broadcast audio

[Michael Gissing]

I highly recommend you get a sound post production facility to tracklay & mix. FCP is a blunt instrument when it comes to audio editing and mixing.

Tight control of peak compression and limiting is required to meet broadcast spec and have the apparent loudness and punch of the programs either side of yours.

[Bradley Greenwell]

I appreciate the response.

What if a sound facility is not in the budget. Is there a slightly better way to do it then mixing everything into 2 tracks?

The way I do the program now is, I deliver them a DVCPRO HD file on a hard drive. They down convert the show to SD and broadcast the dvc pro tape in which it was down converted to. If I deliver them a file with 4 audio tracks, 1/2 being voice and 3/4 being music and fx will that better the overall sound. Or would it be pretty much the same with just the overall mix into 2 tracks?

I appreciate this conversation

thanks

Bradley J.

[Shane Ross]

What do the network specs call for? Discovery, for example, wants Stereo on 1&2, mix minus narration on 3&4, Music only on 5&6, mono FX on 7, mono interviews on 8 and mono narration on 9. PBS (KCET) calls for Stereo mix on 1&2, and Mix minus narration on 3&4…and that’s it.

So what are the requirements for your delivery?

My mix is all handled by a mixer with ProTools, who delivers the audio stems (separate tracks) on a data DVD as WAV files that I import. If you are trying to do this all in FCP, then you will have to export your audio as separate files, then reimport onto a new duplicated sequence.

Shane

GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def

[Bradley Greenwell]

Thanks for the response Shane.

Its for PBS, and yes its all within FCP.

From what I understand. Export video separately, export voice on 1/2 tracks separately, export music and fx separately. import all into FCP and lay them on top of each other and do a final export of everything.

I’m curious how you do it.

You cut a show together with no music or balancing of voices, send it off to your audio guy and he delivers you the tracks in perfect balanced audio in which you put back into your timeline. Is that it?

Bradley J.

[Shane Ross]

[bradley greenwell] “Export video separately, “

No. Duplicate your sequence and strip out all the audio. Have a 2-pop at 58:58:00 so that you can line up your exported audio.

[bradley greenwell] “export voice on 1/2 tracks separately, export music and fx separately.”

Well… that doesn’t seem right at all. With that you don’t have a full stereo mix on two tracks. AGAIN, what do the networks specs require. I’m guessing that you need a stereo mix, then a mix that is minus something. So I’d export a full mix as stereo AIFF, import that to the duplicated sequence (match to the 2-pop), then disable whatever tracks you need to and again, export an AIFF. Then import that and put on 3 and 4.

This is all theoretical. I am just thinking about what I might do. I haven’t done this in practice.

[bradley greenwell] “I’m curious how you do it. “

I OMF my sequence to a professional audio mixer who mixes the show and provides me with the stems I need.

[bradley greenwell] “You cut a show together with no music or balancing of voices, send it off to your audio guy and he delivers you the tracks in perfect balanced audio in which you put back into your timeline. Is that it? “

No…I cut the show with full audio. Voices, sound effects, music. I make it sound as good as I can, as the producers/networks demand it. Then I OMF EVERYTHING to the audio house and they do the full mix.

Shane

GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def

[Bradley Greenwell]

Thanks Shane, you’ve helped out a lot.

I appreciate it

Thanks

p.s. will this theoretically sound better, you think?

Bradley J.

[Shane Ross]

Sound better than what?

Shane

GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def

[Michael Gissing]

In the grand scheme of things professional audio is a tiny portion of most broadcast budgets and probably the best value for money.

Honestly, find the money or be prepared for a whole world of pain because I do not get the impression that you know enough about audio and deliverables to do this yourself in FCP.

[Bradley Greenwell]

can you refer me to an audio professional?

thanks

brad

Bradley J.

[Bradley Greenwell]

can you refer me to an audio professional?

thanks

brad

Bradley J.