Stereo audio in the timeline?

[Ben Holmes]

I won’t assume you are trying to use an mp3 illegally – many stock music libraries sell audio as mp3 now, and you may (like me) work in an environment where your client (say, a broadcaster) has a blanket agreement to allow the use of all music. Or you may write your own music. Whatever – I’m sure you are aware of copyright laws when it comes to distributing material for profit.

I make regular use in the field of my iTunes library – it would be impossible to carry everything with me any other way.

You’ve probably noticed by now that FCP doesn’t like mp3’s. Oddly, iMovie has never been so squeamish about it. There are, however, solutions.

For many years, I’ve burnt the track I needed to a CD, then dragged the AIFF into my media folder, and imported that into FCP. At a few pence/cents a black CD, it’s pretty quick and easy – if a little crude.

Alternatively, you can now use Digital-Heaven’s excellent ‘Loader’ – for a small price this automates this process, and does a lot more besides. Highly recommended:

https://www.digital-heaven.co.uk/loader

Hope that helps.

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[Stephen Parker]

Thanks Dave,

Don’t worry about the mp3s. It’s my own music. Being a musician and in the current music industry climate I would never dream of using mp3’s illegally or without authorization. Thank you for your concern though. I assume then, that AIFF’s are the way forward for FCP and my problem will simply be solved by this switch?

Thanks again

[Ben Holmes]

See my post below – .wav is another option.

Edit Out Ltd
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[Stephen Parker]

Ben,

Thank you kindly for this. Thank you also for your concern regarding proper and legal use of mp3s. As a musician, (and one who is VERY aware of copyright laws) I find it refreshing to learn that there are people out there who still care about this and try to ensure that the laws are being kept… believe me, sometimes I wonder. I am using an mp3 of my own music.

So, the solution is to create an AIFF version of the file for use in FCP? That will solve the stereo and panning issues I’m having in the timeline?

Thank you again, this is my first post and I’m delighted to have such a quick and helpful response.

[Stephen Parker]

Thanks Dave, sometimes I’m glad it’s mine, sometimes not.

Details much appreciated.

[Ben Holmes]

Hi Stephen

People are always sensitive about this on forums as the people who run them don’t want to be seen to be encouraging illegal activities. If you work in broadcast or corporate video, you’ll know what an utter mess the licensing rules for music are – and why everyone is so careful. I do wish, however, that when the question is asked, we were not all so keen to assume it’s for nefarious purposes.

If you can avoid having to use mp3’s (if you have access to the original files) then save yourself the headache. Without using additional software to convert audio to .wav files, I think using iTunes to burn a CD, then copying the .aif file is the easiest way to solve the problem.

There’s two caveats:

1) Audio from CD’s is 44.1Khz, and most video audio is 48khz. This means after you drop the .aif into the timeline, it needs the audio rendering. This only takes a second – you’ll know if it’s not rendered if you hear beeping when you play back your timeline. If this becomes a pain (because you have a lot of other audio layers you are moving around or adding, and you have to keep rerendering) you could create an empty timeline with no video and just your audio, export it as a quicktime movie (with no video) and re-import it. This will give you a file with 48Khz audio that works in your timeline without any rendering. If you have NO OTHER audio in the timeline, you could, alternatively change the sequence audio settings to 44.1 Khz to fix it.

2) Don’t make the mistake of importing the audio straight from the CD. This will actually work, but FCP will access the audio directly off the disk – fine until you eject the disk! Make sure you copy the .aif file elsewhere first.

Hope that helps. Of course, you can use any of a huge number of bits of software to convert .mp3’s to .aif or .wav. If you’ve got access to them, save the disks….

Ben

Edit Out Ltd
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FCP Editor/Trainer/System Consultant
EVS/VT Supervisor for live broadcast
RED camera transfer/post
Independent Director/Producer

[Bret Williams]

Just curious Ben, but the only reason to use your method is to rip DRM’d music.

If you’re just looking to convert mp3 to AIFF there’s only about a thousand easier (and greener) ways. How ’bout open the mp3 in QT and export as a 48k aiff? Or use iTunes to convert it to an Aiff?

[Randy Lee]

If you go to Itunes > Preferences > Advanced > Importing, you can change how you import music. (I think this has moved in Itunes 8, but it’s still in preferences, under Importing) Pick AIF, Custom, 48k. Hit OK, select your song, and go to Advanced > Convert to AIF. It will convert your music over for you fairyl quickly (much faster than real time) with no need to burn a CD. If you want to go back to importing music as mp3, just go back into preferences and change it back. All done in around 2 minutes.

I’m not sure that this will bring in the proper panning into Final Cut for the stereo file, though. I’ll try that out to confirm for myself later today, if I have the chance.

[Randy Lee]

If you go to Itunes > Preferences > Advanced > Importing, you can change how you import music. (I think this has moved in Itunes 8, but it’s still in preferences, under Importing) Pick AIF, Custom, 48k. Hit OK to confirm and exit prefernces.

Now just select your song and go to Advanced > Convert to AIF. It will convert your music over for you fairly quickly (much faster than real time) with no need to burn a CD. If you want to go back to importing music as mp3, just go back into preferences and change it back. All done in around 2 minutes.

I’m not sure that this will bring in the proper panning into Final Cut for the stereo file, though. I’ll try that out to confirm for myself later today, if I have the chance.