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Playhead troubles… keyframes and all that jazz.
Ok, this is a really simple deal, or at least it *should* be really simple, but my small mind is missing some glaring fact. What I want to do is this: a manual cross-fade between audio tracks 1 & 2 (we’ll call it “A”) and tracks 3 & 4 (“B”). Tracks 1&2 are a linked stereo pair attached to V1. Tracks 3&4 are a linked stereo pair with no corresponding video. I want the keyframes to match between the audio clips, so that when A starts to go down, B starts to go up. This should be easy, and I think I’ve done this before, but for some reason I’m having trouble with the details. I’ve searched the archives and looked in the manual but I can’t seem to get FCP to cooperate – probably user error.
The problem: I can’t get the playhead to sync between the two clips. I’m trying to do this: I load one clip into the viewer from the timeline, move to a keyframe, and then try to load the second clip from the timeline (which is obviously on top of the first) with the playhead in that same position, so that I can add a keyframe to the secondary audio in the same spot.
It goes like this:
1. I double-click audio tracks 1&2 and load them in the viewer. I add keyframes where I want it to fade out.
2. I navigate the playhead in the viewer to the first keyframe, however, the playhead on the timeline does not follow. This is probably as it should be, but I can’t get it to follow. I’ve tried setting the playhead sync to “open”, but then it removes my audio from the viewer (tracks 3&4) and replaces it with video from track one and it’s corresponding audio which is tracks 1&2.
The second clip loads just fine, but the playhead does not correspond to where it was on the timeline.
I keep setting playhead sync to “open” and it keeps resetting itself to “off”.
How do I get the playhead to go where I want it to go?
Nick
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7 Replies
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Oops, I got a detail wrong. I’m trying to add the keyframes to tracks 3&4 first, those are the tracks without corresponding video, and apparently playhead sync doesn’t work on audio tracks by themselves. If I do it the other way around, turning the playhead sync on while I keyframe tracks 1&2 first, it’ll work. *Sigh*
Nick
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You need to change that little middle pulldown thingie on top of the Viewer window that you’ve never touched (ya right) before to GANG… or if that doesn’t work… something else. Though I think it’s gang, I wouldn’t risk my kids on it.. ok, I might offer up #2…
CaptM
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I’ll give it a shot…
Nick
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“Gang” will work on audio with no associated video (unlike “open”), however it seems that it allows you to set an arbitrary sync. So when you move the playhead in the viewer the playhead in the timeline WILL move as well, but it’s not necessarily at the same spot. Good thought though.
Nick
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Nick,
Instead of working in the Viewer Window for your audio, I’d suggest you to use the Pen Tool on the Timeline Window. Here’s the workflow.1. Enable the “rubberband” (sorry I forget what it’s called) after control-clicking the button located on the bottom-left side of the Timeline Window or shortcut ‘option-W’.
2. Choose the Pen Tool by clicking the Button on the Tool Pallete or shortcut ‘p’.
3. Keyframe on your 1&2 tracks by simply clicking on either of the tracks.
4. With ‘Snapping’ on (by clicking the button on the bottom-left side of the Timeline Window or shortcut ‘n’), you should be able to place your playhead right on where your keyframes are.
5. Keyframe your 3&4 tracks.
Hope this helps.
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Yeah — but that’s too easy.
hee
CaptM
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Great idea – thanks!
Nick
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