HMC Audio Tracks Question

A

AGMedia

Carbonite Member
When I transcode AVCHD clips from the HMC to the DVCPROHD format using the MainConcept utility -- the DVCPROHD files I insert into Premiere Pro CS4 appear with two separate audio tracks -- the two channels from the camera. This is wonderful and helpful in terms of audio production.

On the other hand, when I insert AVCHD files from the HMC directly into Premiere Pro CS4 -- the files appear on the timeline with only one audio track -- what seems to be the two audio channels merged into one. This is not wonderful and not helpful in terms of audio production.

QUESTION: Is there a way to get the audio channels separated when importing AVCHD files into my editor?

I’m assuming that since the MainConcept transcoder is able to recognize and create separate channels -- that somehow the separate channels are maintained in the AVCHD data.

Camera settings? Premiere Pro CS4 (or general editor) settings? Or is this some nasty limitation with which I’m stuck if I try to directly edit AVCHD files?
My thanks!
 
The 2 separate channels of audio that have been recorded are still present in the native AVCHD footage despite what it looks like in the timeline. What you can do to separate them is either choose the "Breakout to Mono" command which will take that one stereo audio channel and create two separate mono audio channels in the project window, or you can duplicate the single stereo audio channel in the timeline and place the copy onto the second audio track and then apply the audio filter "fill left" on one of the audio channels and "fill right" on the other. What you should be left with is two separate mono audio channels with two different pieces of audio information. The reason you get a different result with transcoding the footage with the MainConcept app is probably due to the way the software was written.
 
AGMedia said:
QUESTION: Is there a way to get the audio channels separated when importing AVCHD files into my editor?
Click to expand...
Yes, there are two ways:
1. Go to Edit > Preferences > Audio and change Source Channel Mapping from Use File to Mono.

Or,
2. Select the clip in the Project panel before you place it on the Timeline and go to Clip > Audio Options > Source Channel Mappings and change Track Format from Stereo to Mono. (You can change all clips in one go)

The first way affects all audio upon import while the second way only affects individual clips and leave other clips unchanged. Pick the way that fits your workflow. Most mportant, whatever method you choose you will save tons of time compared to the Breakout to Mono/Fill Left/Fill Right method. :)

/Roger
 
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Thank you! I just did #1 and it's importing the AVCHD clips with the dual channels perfectly! Home run! Again, thank you!
 
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