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Exporting as Wave anomalies
We capture in FCP 7.0.3. Export the audio as wave for cleanup and processing in Pro Tools. When exporting as WAVE in FCP we get different gain results.
Putting the clip in the Viewer by double clicking on it, File>Export>Using Quicktime Conversion then selecting 24b,48k any audio that is hot, near -1dBFS or hotter, the resultant audio output is majorly compressed to -3dBFS giving the waveform that hedge trimmer look and sounding nasty. The overall gain has changed on the audio clip. That waveform looks different than the original waveform in the canvas. The convenience of doing it this way is that the audio file is automatically using the clip’s name.
Selecting the file in the browser, right click down to Export>UsingQuickTime Conversion renders, seemingly, the same results as exporting from the Viewer.
Taking the clip into QuickTime 7 Pro, File>Export>Sound to Wave (or AIFF did the same thing) 24b, 48k rendered a waveform that was pushed to 0dBFS on the positive portion of the waveform, the negative portion seemed “normal” and there was no DC offset.
Back to FCP, Highlighted the clip, Shift A, to set the in/out to be just that clip, File>Export>Using Quicktime Conversion. The audio now has the Sequence name in the save field, and the resulting exported file is as close to exactly what the waveform looks like in the Timeline window originally captured in the first place. No compression, no clipping or other distortions.
These files were exported into Pro Tools for confirmation in case there was a display issue in FCP, there isn’t.
I know what the fix is, USE THE VIEWER, but such an anomaly is wacky as the exact same function was selected in each case (well, compensating for the QT7 thing), but as nearly exactly as possible and each renders different results.
Suggestions like “just use SoundTrack Pro” are unacceptable in that the FCP machine needs to keep on video editing while the audio guy does his magic to the audio. Though, exporting in STP rendered the same results as exporting from the Viewer without having to go through the STP rigor. Not using Pro Tools is like asking why even use AE when FCP is there? That is a silly question.
Tried uploading the picture to show this, but a new account has restrictions. Sorry.
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2 Replies
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Why are you exporting wav files? We export OMFs for work in ProTools. That’s pretty much the standard for ProTools with NLEs.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
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[Bradford Cox] “We capture in FCP 7.0.3. Export the audio as wave for cleanup and processing in Pro Tools. When exporting as WAVE in FCP we get different gain results.
Putting the clip in the Viewer by double clicking on it, File>Export>Using Quicktime Conversion then selecting 24b,48k any audio that is hot, near -1dBFS or hotter, the resultant audio output is majorly compressed to -3dBFS giving the waveform that hedge trimmer look and sounding nasty. The overall gain has changed on the audio clip.”
Have you tried leaving the audio native at 16-bits?
As many here will tell you, Quicktime conversion is not a perfect tool for video conversions, so I would assume that audio conversions might also be an issue inside QT Conversion, though I’m not saying I’m absolutely certain of that.
Are you limited to only 24-bit audio on your Pro Tools system?
David Roth Weiss
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