Mixing-How do I do it in FCP 7 or Soundtrack Pro?

F

Filmfan09

New member
Hey guys,
so my sound guy told me that in order for my sound to work out, I would need to mix my boom and lavs.
But he doesn't know how to do it.

It's all Q and A dialogue like an industrial.
theres also some music too.

any ideas?


Thanks.
 
Filmfan09 said:
Hey guys,
so my sound guy told me that in order for my sound to work out, I would need to mix my boom and lavs.
But he doesn't know how to do it.

It's all Q and A dialogue like an industrial.
theres also some music too.

any ideas?


Thanks.
Click to expand...

This is a good time to ask... after the fact... unless of course you having shot anything yet...

Don't know anything about FCP X, but FCP 7 and FC Express, one would import multiple audio tracks and video into the sequence, and then synchronize separately recorded audio tracks to the video.

Generally speaking the iconic 'clapper board' is used to mark the audio recording and the video, so this synchronization is done 'easily'.

If this 'marking' of the audio is not done, then one has to align the separate audio to the lip movement of the speakers. While doable... is a pain...
 
Filmfan09 said:
Hey guys,
so my sound guy told me that in order for my sound to work out, I would need to mix my boom and lavs.
But he doesn't know how to do it.

It's all Q and A dialogue like an industrial.
theres also some music too.

any ideas?


Thanks.
Click to expand...

Do you mean mix them to a single mono track, or do an actual audio mix? FCP really isn't the best place to do either. Just import the individual tracks to whatever your video editing software is, export the final cut of the picture with the audio (give at least 5 to 10 second handles on the audio) as an OMF and hand it off to a sound editor.
 
The OMF handle options are X-seconds amount of sound on either side of a clip, which will be included in the audio file(s) but not on the TL.. which can be changed by the audio post if desired, for fades, ect.
 
davefisk said:
Do you mean mix them to a single mono track, or do an actual audio mix? FCP really isn't the best place to do either. Just import the individual tracks to whatever your video editing software is, export the final cut of the picture with the audio (give at least 5 to 10 second handles on the audio) as an OMF and hand it off to a sound editor.
Click to expand...

+1 - having been a sound editor for over 20 years & now a video editor for the last 5 they are completely different disciplines that require different tools too. I really don't recommend using FCP7 for audio mixing.
 
Filmfan09 said:
Hey guys,
so my sound guy told me that in order for my sound to work out, I would need to mix my boom and lavs.
But he doesn't know how to do it.

It's all Q and I agree with the NOT FCP for mixing.

any ideas?

Complet


Thanks.
Click to expand...

My first reaction is fire the sound guy, but actually he was probably poorly explaining the mixing process. On the other hand if he doesn't know how to mix... fire him anyway. I mean what is the point of having a "sound man" who doesn't know how to mix? Even (sound) editors know how to mix (at least well enough to do what he's talking about). And I would add that one needs to be very wary of advice from those that don't know how to do it. It's not that it's nec. bad advice but it might be since it is coming from??? through the person giving it to you. It could be something he read on line posted by a ten year old. If your "sound guy" is just someone you got to hold the boom don't fire him, just don't listen to him.

You want to do some sound post (including the mixing). If you are the one and you are stuck doing it in a NLE (like FCP) then you are going to compromise what your mix could be, but it can be done.

My idea is hire a sound person (someone who knows how to edit AND mix).

That may sound OT but really it's a specialty, if you don't have the tools and or the experience to do a good job it only makes sense. You probably hire someone work on your car, maybe even your bicycle - so hiring a sound specialist should not be that big a stretch.
 
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