Need guidance on adding an audio mixer to my FCP system…

[Chris Poisson]

Yes Jeremy,

I just went down to my audio dealer and they have both the Onyx and the controler. The latter is going down there for $999 and it’s kind of big, I would have to completely revamp my studio to use it. But it looks really cool, even has transport controls.

[Chris Poisson]

Well,

You learn something new everyday around here, and this is really exciting. To have something like the Mackie or Behringer to control FCP’s mixer is just a great idea. BTW, I have a Behringer mixer which I just love, and it’s been very reliable for 4 years. I think it’s a great company and a great value. If the controler they make works with FCP, I’m sold.

[Bob Vick]

[JeremyG] “Well, I would be wary of the beringer”

We have several behringers and they are all great. Can’t answer to the mackie protocal but as for quality they rock. Also remember that Behringer sued Mackie (and won) for stealing design and tech ideas. So Mackie basically is a behringer. It’s just you are paying for “Mackie”

b

Bob Vick sr promo guy @ ch3 wwmt tv, kalamazoo, mi

[Jeremy Garchow]

Don’t get me wrong… I am not talking smack about Behringer, they have nicely priced products. I am just saying that the Behringer control surface hasn’t been officially announced for Final Cut is all. The Mackie has. It would suck to buy something for $200 and then turn out it’s unusable. I like to buy gear right the first time. Just sending out a friendly ‘buyer beware’.

My Nokia has bluetooth (Behringer with MCU), isync (FCP) supports bluetooth (MCU), but isync (FCP) does not work my model nokia (Behringer). That’s the simplest terms I can use at the moment.

As far as speaker recommendations for you Brian, get something that’s powered and that you can afford. These look to be okay:

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/600644/

or these:

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/602080/

I would highly recommend monitoring out of your Dv deck with some speakers like this though:

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=rec/search/detail/base_pid/603275/

These speakers sound great and have multiple analog inputs (XLR, balanced 1/4″ (TRS), or RCA). These would migrate to higher demand FCP workflow in case you ever step out of DV.

Cheers.

Jeremy

[Brian Rodriguez]

Thanks for the help…Much appreciated!!

Take care,

Brian

[Chris Poisson]

Here’s another great speaker solution. Just love mine.

https://www.fullcompass.com/Products/pages/SKU–68508/index.html

[Kevin Monahan]

As for the audio monitoring – I have a deck, but it’s actually the Sony GV-D1000 clamshell deck with composite i/o….not a DSR-11 or higher end deck…therefore, yes, I am monitoring out of the computer…

Actually, it’s better to monitor out of the clamshell then the Mac. If you monitor audio from the Mac, it’s being downsampled on the fly from 48 kHz to 44.1 kHz. If you have a video monitor connected, you’ll also have synch issues.

Like 90% of the rest of the FCP nation, you are not monitoring the audio’s true quality by going out of the Mac. Don’t let this be you. If I were you, I’d connect the Mac’s built in audio out and the clamshell’s audio out to the mixer. That way, you can listen to your iTunes, Soundtrack and your deck’s audio output. This is how my Mackie is set up.

(Don’t tell me you’re not connecting a video monitor as well! :-))

See page 55 of the manual for proper system setup and more details.

Kevin Monahan
Author – Motion Graphics and Effects in Final Cut Pro
fcpworld.com

[Brian Rodriguez]

Kevin,

no, no….I have a video monitor attached – I wouldn’t dare trust the computer monitor for picture!!! 🙂

Let me ask you this – If I do run the audio outs of the clamshell into a Mackie and then ultimately to a pair of studio audio monitors, will volume changes I make with the mixer have any bearing to the ACTUAL audio levels in my FCP project, or will it be for playback only?? That’s ultimately what I’m looking to do…avoid using the audio mixer tool in FCP and use an audio mixer to balance audio…

I’ve had suggestions all day on this forum – perhaps you can shed some light for me…

Thanks,

Brian Rodriguez

[Tom Volotta]

As for what’s ‘official’ or not, Apple isn’t being very specific about that, in fact it’s a bit vague.

Basically they’re saying Mackie, Yamaha, Tascam and others have been tested and work with FCP5 and Soundtrack Pro, although none have been certified. ‘Others’ would seem to be a broad category.

Not sure how much of an official endorsement ‘work with’ is. I’m guessing that since integrating the Mackie Control Protocol is so new, a full certification program just isn’t in place yet.

There are probably many devices out there that do use the MCP, but you have to dig into the product descriptions and specs for find out. You’d think Mackie would have this info (who has licensed MCP) on their site, but they don’t.

As was said in another post, best to check with dealers and manufacturers about compatibility before buying. Once Apple has a list of certified products and people begin to use and abuse them, word will get around about what works best.

[Kevin Monahan]

This is for playback only. You’ll need a control surface/mixer to control FCP 5’s audio mixer. At least you now know how to connect it. 🙂

Kevin Monahan
Author – Motion Graphics and Effects in Final Cut Pro
fcpworld.com