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Please help with exporting individual audio tracks from FCP
In my current project I have 22 audio tracks and am trying to render out each track individually. I’ll reassemble each track in a different program for further audio work. Yet, when I try to export each track I’m given the option of stereo mix or grouped channel. I guess what I really want is mono as some of my 22 tracks are really half of stereo tracks. Or, am I wrong about this? Selecting either stereo mix or grouped channel, the results are the same and somehow 2 tracks are created from the one. I’m not sure how or why this happens.
So, what is the correct way to do this kind of thing? Thanks ahead of time for any help! -
4 Replies
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Assuming you’re working in a recent version of FCP, in the sequence settings window you’ll find audio output panel. Set this to 22 tracks. Then set the individual tracks the way you want, either stereo pairs or mono. In the sequence set each track by controlling clicking in the track header area and choosing what output channel you want the track assigned to. Then export Audio to AIFF and choose channel grouped. This should work, though in my last tests it seemed to be broken. Let me know what happens.
The other way is to do it manually, switch off the audibility for each track except the one you want to export then then do an audio only export. That way you can export each track separately.
All the best,
Tom
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Thank you very much for the feedback. I’m trying to do as you said, but I’m getting a little confused. I’m using fcp 4.5 and tried doing what you said in the sequence settings window. I changed the “outputs” in the sequence settings window to 22 (the maximum it would allow was 24), and made tracks 1 and 2 “dual mono” rather than stereo. FCP then automatically downmixed each track -3db. I left that as FCP suggested. I then got a warning that the current audio can not display that many outputs and would not be heard unless I downmixed to stereo. There was a place to check to downmix to stereo, but I left it blank. I then went to the timeline and adjusted the output of each track to a discreet output (i.e. track 1 to 1, track 2 to 2, etc). I then exported to aiff and things seem to have work okay. The levels seem to be the same on the exported clips as on the originals.
Also, I was originally trying to do what you described as your plan b (switching off the audibility for each track except the one you want to export then then do an audio only export). I think the problem I was having was that I hadn’t adjusted the audio output panel in the sequence settings window and hence at the time the only output option on each audio track was for ‘1&2’
Anyway, this sure is confusing stuff. At least to me. I think I’m getting a hold of it, but I was still wondering:1- Why the levels seem to be the same on the exported clips as on the originals after FCP automatically lowered them by 3db. Kind of counterintuitive. This option can be overridden and set to not lower at all. Should I do make this adjustment, or does FCP know better than I do?
2- I should rearrange things a bit and export the stereo tracks on my timeline as stereo tracks rather than dual mono? Does it matter?Thank you again for taking the time to help out a fcp newbie like me!!!
Thank you so much for the help and if there’s any tid bits of info you could throw my way about my remaining questions I would be even more in your debt
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You get the error message because you’re working in DV I’m guessing, which only normally supports two tracks of output. All of this is explained in considerable detail in the manual if you do a search for Audio to AIFF.
1. The -3dB lowering of the levels only occurs when the tracks are put into stereo playback such as combined onto a DVD. In your case it doesn’t matter.
2. If the tracks are stereo they should be exported as stereo, if they’re mono they should be exported as mono.
I take it the channel grouped export worked for you to get your tracks out of the application. My recollection is that it worked in v4 and 4.5, but may be broken in the current version.
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Yes, it seems that the channel grouped export worked for me. Thank you for the help with that. The 2 tracks with DV now makes sense as well. Actually, I’m ‘offlining’ the project in DV25 and will do the online in the full 10 bit uncompressed digibeta when I upgrade from my Mini to a G5.
Honestly, I do try to consult the manual and have bought nearly every Production Suite related tutorial (DVDs, online stuff, books) that I’ve come across. The problem is I consider Mac’s manuals more of a reference and sometimes it’s hard to word exactly what your problem is, so it’s hard to look up in the manual. I think I did find the section you told me to look up though. The only problem is after reading their explanation of the
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