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Best audio mix quality
Hi guys,
I have a client that is unwilling to shell out the cash for a professional mix (sigh).
So I need to get the best possible mix from FCP and perhaps some software like Audacity?
I have about 7yrs experience on Avid (media composer) and 1yr on FCP.
Any advice on a step by step process (preferably from someone with a background in Pro-tools or equivalent) would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks,
Walter
It’s life Jim, but not as we know it.
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3 Replies
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Walter
Have you considered Soundtrack Pro? I hear it’s very nice to use, and you seem to be willing to take on new software. It will also give you an easy import/export path from FCP and allow you to do fun things like 5.1 mixes!
Ben
Editec Broadcast Editing Ltd
EVS & FCP specialists for live broadcast.
OB Server 1 HD – Mobile FCP editing done right.
https://www.editecuk.com/OBServer2.html -
Perhaps your client needs to explain why he can pay for 40% of the finished product and ignore the 60% which is a professional sound track.
It is the cheapest way to put value into any program so short changing on a proper sound mix speaks of ignorance and inexperience. As a sound professional that also grades & onlines, I can tell you that the issue is not software but operator both for grading and sound post. No-one questions it in grading so why do they refuse to accept the importance of sound?
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I agree 100% with Michael.
I also do everything, but its taken me 20 years to get to this point. I have been editing video for 20yrs, but only mixing audio for the past 2yrs. Before i even tried audio mixing, i watched (and listened to) the dubbing editors on our shows like a hawk. Asking appropriate questions when possible.
Some may disagree but i believe audio is a much more difficult subject to get right, because it is more subjective. The subtleties and colours you can add without being obvious are so much harder to define in words.
You can read many books on audio post production & post myriad forum questions but you will struggle to enhance your project if you are trying to learn a whole new discipline with a client breathing down your neck.
You will spend many hours trying (and probably failing) to do the show justice. A good dubbing mixer will have the job done in a much shorter time – no doubt saving you money and will give you a better end product.
It may be worth deciding how much your time costs (on an hourly rate), then discussing with a post house how long they will take to do the job and the cost. You may be surprised!
For comparison – i worked on almost 200 10 minute long animation shows. Each had full lipsynced dialogue tracks, multiple sound effects tracks, atmosphere tracks and music tracks.
With 3 premixes (Dialogue, FX, Atmos) and the final mix, plus layback to digibeta – every episode was finished in 4 hours.
adam
Editor/Mixer
Character Options Ltd
Oldham, UK
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