4 channel mono export, 16 bit

[Ilene Litvak]

I am new to FCP X but a long time FCP7 editor. I found my way through creating 4 roles so I can export a 4 track Pro res 422 Master file for my promo. My share window looks like your example with the tracks designated as mono. When my partner QC’d the export in Quick Time Pro 7, the audio sounds mixed although the inspector shows 4 discreet channels. I am baffled. Should I have created 4 extra audio tracks or is that only for XD Cam?
Many thanks
Ilene

[Andy Mees]

If I remember correctly, Quicktime Player 7 does not recognise discreet audio channels … it sees only stereo pairs … when it encounters a discreet audio channel, the player will simply it as a centre panned stereo pair, hence it all sounds mixed.

The steps I outlined above are specifically for dealing with Sony’s XDCAM format which requires that the exported audio is using discreet audio channels, not stereo pairs.

For your workflow though, if you need to create your export so that an average Quicktime based player easily and properly reproduces your discreet audio channel separation, then you need to target the export using stereo pairs, and use the appropriate pan controls in the timeline to achieve the required track separation …

I’m really not using FCPX enough to be offering definitive advice, but assuming you’ve set your roles up with something like a “Channel 1” and “Channel 2” role, or something like that … if you use the Timeline Index to select all clips with the “Channel 1” role, then you can use the Inspector window to adjust all those clips at once … set the Pan Mode to Stereo Left/Right, and the Pan Amount slider all the way to the left (-100) … do the same for the “Channel 2” role except set the Pan Amount slider all the way to the right (100) etc etc.

Now, when you are in your Master File export settings, set it up using 2 stereo output pairs, set both the Channel 1 and Channel 2 roles to the first Stereo output, and the Channel 3 and Channel 4 roles to the second Stereo output

Something like that should work for your setup.

But check with a hardened FCPX user first … there may be a much more obvious way.

[Jeremy Garchow]

[Ilene Litvak] “When my partner QC’d the export in Quick Time Pro 7, the audio sounds mixed although the inspector shows 4 discreet channels.”

This is a QT7 thing. You can’t monitor 4 channels of audio at once unless you have 4 output channels to monitor.

The easiest way to QC is to reimport to the NLE and monitor each channel via hardware out, or listen and mute each channel on a two channel output.

You can also turn each channel on and off in QT7 as well like this:

0_audio.png

[Ilene Litvak]

Many thanks for the tip…I am new to FCPX and a long time FCP7 user.
When we QC’d FCP 7 output in QT7 the audio sounded panned left or right. Now in Quicktime7 all tracks sound center mono and that was part of the confusion. Your tip made it easy for us to confirm that the spots were spit correctly.

We are also having a situation using an SD animation supplied by our client. It is used as a mortice over our promo. IN FCP 7 it played smoothly, even when mastered put as an SD 720×480 pro res 422 master. Now, in FCP X, I can’t seem to get the same animation to play smoothly. The text is jumping and fluttering.
Any Suggestions? I am stumped…

[Jeremy Garchow]

[Ilene Litvak] “The text is jumping and fluttering.”

Is there anyway to show an example of this?

[Ilene Litvak]

Hi Jeremy,
It was white text and a logo on a blue background bouncing as if there were only 1 scan line elements. I was using a 29.97 piece of animation in a 23.98 project. It always work in FCP 7 but not in FCPX. First I tried to export it from Quicktime 7 as a new 23.98 element but the problem persisted in FCPX so I opened a new project as 29.97 and used the animation as native and it seems to play smoothly. I have to deliver it this way but would appreciate hearing any suggestions as to how to use it as 23.98 in the future.

Many Thanks
Ilene

[Jeremy Garchow]

Going from 30 to 24 is going to cause issues no matter what.

X has a few tools in the retiming section to help out in the optical flow and blended options.

See if that helps, but it’s be best to have the animations match the timeline frame rate.

[Jeremy Garchow]

By the way, MXF4mac has a free player that allows you to turn audio channels on and off right on the main window, it’s very convenient, and it’s free.

https://www.hamburgpromedia.com/products/mxf4mac/applications/mxf-for-mac-player.php

[Todd Nystrom]

Hi Andy,
This is the thread that I needed!!
I see in your attached screen shot that the ROLES AS drop down is on 4 CHANNEL MONO. This is exactly what I need. I am delivering to a TV network and am having a challenging time trying to configure the audio to the network’s specs. I had delivered a file with the audio in standard stereo and they replied saying, audio must be 4 channels, and told me to split the stereo audio into 2 separate mono channels and pan them L&R on channels 1&2. That was easy. But they also told me to then duplicate those and add to channels 3&4. THAT IS THE PART THAT IS CHALLENGING ME. I even tried SURROUND but that created more issues. 4 Channel Mono is just the ticket.
Please advise!!
Thank you Andy!