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Any way to export a sync clip’s original audio TC?
Hi –
I’m a dialogue editor, so please forgive me for not being terribly familiar with Avid systems.
I work on films and TV dramas that are recorded using a double system. The picture rushes are loaded into the Avid, then the sound is brought in by transferring BWAVs from a field recorder. Sound and picture are then synced using the normal AutoSync method.
I’m trying to work with picture assistants to streamline my workflow, and I’m looking for a way to reference ACTUAL sync sound for any particular shot in the sequence, even when that sound is not used in the cut. There are many reasons why I would like to do this, one being that when an alternate take is used (i.e. for performance reasons), I can use the original take as a reference to perfect the lip sync on the alternate. Keep in mind that a normal audio EDL will not help me with this, as it only shows the audio used in the cut.
So, ideally what I would like is an EDL that includes some extra field (like Aux TC) that refers to the original sync audio TC for each cut. I realise this may be asking too much. So, my second choice would be an EDL or ALE made from a bin of all the sync clips that would show me the TC relationship between each video clip and it’s sync audio.
I would have thought that this wouldn’t be too difficult, as all the information is there in the Avid. But it seems to be a major problem getting the information out. After discussing this with various assistants, the only method that has been suggested is that the assistant go through the entire sequence and “match frame” each shot, then create a video and audio EDL. This, of course, is not practical.
When a video clip and audio clip are AutoSynced, where does the audio TC go? The Avid still knows what it is, and will display it when you put the clip on the timeline, right? But looking at AutoSynced clips in the bin, I cannot see any reference to the audio TC and any ALE export will not show audio TC (in either the Sound TC field or any Aux TC field).
My understanding of the Sound TC field in ALEs is that it will only show a value if that value is manually entered during logging. Not very helpful.
I hope I’m making sense. Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated.
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3 Replies
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In a sync clip, both picture and sound keep their original TC. So any audio EDL based on source TC should work for you.
If you want to track the original TC from the BWAVs in a column of your sync clips, simply open a bin with your imported BWAV’s, highlight the Start TC column and CTRL-D or CMD-D will let you copy all the Start TC values into either SoundTC or AuxTC. If you then set your bins with sync clips to show AuxTC or SoundTC, there you go.
Does that help? -
Thanks a million, Job. I was hoping you would respond to my query – you seem to be this forum’s resident expert on this kind of thing.
I do believe your suggestion is just what I am looking for. I’ll have the picture assistant try it for me tomorrow, then I’ll get back to you.
Thanks again.
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Well, both myself and the picture assistant have been very busy these last few days, and haven’t had much time for experimentation. But here is what we have found so far:
With regards to the second item on my wish list (being able to display original audio TC for sync clips in a bin and being able to export that information), your suggestion seems to have worked, Job. The assistant copied the audio file start times into the Sound TC column and then displayed Sound TC for the sync clips. For some reason, on about 5% of the clips the numbers are way off (several hours), but for the most part it has worked a treat. Thanks Job!
I’m intrigued and confused by the first part of your response:
“In a sync clip, both picture and sound keep their original TC. So any audio EDL based on source TC should work for you.”
Are you saying that it really is possible to get the first item on my wish list (an EDL which indicates actual sync audio TC for each video clip, even when that audio is NOT used in the sequence)??
If so, we certainly have had no luck here trying to make that work. Any audio EDL that the assistant has generated for me (despite various attempts) always only shows me the TC for the audio tracks as they are laid in the sequence. Like a normal audio EDL. The magic EDL I desire would match each and every video cut with its original sound.
Am I making sense? I hope I am. Thanks!
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