch to FCP in the first place? Get those two books, learn the application. At least do the tutorials that come with the suite! These are just such basic questions, I don't know what to tell you.

You obviously need to learn more about audio engineering, which space doesn't allow here. You've not configured your FCP system properly if your external editor has Audio clips set to open in Motion. And opening in editor is NOT the proper workflow. You want the "Send To SoundTrack Pro Audio File" function.

Get those two books, take a class, learn the application. It's not counter intuitive and on a hobbiest level like Vegas. This puppy edits major motion pictures, majore TV shows, it's about as professional and proven as it gets.

Also, if you keep knocking it every post you place, no one will want to help you. Whey did you leave Vegas if you think FCP sucks?

I'm just being honest here. Just trying to understand why you insist on trashing one of the most professional NLE's on the market? Seriously, why are you useing FCP?
Ohh bigman.

Though I doubt your work reflects the authority of your tone.

____________________________________________________
When Dave Williams Glidecams, he doesn't step forward, he rolls the earth backwards.

(This post was edited by Psynema on Jul 27, 2006, 4:13 AM)