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MP3 Conversion Artifacts
Anybody else notice this, when I import an MP3 file, I hear weird pops and jumps. They are random here and there. You can especially hear them in V/O tracks.
The original MP3’s are clean. Something happens with FCP when it imports them. So, I’ve been converting them to 48k files first, then importing them and they sound fine.
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13 Replies
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yep. for some reason, FC has never been able to properly deal with mp3’s.
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Properly deal?
Proper handling of an MP3 would be 1) throw it in the trash and 2) convert it to something usable. Your sequence is 48/16 why settle for 256mb audio???
CaptM
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mp3’s are vary compressed audio files, and FCP does not like compressed audio files much at all.
So keep converting them first.
Don’t let technology get in the way of your creativity!
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When someone sends you an MP3 file and you have to use it, you don’t have a choice.
My question is why is the FCP conversion so bad, when Episode or Cleaner’s conversions sounds fine.
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Do not rely on FCP to convert the MP3s for you… it won’t. You always have options too. Remember, when the audio sounds bad at point of broadcast they will come to you. Accepting an MP3 for your audio is no excuse. 44.1 is bad enough.
If you insist on having them converted in the NLE use iMovie.
CaptM
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Yeah, properly deal.
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[Ernie Santella] “When someone sends you an MP3 file and you have to use it, you don’t have a choice.”
hey Ernie, dont mind the snotty answers, I also have to use MP3’s very often… and generally mp3 sound quaility is fine for what I do. I dont always get those pops, but have not figured a pattern yet, perhaps VBR vs Constant or the bitrate.
premier does a fine job, as does cleaner or many other apps, so there is probably no good reason why FCP is bad at that, it just is.
till later
Mark. -
Just drag the mp3 into Quicktime Pro and export it as an aiff @ 48K. It takes all of about 30 seconds start to finish. No need to muck about in imovie or iTunes.
It’s very fast and easy!
Tom -
[Ernie Santella] “My question is why is the FCP conversion so bad, when Episode or Cleaner’s conversions sounds fine.
“Thats the point you are missing…FCP does NOT convert your audio files for you…it uses the files you give it….and, as you have discovered…MP3 files don’t work well (due to their use of temporal compression). The only conversion FCP will do for you internally is a sample rate conversion.
You can easily set up a Compressor droplet to convert your MP3’s to AIFF when necessary. Then all you need to do is drag them to your droplet.
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Elitist maybe, snotty no.
Get the real media.
CaptM
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