Audio/Video Syncing

A

ayifilms

Member
Hello!

I'm going to be editing a 23.97fps project in which the audio was recorded straight into protools, rather than on tape. The sound mixer and I are having some different ideas regarding what we should do in order to sync.

I'm thinking this -- that he doesn't need to sync the files into the AVID at all, as the files that I have DO have recorded sound in them, just not the great quality ones, in which he can sync later in protools and export when his final mix is done. All I'd have to do is give him an edl right? And that should work?

He wants me to export every video file as a quicktime for him to sync the audio up in protools and then give back to me... but then I don't see how the timecodes are going to match up for me to do my online edit if I have his quicktime video files all over my timeline?

Anybody know the intelligent method to doing this? haha

Thanks so much in advance!!!

Ana
 
I can't address the saituation involving real timecode-enabled hardware and sound-files, if that's what you have. So I'll assume, recording straight into ProTools, that you don't have everything time-code synced.

IMHO, it'll save you a HUGE amount of effort to have everything synced in Avid before you begin editing. Lock each video clip to its associated audio whle it's whole, rateher than trying to sync up every small fraction of the final edited shot later. If you slated, you only get the advantage of the slate when syncing the whole clip; after editing, no slate! The EDL will only work if you have some reference to the sound files you're going to use in the end; and if they're not what you're using in Avid, and they weren't timecode-synced to the video while recording, Avid has no way of relating to them.

Your mixer is suggesting doing something similar, which may be fine... s/he just wants to sync "good" audio and video in ProTools BEFORE the edit, so that the good sound will be attached to your video as you edit, and Avid will be dealing with the good sound. You'll have files with the good sound to edit; the mixer will have a reference that connects the video and audio files. Makes sense to me.
 
Thanks so much, this makes perfect sense!

The only thing that still leaves me a little confused is that I'm going to be exporting each MXF as a quicktime for him to sync the audio and video, and then he's going to give me back the quicktime with everything synced -- this quicktime file isn't going to have proper timecode anymore though, so I don't understand how I'm going to be able to do my online edit later? Any ideas or am I missing something?

It seems like he's going to give me the quicktime in which I'll have to detach the audio from and sync it manually with my old clips? And yes you're right -- the audio isn't time-code synced with the video.

Man this is a headache

Thanks so much!
 
Well, I think the idea HE'S thinking of is that the Quicktime files will be full quality, and you'll generate your offline video from those... at least, that makes the most sense to me, but I'm not the best person to ask about offline workflow.

However, I think the best thing is for you to sit down with the mixer and hash all this out... or at least in the future, find a mixer you're comfortable talking to and work well with. Don't stop the discussion until everyone's satisfied of how things will work. He may have some ideas that will make your task easier, and vice-versa... and both your efforts are essential to the final product.
 
It will much easier to take the audio from the Pro Tools and sync in the Avid. When turning over picture to sound, give him OMF with all audio and he/she is good to go. If the audio files in the Pro Tools have the same source (Tape Name) and timecode you are using in the Avid, then giving an EDL would work as well. The worst scenario if giving him QT, syncing then bringing everything back...

Michael
 
Thanks so much to both of you! We finally just got together and figured it out.

I gave him the quicktime files. He synced it up on protools and gave me the files back. I took only the audio from them and made a new sequence with MY video and HIS audio and then went to "auto sync" and the video kept the same timecode so that I can still do my online!!!

WOO.
 
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