Soundtrack Pro alternatives!!???

[tbob]

<rant>
In terms of workflow, Soundtrack Pro WOULD be an ideal piece of software. However, its endless bugs and constant crashing make it a complete piece of something else.

Don't get me wrong, I truly love that it has Ambient noise sampling, Noise Reduction, and even a Conform function to sync old edits to updated projects... but I've been hard pressed to get any of these things to work consistently and reliably, not to mention the intermittent crashing I've been dealing with. Frankly, for any professional that works on a deadline, Soundtrack Pro is completely unacceptable.
</rant>

All I really want to do is some simple noise reduction, make audio edits *between* frames, and compress and limit my final mix. I used to work in a big cushy studio where we could afford things like Pro Tools and its $1000 counterpart, DV Toolkit... I am now, however, on my own dime. Can anyone make any recommendations for an OSX-friendly multi-track audio editor that can import an audio timeline from FCP and can mix effectively?

Thanks in advance!

[kgimedia]

I would be interested in the specs on the machine you are using STP on. I also used to work in big studio and was a pro tools all the way guy. For simple audio these days I just use FCP. That being said I use STP all the time now and have very few issues with it. I own Logic Pro, Live, and several other programs that came with computer audio gear I bought and I prefer STP to all of them. I even edited and recorded an audio only project recently and use STP because it played nicely with my Presonus Firestudio and Logic would not.

[tbob]

Wow... I'm totally surprised by your response. I would LOVE it if I could get STP to work for me, but I just don't know what else to try. When I try to conform a project to an updated version from FCP, the audio just gets all out of sync, and although there are some options for each clip in the conform window, I just can't seem to get it in sync. That's the biggest thing.

Anyway, here are my specs:

Mac Pro 8-core 2.8GHz Xeon
16 GB DDR2
ATI RADEON HD2600
NVIDIA GeForce 8800GT
1TB software Raid 0

Should be plenty, right?

[Alex H.]

What version of FCS are you using?

FWIW, I use ProTools LE with the DVToolKit and Digi002 rack interface. A fraction of the cost of ProToolsHD and still does just what I need it to.

[timbook2]

yes plenty and more.....I removed STP from my applications folder and use Logic Pro.
I am used to it and it does the job as good for me. I dont trust these "export" functions at all ! the applications are all by different developers and @ shmapple the right hand often doesnt know what the left is doing....they bought all these little companies and they are not yet completely fused into the so called " pro" package.

But I would also love a functioning export to logic function from FCP !

In the meantime may I ask stoopid questions like: are your files 48KHz and STP maybe in 44.1 and stuff like this? :Drogar-Smoke(DBG):

[NoahK]

I find STP to be frustrating at times as well. But there's not a lot out else there for cheap. ProTools is still the standard. Other apps worth looking at include Audacity and Amadeus.

Noah

[MitchLewis]

I use MOTU Digital Performer, but it's expensive. Great effects though.

Adobe Sound Booth has a great Noise Reduction effect. But that's all I use it for. I've never tried editing in it. But it might be an option for you. It came with the Creative Suite 3 Production Premium.

[kgimedia]

With the exception of the "NVIDIA GeForce 8800GT" I have the exact same setup. I have also used on G4 and first gen MacBook with no major issues. I love being able to bounce back and forth from FCP to STP and then to Motion and back to STP because I added a light streak and need a swoosh. If I was recording audio and doing lots of Foley work I might think about Logic or Pro Tools, but for me STP does it. I will double check my settings to see what I do, but I don't even think about it anymore because it just works.

The last time I had any issues were when I had FCP, Motion, Color and STP all open each with multiple projects and timelines. STP kept closing when I closed some apps it stopped crashing, but never loss of sych.

[tbob]

kgimedia: I get sync issues with the conform process, but I also get serious play issues, where sound clips that I hear during timeline playback don't come through in the Export (and yes, I've tried Compressor Export - problem persists). Have you never experienced any of these symptoms? Are you using some kind of breakout audio interface, or are you just using the Mac Pro's internal audio? I'm using internal audio.

C2V: FCS 2, STP 2.0.2, FCP 6.0.5

timbook2: how are you currently getting your timeline into Logic? I'd be interested in that workflow. And yes, project and files are all 48k. Interestingly, project audio only supports up to 16-bit, but my audio files from the HVX are all 32-bit. I wonder if that's the problem - and how I can convert my audio files to 16bit on import.

NoahK: Thanks for the backup. I looked into Amadeus and Audacity, but it looks like it would take a lot of work to get my timeline imported properly - files properly referenced, and in proper timing. --no OMF or AAF import support.

General: Anyone know if there's a new version of FCS coming any time soon? I'm hoping a lot of these issues get resolved and improved.

[adkimery]

No one knows anything for sure but the general assumption is that Apple will announce (not release) FCS3 to correspond w/NAB this year. Typically the ship date is a month or so after the announcement and then another month or so until the first, big update to fix all the bugs in the new version.


-A

[cheezweezl]

pro tools!!! soooooooo much better.

[kgimedia]

kgimedia: I get sync issues with the conform process, but I also get serious play issues, where sound clips that I hear during timeline playback don't come through in the Export (and yes, I've tried Compressor Export - problem persists). Have you never experienced any of these symptoms? Are you using some kind of breakout audio interface, or are you just using the Mac Pro's internal audio? I'm using internal audio.

C2V: FCS 2, STP 2.0.2, FCP 6.0.5



All my big talk and I just realized I have never used the "Conform Option". I send from FCP then always Export straight outta STP as .aiff . I most often leave the original VO track with the original video in FCP and use it a scratch track in STP. I then export with out scratch track and have my audio (music, SFX) as a separate 5.1 track in FCP. I started doing this originally because I track the full rez files in iTunes playlists. This gives me an insta mix for various random projects that don't require or pay for a complete new mix. I forgot I don't do it the really cool way that does not work for you. BTW I go back and forth between Presonus FireStudio and built-in audio.